Spaying and Neutering for Pets

Spaying and neutering are routine procedures that permanently alter your pet’s ability to reproduce. To clear up misconceptions about the procedures and share insight into our protocol, we offer webcasts to share behind-the-scenes looks at the surgeries. Clients are able to see the pre-surgical exam, surgical preparation, the procedure, and how quickly our patients recover. 

Why are community spay and neuter programs important?

It has been estimated that only 1 in 12 cats and 1 in 6 dogs born ever find a forever home. Without spay and neuter initiatives, homeless animals are often euthanized, neglected, or die of disease or injuries. Spaying or neutering is a humane and responsible procedure that prevents the unnecessary harm to millions of pets in our community. 

What is a pediatric spay/neuter?

A pediatric spay/neuter occurs between 8 to 16-weeks-of-age. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about pediatric spay/neuter procedures. Just like with any surgical procedure, there are risks of complications. However, most veterinary professionals and researchers believe the positives of spaying/neutering pets before they can reproduce outweigh the potential negatives. It’s important to note that every pet is unique, so before performing a spay or neuter procedure, we thoroughly examine them to ensure they are healthy and strong enough to proceed. To learn more about the procedure, please call us at 604-427-2744.

What are the benefits of spaying or neutering my pet?

There are many positive health and social benefits to these procedures. Health benefits include helping prevent uterine infections and breast cancer in female pets (fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats). For male dogs, neutering prevents testicular and prostate cancer if conducted before six months of age. Socially, your spayed female won't go into heat, so they won’t yowl and urinate as frequently. Neutered male pets will be much better behaved, focusing their attention on their human families. In contrast, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by spraying urine all over the house, yard, or neighbourhood. Many aggression problems can be avoided by getting your pet neutered early on.