Commonly
Asked Questions About Spaying and Neutering
 Q.
Is spay or neuter surgery paintful? Can it harm my dog or cat?
A. During spay or neuter surgery, dogs and cats are fully
anesthetized, so they feel no pain. Afterwards, most animals seem
to experience some discomfort, but signs of discomfort disappear within
a day or two. With pain management medication, pain may not be
experienced at all. Serious harm as a result of spay neuter
surgery is extremely rare.
Q.
Is spay neuter surgery expensive?
A. Spay or neuter surgery generally costs less than most major
surgeries, especially if the dog or cat is young and healthy. In
the Inland Empire you are fortunate to have a subsidized low cost
spay-neuter clinic to help with that expense.
Q. Shouldn't a female dog or cat
have one litter, or at least one heat cycle, before being spayed?
A. To the contrary, a dog or cat has the best chance of good
health if spayed before her first heat. Early spaying reduces the
risk of mammary tumors and prevents other health problems, such as
life-threatening uterine infections, before aging brings greater
susceptibility.
Q. Can a pregnant dog or cat be
safely spayed?
A. Many dogs and cats are spayed while pregnant to prevent
the birth of puppies or kittens. A veterinarian however, must
consider the pregnant dog or cat, as well as the stage of her pregnancy,
before deciding whether she is a healthy candidate for surgery.
Q. Don't spayed or neutered dogs and
cats become overweight?
A.
All dogs and cats, much like their humans, begin to gain weight as
they age. Attention to appropriate diet and exercise makes weight
gain unlikely.
Q. At what age should my dog or cat
be spayed or neutered?
A. Because early spaying and neutering is best, dogs and
cats usually are ready for the surgery by 2 or 3 months of age.
Pediatric surgical and anesthetic techniques make surgery at an early
age more desirable
|
