Most people are aware that they should have their pets spayed or neutered because it helps to control the population of these animals. Unless you plan to breed your dogs and know that there is a market for reselling them, there is really no reason not to have this simple procedure done on your dog. In addition to population control, having your dog or cat spayed or neutered provides numerous health benefits, which can help your pet to live a longer and happier life.
The Procedure
Spaying is the term used to describe the sterilization of a female animal, while neutering refers to a male animal. If you have a female animal, you will want to make sure that it is spayed at a veterinary hospital before it first goes into heat. This is because the procedure works best on animals that have yet to reach sexual maturity. Generally speaking, it is best to have the operation done at about six month of age, as the dog should not have gone into heat yet, but is strong enough to recover from the surgery.
Spaying Benefits
The most obvious reason to get your female animal spayed is that it prevents pregnancies. It also eliminates the noise and bleeding that goes along with a female’s reproductive cycle. This makes your animal more comfortable and easier to train, since its instincts will not encourage it to reproduce. You might even find that your dog stays closer to home after being spayed, since it will not attempt to escape your yard in search of a male.
Neutering Benefits
Getting your dog neutered at a veterinary hospital also hold benefits, such as preventing possible tumors. Male dogs that are not neutered are at a greater risk of cancer in their prostate and testicles, which could drastically shorten their lives. Some male dogs get destructive when they are not neutered, since they get distracted at the lack of a female in their lives. Much like females, male dogs that are neutered are easier to train – they are also less likely to attempt to escape in search of a female in heat.
Contact Western Veterinary Group to see what they can do for your pet or You can also find us on Facebook for pet products and services.
