There are many reasons to spay or neuter
your pet. Population control is the most obvious benefit but there are many
other reasons to spay and neuter your pet. They enjoy better health and live
longer because of it! They also make better pets because they develop fewer
behavioral problems.
What Happens When Your Pet is Spayed?
Cat and dog spays are performed in a similar manner. The pet is anesthetized
and prepared for surgery. The abdomen is opened along the midline near the
umbilicus and the uterus and ovaries are removed. This involves ligating large
blood vessels and therefore keeping your pet quiet after surgery is necessary.
The abdomen is then sutured in three layers providing a very secure closure.
Remember, though we perform these procedures routinely any surgery into the
abdomen should be viewed as major surgery.
What Happens When Your Pet is Neutered?
Cat and dog neuters are performed slightly differently. Both the dog and cat
are anesthetized and prepared for surgery. For dogs, the neuter incision is made
in front of the scrotum since this is much less likely to cause bruising and
chewing. The testicles are moved forward through the incision and removed. Large
vessels are ligated and therefore it is necessary to keep your pet quiet after
surgery. The incision is closed in two layers. For cats, the incision is made
into scrotum and both testicles are removed. The scrotum does not require
suturing in cats.
Medical Benefits of Spaying Your Cat & Dog
With the removal of the ovaries and uterus there is no longer the risk of
diseases involving these organs. This includes diseases such as pyometra (pus
accumulating in the uterus and leading to a life threatening condition), vaginal
hyperplasia (tissues in the vulva swell and protrude), uterine tumors, cystic
and endometrial hyperplasia (cysts in the lining of the uterus).
With an ovariohysterectomy there is no longer the risk associated with
pregnancy and labour. Too many dogs require intervention during whelping and
some require ceasarians. There are also other risks including uterine torsion
(when the pregnant uterus twists on itself) and metritis (an infection that may
occur after pregnancy).
Spaying your pet reduces the risk of tumours in other parts of the body
including mammary tumours and tumours of the vagina and vulva.
The elimination of hormonal cycles also allows
better medical control of conditions such as epilepsy and diabetes.
Medical Benefits of Neutering Your Cat & Dog
With the removal of the testicles there is no longer the risk of diseases
involving testicles. This includes such diseases as orchitis and epididymitis
(infection and inflammation) and testicular cancers (of which there are several
types).
The lowered hormonal levels also help decrease the occurrence of other
diseases including benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), suppurative
prostatitis and prostatic abscesses (infection in the prostate), prostatic
cancer, hepatoid cell adenomas and adenocarcinomas (benign and malignant tumours
around the anus), secondary irritation from hyperplasia of circumanal hepatoid
glands (thick itchy tissue around the anus), and perineal hernias (hernias near
the anus).
Behavioral Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Your Pet
Many of the behavioral benefits of spaying and neutering are due to the
decreased tendency of pets to leave their home territory and wander. This
results in a decreased likelihood of being hit by a car, being exposed to
toxins, being exposed to infectious diseases, being in a fight and getting lost.
This means fewer stresses and costs on you, the owner, as well as on your pet.
Neutered males (and spayed females) are less likely to engage in that very
annoying and messy habit of urine marking.
Both males and females are less aggressive to their own species (eg. fewer
cat bite abscesses) but are still protective of their home territory. Therefore,
dogs obtained to protect the home still do so after spaying and neutering.
Cryptorchids
Cryptorchids have one or two testicles that have not descended into the
scrotal sac. The testicles may be located in the abdomen or the inguinal canal.
This is seen in 13/1000 dogs and can occur in cats as well.
Cryptorchids should be neutered and BOTH testicles must be removed.
The testicle in the body is much more likely to become cancerous and much more
likely to twist. The testicle within the body still produces testosterone and
sperm, though at lower levels.
Post Surgical Home Care
As your pet has had an anesthetic, introducing food and water too quickly may
cause them to vomit. The dogs and cats may have water the same afternoon and
evening of the surgery. Provide a small evening meal that same night.
Your pet may be quiet for one to two days after the surgery. Try to keep your
pet from excessive activity for approximately one week. For example, leash walk
your dogs and keep the cats indoors.
Check the incision twice daily. Some degree of redness is normal. The
incision should not be gaping, swollen, excessively red or oozing. If you have
any concerns, please call.
Do not let the pet lick or chew at the incision. This can introduce
bacteria and weaken the incision.
Population Control
We euthanize far too many unwanted animals. We would rather not have to put
healthy, adorable, loving animals to their death.
Two cats producing 8 kittens per year will result in 174,760 cats in 7 years.
Be part of the solution - spay and neuter your pet.
