Every year, millions of pets end up in shelters, and unfortunately, not all of them find loving homes. One of the most effective ways to combat pet overpopulation is through spaying and neutering. At Animal Medical Clinic, we are dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership by providing safe and affordable spay and neuter services.
Why Spay & Neuter?
Spaying (for females) and neutering (for males) are routine surgical procedures that offer numerous benefits for pets, their owners, and the community:
- Prevents Unwanted Litters
Every year, shelters become overwhelmed with puppies and kittens needing homes. Spaying and neutering help reduce the number of stray and abandoned pets. - Health Benefits
- Spaying eliminates the risk of uterine infections and greatly reduces the chance of mammary tumors in females.
- Neutering prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate issues in males.
- Behavioral Improvements
- Neutered males are less likely to roam, mark territory, or display aggressive behaviors.
- Spayed females won’t experience heat cycles, reducing stress and unwanted attention from male animals.
- Community Benefits
- Decreases the number of stray animals, which can help prevent the spread of disease and reduce incidents of animal-related nuisances.
When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
The ideal time to spay or neuter your pet varies depending on their breed, size, and health. In general, most veterinarians recommend:
- Cats (male and female): “Fix at Six” months of age
- Small to medium-sized dogs
- Females are spayed around 7 months of age.
- Males are neutered around 9 months of age
- Large breed dogs (adult weight >45 pounds): discuss the timing of surgery with your veterinarian. There are some benefits to waiting until after a year of age:
- Early spaying leads to a taller, thinner conformation, which may be undesirable in certain breeds
- Fewer joint problems
- In Golden Retrievers ONLY, reduced incidence of cancer (except breast cancer).
If you're unsure about the best timing for your pet, our veterinarians at AMC are happy to provide personalized recommendations based on your pet’s specific needs.
Schedule Your Pet’s Surgery at AMC
At Animal Medical Clinic, our experienced veterinary team performs spay and neuter procedures with the highest level of care and safety. Both spaying and neutering procedures are performed under general anesthesia. The pet sleeps painlessly through the entire operation. To make the anesthesia and surgery safe as possible we tailor the anesthetic use on each individual pet based on the pet’s health and physical condition. It should be noted that there is a small risk involved with any anesthetic procedure. However, we monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature and blood pressure throughout the entire procedure. Another safety measure that is standard at AMC is the use of IV fluids for patients under anesthesia. This allows us to maintain blood pressure and provides instant IV access should any supportive or emergency drugs need to be administered. Warming blankets are used to maintain proper body temperature.
By choosing to spay or neuter your pet, you’re making a responsible decision that benefits your pet’s health and helps control the pet population. Schedule an appointment today and be part of the solution!