Spaying and Neutering for Pets

You have probably seen or heard pet owners complain about their cat wailing or their dogs humping objects or people. These are some of the behaviours that usually occur during the heat cycle. The heat cycle is when a cat or dog becomes receptive to mating and could become pregnant or impregnate others. Spay and neuter surgeries were created to prevent this from happening.

What is spay and neuter surgery?

Neuter surgery is performed on male cats and dogs. The surgery involves taking out both testicles from the scrotum. Spay surgery is for females, where an incision is made on the abdomen to remove the ovaries and uterus. By removing the reproductive organs, your loyal companion will not feel the urge to mate which will reduce certain behaviours such as roaming and preventing overpopulation in shelters.

What diseases can my cat or dog develop if they don’t have the surgery?

Spay and neuter surgery are usually recommended before puberty to maximize the benefits. When your cat or dog goes into their first heat cycle, it means their reproductive organs have fully matured and they are at risk of developing the following:

• Mammary tumours
• Uterine infections
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Testicular tumours
• Prostate cancer

By eliminating the risk of your cat or dog developing these conditions, they can live longer. To learn more about the procedure for your cat or dog, please call us at 403-843-2234.

Will spay or neuter surgery cause weight gain?

The procedure doesn’t usually cause weight gain in cats or dogs. Proper nutrition and diet are key throughout your cat or dog’s life even after they’ve had the surgery. Like any other procedure, adequate rest is recommended until the patient has fully healed. Your veterinarian will tell you when your feline or canine can go back to being active.