Our Houston, TX, veterinarians recommend having your pet altered via spay or neuter surgery at the age of 6-8 months once they have completed their final round of vaccinations. We advocate for your pets having this surgery sooner rather than later, prior to females beginning their heat cycle and before males begin to develop aggressive behaviors.
Both spaying and neutering procedures have physical health and behavioral benefits, allowing your pet to live a longer and happier life. Some benefits of spaying and neutering are outlined below:
Elimination of heat cycles
When a dog or cat goes into heat, they can become highly uncomfortable and will likely seek and attract attention from male dogs or cats in the area. Spaying eliminates heat cycles, making your pet more comfortable and preventing you from having to care for and clean up after your pet during their heat cycle every month.
Behavior
While not always the case, neutering a dog or cat can reduce potentially aggressive, destructive, and territorial behaviors. By neutering at a young age, you can prevent your pet from performing unwanted behaviors such as spraying, mounting, and roaming.
Overpopulation & Homelessness
There are approximately 6.5 million dogs and cats in shelters, of which about 1.5 million are euthanized every year. By making the decision to spay and neuter your pets, you are helping to prevent overpopulation in shelters and reduce the number of homeless pets.
Healthier Pets
Studies have shown pets that are “fixed” or altered generally live longer than those that are not. Altering pets greatly reduces their risks of certain cancers and diseases. Unaltered females are at a high risk of developing pyometra, which is a fatal uterine infection, and mammary cancer, both of which can be prevented with spaying. Male animals that have been neutered have no risk of developing testicular cancer and a lesser risk of prostate cancer.
Our veterinarians at Sunset Animal Hospital encourage all pet parents to spay and neuter their canine and feline family members. In addition to helping control Houston’s homeless pet population, spaying and neutering also benefits your pet’s health. We offer the best care and equipment for a swift procedure and easy recovery.
Spay & Neuter Procedures
All spay (ovariohysterectomy) and neuter (orchiectomy) procedures are performed under full anesthesia by a veterinarian. Our certified veterinary technicians will monitor your pet from the time they arrive at the hospital to the time they are discharged and go home with you.
Comprehensive post-operative instructions and pain management medications will be sent home with your pet after the procedure to help keep them comfortable during their recovery.
