{"id":29,"date":"2023-05-01T12:12:24","date_gmt":"2023-05-01T16:12:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arkanimalhospital.net\/blog\/?p=29"},"modified":"2023-05-17T09:49:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-17T13:49:00","slug":"what-you-should-know-before-spaying-neutering-your-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arkanimalhospital.net\/blog\/what-you-should-know-before-spaying-neutering-your-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Should Know Before Spaying\/Neutering Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably heard that it\u2019s important to spay or neuter your pet. And it\u2019s true\u2014there are many benefits of spaying or neutering your dog or cat. But if you\u2019re anything like us, you like to know the reason behind the recommendation. Here’s what the team at Ark Animal Hospital<\/a> wants you to know before you make an appointment to remove your pet\u2019s reproductive organs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dogs and Cats <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)<\/a>, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized each year. In other words, there are more dogs and cats in the world than there are people willing to care for them. And when pets aren\u2019t spayed, they do what nature tells them to do: they reproduce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While kittens and puppies are downright adorable, they need responsible carers in order to thrive. By spaying and neutering your pets, you\u2019ll be part of the solution to the problem of overcrowded animal shelters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pet will also enjoy a range of health benefits following a spay or neuter procedure. The health benefits of spaying or neutering your cat or dog include a reduced risk of serious diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancers in cats and dogs can be fatal, but removing the reproductive organs greatly reduces the risk of prostatic disease in males and the often-fatal breast cancer in females. Even better, it eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in female pets. For male pets, there\u2019s no risk of testicular cancer following the removal of the testicles.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spaying and neutering reduce the risk of serious infections in dogs and cats, too. Unspayed female pets can contract a dangerous uterine infection (pyometra) that\u2019s expensive to treat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to Spay or Neuter Your Pet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best time to spay or neuter your pet depends on a range of factors. At Ark Animal Hospital, we like to give kittens time to get their core vaccines<\/a> and grow. We generally spay cats at around five months old\u2014before they experience a heat cycle. In females, this timeline gives your kitty the best chance of avoiding breast cancer. It also reduces the likelihood of male kittens developing unwanted behaviors like spraying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small-breed dogs should be spayed at around the same time as cats\u2014when they\u2019re around five or six months old. Large-breed dogs, on the other hand, benefit the most from being allowed to grow and develop. Depending on the breed, this might be when your pup is anywhere from nine to 15 months old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that while these are ideal timelines, adult pets of any age can benefit from spay and neuter surgeries, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spay and Neuter Surgery at Ark Animal Hospital<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though spays and neuters are common, safe procedures, sending your pet in for surgery can be stressful. You can rest assured that we\u2019ll take excellent care of your pet during surgery<\/a> here at Ark Animal Hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pet will receive pre-operative bloodwork<\/a> and a physical assessment. We\u2019ll also monitor their vital signs throughout the procedure and recovery time and provide a pain management plan<\/a>. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a spay or neuter surgery, call us at (215) 822\u20113636 or request a callback<\/a> from our team. We look forward to meeting your pawsome pals! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve probably heard that it\u2019s important to spay or neuter your pet. And it\u2019s true\u2014there are many benefits of spaying or neutering your dog or cat. But if you\u2019re anything like us, you like to know the reason behind the recommendation. Here’s what the team at Ark Animal Hospital wants you to know before you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,17,18],"tags":[32,33,34],"class_list":["post-29","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-health-wellness","category-puppies-kittens-oh-my","category-reproductive-health","tag-benefits-of-spaying-or-neutering-your-dog","tag-cancers-in-cats","tag-infections-in-dogs"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat You Should Know Before Spaying\/Neutering Your Pet | Ark Animal Hospital<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spay and neuter surgery is part of responsible pet ownership. 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