Why It's Important To Get Your Dog Spayed or Neutered

One of the earliest types of surgery your pet will go through is getting spayed if they are a female, or neutered if they are a male. The biggest reason why health professionals advocate getting your pet sterilized is to prevent the birth of unwanted pets. Millions of pets end up in shelters, and many are eventually put down. To prevent these issues, getting your pet spayed or neutered can play a significant role in keeping the population under control so pets don’t have to be euthanized. 

There are a few options you can choose from when getting your pet spayed or neutered:

• Ovariohysterectomy: The traditional spay where the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are all removed from a female cat or dog. 

 

• Hysterectomy: The uterus and fallopian tubes are removed from the female, but the ovaries remain, which may not eliminate the breeding instincts in females. 
• Orchiectomy: The traditional neuter where the testes are removed from a male cat or dog. 
• Vasectomy: The vas deferens is removed while the testes remain, which may not eliminate the breeding instincts in males.  

 

Spaying and neutering, although common surgeries, still require the pet to be at least 6 months of age. For larger dogs, your vet may want to wait even longer since the reproductive organs and the body are still in the early development stages. Be sure to schedule an appointment with a local vet and discuss any concerns and questions you may have so that you feel comfortable before the procedure. 

 

Visit Story Road Animal Hospital 

We understand how nerve-wracking the thought of your beloved companion undergoing surgery can be as a pet owner. But rest assured—your best friend is in excellent hands with our talented and compassionate surgical team. At Story Road Animal Hospital, we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of surgical care in the Irving, Las Colinas, and Euless areas by focusing carefully on each and every pet who walks through our doors. Contact us to schedule an appointment.