What You Need to Know About Spay and Neuter Surgery

Spaying or neutering your pet is vital for preventing unwanted pregnancies and significantly reducing or eliminating specific health conditions from occurring. Here at Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital in San Jose, CA, we recommend cat spaying, dog spaying, cat neutering, and dog neutering once pets reach the appropriate ages. Our team is here to tell you what you need to know about spaying or neutering your pet.

What Does a Spay and Neuter Procedure Do?

Spaying and neutering your pet involves removing its reproductive organs to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Spaying is specific to female pets and removes their ovaries and uterus, while neutering is specific to male pets and involves the removal of the testes.

Health Benefits

Neutering male pets and spaying female pets provide significant health benefits by minimizing hormone production and certain cancer risks. These procedures can also prevent unwanted behaviors, such as roaming, aggression, and marking. Your veterinarian near you can explain the exact benefits during your pet’s wellness exam. They will help you understand the value of spay and neuter surgeries as a part of your pet’s preventative pet care.

Ideal Timing for Spaying and Neutering

Although exact timelines for spaying or neutering your pet can differ between breeds, our animal clinic generally suggests the following timelines:

•             Male cats get neutered around six months old

•             Female cats get spayed before the first heat cycle at around 5-6 months old

•             Male dogs get neutered between 6-9 months old

•             Female dogs get spayed before the first heat cycle at around six months old

The timing of your pet’s spay or neuter procedure depends on multiple factors, including its overall health and breed. Speak with your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

What to Expect From the Procedure

The spaying and neutering process at your pet clinic involves general anesthesia and surgical extraction of the reproductive organs through a small abdominal incision. Most pets return home the same day and fully recover over 7-10 days with prescribed medications and supportive care. You should closely monitor your pet’s wound, invoke activity restrictions, make dietary changes, and offer pain control and closure care when your pet returns home from surgery. Doing this is vital for preventing complications with your pet’s incision and keeping your pet healthy and happy.

Spay or Neuter Your Pet Today at Your Veterinarian Near You in San Jose, CA

Spaying and neutering require a relatively short-term recovery commitment for long-term benefits for your pet’s health, behavior, and longevity, so contact Oak Grove Veterinary Hospital in San Jose, CA, to get your pet spayed or neutered today. Call us and schedule an appointment at (408) 227-1661 and get the preventative pet care your pet needs to ensure a long, healthy life.