Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?

Pet ownership comes with many responsibilities. Spaying or neutering your pet is one decision you’ll have to make as the owner of a pet. Spay & neuter procedures help prevent unwanted pregnancies and litters, but the benefits don’t stop there. Spaying or neutering your pet at Shelbyville Road Veterinary Hospital in Indianapolis will also protect your pet’s health. Here’s what you should know about these surgeries.

Medical Benefits

Spay & neuter procedures can extend your pet’s lifespan by protecting him or her against reproductive diseases. Spaying your female cat or dog helps to prevent breast tumors and uterine infections. For the most effective protection, you should spay your female pet before her first heat. Neutering your male dog or cat can help prevent testicular cancer.

Behavioral Benefits

Spaying or neutering your pets stops them from performing mating behaviors such as yowling into the night, marking their territory by urinating all over your house, or trying to escape in order to find a mate. Roaming dogs are at risk for getting hurt in a fight with another animal or getting hit by a car.

Spayed and neutered pets are easier to bond with as they’ll focus less on mating and more on you. Your neutered dog may also be less aggressive due to having less testosterone in his system.

Financial Benefits

Spay & neuter procedures are more cost-effective than caring for a pregnant pet or litters of kittens or puppies.

Community Benefits

Spaying or neutering your pet ultimately reduces the homeless pet population in your community. Many cities are overrun with stray cats and dogs living on the streets. Animal shelters are also overcrowded, resulting in pets being euthanized if they are not adopted. As a pet owner, you can do your part to minimize these problems by spaying or neutering your kit or pup.

When to Spay or Neuter a Pet

Healthy dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered as early as 8 weeks of age, although the traditional age for dogs is around 6-9 months. Your adult dog can be safely neutered as well, if he’s free of health problems. To eliminate the risk of pregnancy, it’s advisable to spay your cat no later than 5 months of age. By bringing your pet to Shelbyville Road Veterinary Hospital for a checkup, your veterinarian can advise you when would be a good time to perform these surgeries.

See Our Indianapolis Veterinarian for Spay & Neuter Procedures

Spay and neuter surgeries are safe, effective, and beneficial for your pet. To schedule spay or neuter surgery for your kit or pup, contact Shelbyville Road Veterinary Hospital in Indianapolis at (317) 784-2773 today.