All major pet health and welfare agencies recommend spaying and neutering for cats and dogs not kept for breeding purposes. The number of unwanted dogs and cats overwhelm city agencies, resulting in the euthanizing of millions of animals each year. Spaying and neutering help to reduce these numbers, and also safeguard the health of pets. Village Veterinary Clinic in Burke, VA offers answers for a few frequently asked questions about spaying and neutering.
What Is Spay and Neuter Surgery?
Spaying is the removal of the female animals’ ovaries and uterus so that she can no longer produce offspring. Neutering is the removal of a male animal’s testicles so that it cannot reproduce. Thousands of these procedures are done by veterinarians each year, with no ill effects to the animals and many health benefits. Only anesthetic drugs that have been found to be safe for animals will be used. Before surgery, your vet will advise you to withhold food for 12 hours. After surgery, you should keep your pet warm and quiet, limiting activities until the surgical incision has healed.
What Are the Benefits of Spaying and Neutering?
Female animals benefit from spaying because it eliminates the risk of uterine cancer and breast tumors. For male animals, neutering prevents diseases of the prostate and testicular cancer. It may also help your pet be better behaved and less prone to wandering to look for mates.
When Should My Pet Be Spayed or Neutered?
Dogs are generally spayed or neutered around 6 months of age. Puppies as young as eight weeks old can receive the surgery. Cats are generally spayed or neutered at five months but may receive the surgery as early as eight weeks. Older animals and those with health problems may require additional post-surgical care.
How Quickly Will My Pet Recover from Spay or Neuter Surgery?
Neutering is a simple and quick operation, and your male pet will be fully recovered after a few days. Spaying female animals is a bit more complex, but generally only requires a week of recovery. If you follow your Burke veterinarian’s post-surgery instructions carefully, your pet will be back to normal activities in a short amount of time.
Contact Village Veterinary Clinic for Spay & Neuter Services in Burke, VA
The veterinarians and staff at Village Veterinary Clinic understand how important your pet is to you and your family, and we take pride in providing quality care for our patients in Burke, VA. We offer many types of veterinary services, including wellness care, pet dental care, microchipping and an in-house laboratory. Call Village Veterinary Clinic today at 703-978-8655 for an appointment to discuss how spay and neuter surgery can benefit your pet’s health.
