Spay & Neuter for Your Pets
Whether you have a kitten or puppy or have a newly adopted pet, it is important to make sure he or she is spayed or neutered. Veterinarians recommend having your pet spayed or neutered as a safe and effective way to eliminate negative habits and promote the long healthy life of your pet. Our team at Mediapolis Veterinary Clinic is here to help your pet throughout the process.
What Is Spaying or Neutering?
Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) means removing all or part of an animal’s reproductive organs. This can be performed as a routine surgery or laparoscopically at our clinic. In females, this means removing the ovaries as well.
When to Neuter or Spay
Neutering or spaying your pet early is the best way to get the maximum benefit. That means before the pet has gone through their first heat cycle. Pets can be neutered or spayed as young as 8 weeks old, but before 5 months of age is recommended. However, larger breeds may need to wait longer to properly develop before being spayed or neutered. It is important to consult our staff to find the best time for your pet to have the surgery.
How Long After Giving Birth Can My Pet Be Spayed?
While it is tempting to get your female pet spayed as soon as possible after pregnancy, it is best to wait until at least two weeks after her milk has dried up and the litter has fully weaned off. This is often at four to five weeks old for puppies and five to six weeks for kittens. It is important to know that mothers can get pregnant again while nursing their kittens. The best way to prevent another pregnancy until you can get her spayed is to keep her away from male pets.
Aftercare
Following the surgery, your pet will be sent home with care instructions and medications. This is to keep your pet calm and comfortable while he or she is healing. Most pets recover from their surgery between 10 and 14 days. A confined relaxing space may be needed for aftercare.
Benefits of Spay and Neuter Surgery
- Reduced risk of cancer – Spaying can reduce the risk of breast tumors, uterus infections, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer.
- Prevent the pet from going into heat – when a female goes into heat, they often urinate frequently and indiscriminately on floors and furniture. A heat cycle is 4-5 days every three weeks.
- Marking territory – Pets often mark their territory by urinating. This can be very smelling, particularly when it is inside the home. Neutering can help eliminate the problem.
- Eliminate wandering behavior – As pets develop, they can wander around the neighborhood looking for someone to mate with. When they roam, pets can get lost, hurt, or bother others.
- Controlling the pet population – Pets are abandoned at shelters every day. There aren’t enough homes for the 6.5 million animals that are found every year. Spaying or Neutering can help diminish that number.
We Are Here to Help
If you are thinking about having your pet spayed or neutered, contact Mediapolis Veterinary Clinic. Our team will perform a complete exam to get your pet prepared for the procedure. After this exam, we will schedule the appointment for your pet's surgery. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care for your pet. Give us a call at (319) 394-3108 today to see how we can help you and your animal.