Dog Neuter & Cat Neuter
Health benefits of the surgery include reduced chance of prostate and testicular cancer.
Although there are risks involved with any surgery the health benefits to having your dog or cat neutered outweigh the risks.
There are many benefits to neutering your dog or cat. The dog and cat neuter surgery eliminates testicular cancer, decreases the chances of developing prostate cancer, and your pet will not be out roaming looking for chicks, thereby decreasing the chances of being hit by a car or being picked up by animal control.
Neutering male cats young may decrease their chances of spraying. Your pet will not become fat and or lazy from this surgery. Obesity in dogs and cats comes from overfeeding and lack of exercise. In some cases a thyroid problem or genetics is to blame but the neuter surgery is not to blame for a fat dog or cat.
When should you have your dog/cat neutered?
The best age to neuter your dog or cat is under debate but most veterinarians agree that the surgery should be preformed between 4 - 6 months of age. If you decide to breed your dog or cat consider neutering later (after you are through breeding), by doing so your pet will not be able to develop testicular cancer. It's never to late to neuter, the surgery can be safely done under gas anesthesia, ask your veterinarian.
Early dog and cat spay/neuter surgeries:
Many veterinarians have started to perform spay and neuter surgeries on pets as young as 6 - 8 weeks of age. These surgeries have been performed on young puppies and kittens for many years without any health problems developing later in life. Usually early spay/ neuter programs are used for the Humane Society and rescue groups so that pets can go to their new homes already altered.
Dog and cat neuter surgery:
The surgery should be performed with sterile instruments and with a sterile field. If the procedure is performed sterilely then the risk of infection is decreased. Your pet will be intubated and under general anesthesia throughout the procedure. During the dog and cat neuter surgery an incision is made and the testicles removed, the blood supply tied off. The incision is then sutured closed in dogs, in cats sutures are not needed.
Risks involved:
The dog/cat neuter surgery should not be considered a routine surgery just because it is performed daily in most animal hospitals, there are risks involved during any surgery. The risks go up if your pet is overweight and/or elderly. Consider doing blood work before surgery if your dog or cat falls into one or both of those categories.
Pre-surgical blood work:
Pre-surgical blood work will be recommended by most veterinarians. The blood work will check for anemia and infection as well as kidney and liver function and your pets blood sugar. This information is always nice to have before your pet goes under anesthesia, your pet may look healthy on the outside but we don't know what is happening on in the inside unless blood work is done. Keep in mind that blood work will look at what we are unable to see on a physical exam.
Post-surgical care:
When your pet is brought home from the hospital it should be kept calm for at least a week. Look at the incision daily and check for signs of infection. If redness, swelling, or discharge is noted call your veterinarian. If you think the incision is open, don't wait to call, this is an emergency and needs to be seen by your veterinarian immediately.
I recommend leash walking your dog to go potty and not allowing any free running for at least a week. This means that outside only dogs and cats should be kept in-doors (or at least in the garage) for at least a week post surgery. This gives your pet a chance to heal before going back to normal life. It is also recommended that your pet not swim or have a bath for at least a week, possibly two weeks if external sutures were used. Some veterinarians will send pain medication home for your pet along with post-surgical care information, their advice should be followed closely to avoid any complications.
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