First-time pet owners have a lot to learn about caring for their new four-legged friend. Working with an experienced veterinarian can help you make wise decisions concerning your pet’s health, wellness, and safety. This is especially important when it comes to the topic of spay/neuter surgery. At Huntsville Animal Clinic in Huntsville, AL, we can answer any questions you may have about spaying or neutering your pet, dispel any unfounded concerns about these procedures, and help you determine what’s best for your furry friend.
Understanding Spay/Neuter Surgery
Spay/neuter surgery is a means of sterilizing your pet to avoid unwanted/unexpected pregnancies. This one-time surgery can be performed safely and successfully by your Huntsville, AL vet at Huntsville Animal Clinic.
Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
Caring for one pet can be time-consuming enough without having to contend with its litters. Fixing your dog or cat permanently resolves the problem of unwanted pregnancies and resultant pet babies. In doing so, it helps control pet homelessness in your community by reducing the number of unwanted pets in animal shelters. As adorable as puppies and kittens can be, not everyone wants a pet, and many shelters are struggling to find homes for the pets they have.
In addition to helping your community, spay/neuter surgery offers personal benefits to you and your pet in the form of:
- Better Health – Fixed pets are less likely to develop reproductive cancers and tumors that can devastate their health or lead to their early death. Spaying or neutering your pet increases its chances of living longer with better health.
- Elimination of Undesirable Behavior – Fixing your pet eliminates disagreeable behaviors associated with the mating/heat cycle, such as female cats spraying indoors or howling at night and male dogs roaming in search of a mate. Neutering male dogs may even curtail aggressive behavior and make them more affectionate by reducing the level of testosterone (a hormone that promotes aggressive behavior) in their system.
- Saving money on pet care – Spay/neuter surgery is a one-time investment that can save you money long-term, as you’ll never have the expense of caring for a pregnant pet or feeding and housing its litters.
When to Spay or Neuter Your Pets
Your Huntsville, AL veterinarian can help you decide the best time to spay or neuter your pet, taking into consideration your pet’s age, state of health, and breed. Healthy cats can be fixed as early as 8 weeks old. Many dog owners prefer to wait until their pup is 4-6 months old to have this procedure done.
See Our Veterinarian for Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
To schedule a consultation for spay or neuter surgery for your cat or dog, contact Huntsville Animal Clinic in Huntsville at 256-534-5581.