How Spay and Neuter Surgery Benefits Pets in Upper Arlington, OH
A spay and neuter surgery is one of the most common surgeries cats and dogs undergo. It is very safe and highly beneficial for your pet’s long-term health. In addition to health benefits, the surgery also helps reduce the number of unwanted litters, which contribute to pet overpopulation in Upper Arlington, OH.
Unwanted litters take a serious toll on our area’s shelters and due to limited space and resources, this sometimes results in the euthanizing of otherwise healthy pets. By spaying and neutering your pets, you help save cat and dog lives and make a difference in your own pet’s life!
Schedule your puppy's or kitten's first visit with us at 6-8 weeks of age, so we can discuss the best timing for surgery!
...or give us a call at (614) 451-1204
What Are the Benefits of Surgery?
Spay and neuter surgery offers both health and behavioral benefits to our cats and dogs, including:
- No more heat cycles for spayed cats and dogs
- Reduced inclination to roam to find a mate for neutered dogs and cats
- Decreased mounting and urine-marking behavior for neutered males
- Reduced risk of mammary gland tumors for spayed dogs and cats
- Reduced risk of prostate problems for neutered dogs and cats
- No risk of uterine, ovarian, or cervical cancers for spayed females
- No risk of testicular cancer for neutered cats and dogs
When Should My Pet Undergo Surgery?
Most pets will be spayed or neutered at about 6 months of age, but that timeline could fluctuate based on your pet’s breed or gender. For instance, we’ll spay females earlier, before their first heat cycle, as long as they are healthy enough, to reduce their risk of mammary gland tumors. Meanwhile, some larger breed dogs benefit from a later surgery because their reproductive hormones help control their growth rate. We’ll talk to you in-depth about the best timing for surgery during your puppy's or kitten's first visit!
Busting Spay and Neuter Myths
Even knowing all the benefits of surgery, you might still have some reservations. But are those reservations based on fact, or fiction? We break down some of the most common myths to help you fully understand the benefits of spaying and neutering.
MYTH 1: My pet will gain weight after surgery
While there is some evidence that spay and neuter surgery can play a role in slowing metabolism, the surgery itself does not cause your pet to gain weight—eating too much and exercising too little do! With the right diet and exercise, your pet will remain as trim and fit as ever.
MYTH 2: I should let my female pet have one litter before being spayed
Trust us, your female cat or dog isn’t missing anything by not having a litter! In fact, the risk of developing mammary gland tumors (which are often aggressively malignant) later in life is significantly reduced if your pet is spayed before her first heat cycle. Letting your pet have even one heat cycle and pregnancy greatly increases her chances of developing a mammary tumor later on.
MYTH 3: My pet’s personality will change after surgery
While there are some behavioral changes following surgery such as no more urine-marking or mounting behaviors, your pet’s actual personality will remain entirely intact. They’ll still be their same playful, charming, and rambunctious selves!
MYTH 4: Spay and neuter surgery is too expensive
The cost of surgery covers all the necessary precautions to keep your puppy or kitten safe and healthy throughout the procedure. This cost is a one-time expense and is far less than the cost of caring for an unwanted litter or treating a reproductive disease later in life!