Learning More About Dog Spays and Neuters at Monon Animal Hospital
At what age should I spay or neuter my dog?
There's not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to age for spaying or neutering your dog. It very much is a lifestyle and individual choice. For a lot of the smaller breed dogs, we will recommend spaying a little bit earlier, maybe closer to six or seven months of age. Whereas if we have an older dog and we're worried about joint disease and things like that, we might decide to spay a little bit later. It very much will vary, and it's something that you will want to talk through with your veterinarian and decide what the best choice is for your specific animal.
What are the health benefits of spaying or neutering my dog?
Some of the biggest benefits we see when it comes to spaying and neutering our animals are that we are decreasing their risk for certain cancers. We are decreasing the risk of mammary cancer, testicular cancer, prostate diseases, uterine infection, and so on. Other pros would be that it's decreasing the hormone fluctuations throughout the body, which helps prevent some unwanted behaviors and can potentially help in terms of decreasing aggression.
What is the recovery process like for my dog, and how can I care for my dog after surgery?
After surgery, we will ask that you keep your pet quiet, resting, and exercise-restricted for about two weeks. This allows the body to heal and recover naturally without putting any extra strain on the body, so that we aren't risking our incision site opening up or getting infected. We'll also ask that you do not bathe them or allow them to go swimming.
How should I prepare my dog for a spaying or neutering procedure?
To prepare our pets for spaying and neutering, we will want to do a pre-op exam to make sure they are healthy and a good candidate for undergoing anesthesia and this procedure. We'll also want to take some pre-op blood work to ensure there's no issues with their kidneys, liver, glucose, white cells, red cells, and things like that. On the morning of the procedure, we will ask you to bring your pet in without eating any breakfast for the day. This helps prevent vomiting, regurgitation, or aspiration during the procedure.
Are there any risks associated with a dog spay or neuter procedure?
There are risks with any procedure, the biggest one being that it is under anesthesia. With anesthesia, we always make sure that we are providing a catered protocol specifically for your pet. We go through every animal's health status, illnesses, blood work, age, vaccines, and decide what the best protocol is to keep them as safe as possible. That being said, there are risks that happen regardless and are unavoidable, but we take every precaution.
What should I do if my dog has complications after surgery?
If you're noticing any complications after surgery, such as drainage, redness, or inflammation at the surgical site, please contact us or your veterinarian so that your dog can get the appropriate care and any needed medications.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (762) 716-5417, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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