SPAY AND NEUTER
Hill Top Animal Hospital is dedicated to the health and well-being of your pet. A big part of your pet’s mental and physical health involves spaying or neutering. Not only does it control the pet population, but spaying and neutering also reduces aggression, especially in male dogs and cats. All pets are different, so be sure to ask your vet when the right time is to spay or neuter.
Why spay or neuter?
By having your dog or cat sterilized, you prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens. Spaying and neutering also helps protect your pets against health problems and can reduce many behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct.
For example, removing a female dog or cat’s ovaries eliminates heat cycles and reduces the unwanted behaviors that often lead to owner frustration. Removing the testes from male dogs and cats reduces the breeding instinct, so they often are more content to stay home instead of roaming to find a mate.
Early spaying can protect dogs and cats from serious health problems such as uterine infections and breast cancer. Neutering male pets often reduce their risk of developing enlarged prostate glands and testicular cancer.
Spaying and neutering have no effect on your pet’s intelligence or ability to learn, play, work or hunt. In fact, some pets tend to be better behaved after surgical removal of their ovaries or testes, making them more desirable companions.
What to expect
Before a spay or neuter procedure, we give your pet a thorough physical examination to ensure he/she is in good health. General anesthesia is administered to perform the surgery, and medications are given to minimize pain. You will be asked to keep your pet calm and quiet for a few days after surgery so the incision can heal properly.
Spaying and neutering is usually an outpatient surgery, meaning you drop your pet off in the morning and pick them up later in the day. We will give you detailed written instructions on what your pet can have so far as food and water leading up to the surgery and what you can do to help them heal afterward.
Contact Hill Top Today
Puppies, kittens and adult pets can all benefit from spaying and neutering. Hill Top Animal Hospital is dedicated to providing careful, compassionate treatment and services to your four-legged family member. Ask your veterinarian today about spaying or neutering your pet.