Pet owners have many decisions to make when adopting new pets. One of these decisions is whether or not to have their pets spayed or neutered. Spay and neuter surgeries sterilize pets to prevent unwanted pregnancies. At Oakdale Animal Hospital, we offer safe and effective spay and neuter procedures in the Jackson Metro Area as part of our puppy care and kitten care program. Here’s what you should know about this surgery.
About Spay and Neuter Pet Surgery
If you’re not going to breed your pets, you can prevent surprise pregnancies by having them spayed or neutered. After a wellness exam, our Jackson veterinarian can recommend the best time to fix your pet. Cats can be fixed as early as 8 weeks of age, while dogs are typically fixed between 4 and 6 months of age, before a female’s first heat.
Why Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
Fixing your pet offers many health and behavioral benefits. Spay and neuter surgery helps prevent reproductive infections, tumors, and cancers so your pets can live healthier lives. Fixing your pets can also improve their behavior by minimizing aggressive behavior in males and keeping females from going into heat and displaying undesirable behaviors like yowling at night or spraying urine indoors. In addition, spay and neuter surgery reduces overcrowding in animal shelters, making it an essential aspect of responsible puppy care and kitten care.
Spay and Neuter Myths
The following are some common misconceptions about spay and neuter surgery:
Spay/neuter surgery changes a pet’s personality
Fixing your pet will NOT change its personality. It could, however, improve your pet’s behavior by reducing aggressive tendencies and reducing its desire to run off in search of a mate.
Female pets should have one litter before being spayed
There are no benefits to a female pet having a litter before being fixed. In fact, fixing your female before her first heat can keep her in better health.
Fixing my pet will make it fat
Fixing your pet has no impact on its weight. Obesity is generally caused by lack of exercise and overeating.
Pet Surgery Recovery
Our veterinary specialist will leave you with full instructions for post-op home care for successful pet surgery recovery. We recommend setting up a quiet nook in the home where your pet can rest. Don’t bathe your pet for the first 10 days after surgery and don’t allow it to lick its wound. Pets generally recover within 2 weeks of surgery. If you have any problems, contact your Jackson veterinarian.
See Our Veterinary Specialist for Spay/Neuter Surgery
To schedule a consultation for spaying or neutering your pet, contact Oakdale Animal Hospital, serving the Jackson Metro Area, at 601-829-9949.
