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The Reproductive Cycle
At
what age can I spay or neuter my dog or cat?
We generally recommend spaying and neutering dogs and cats at six
months of age. Spaying your dog or cat at 6 months of age and before
her first heat cycle decreases the incidence of life-threatening
mammary tumors and uterine infections. Neutering your dog or cat
at this age protects him from developing aggressive behaviors and
potentially life-threatening prostate disease. Obviously spaying
and neutering helps decrease the number of unwanted puppies and
kittens that overwhelm our humane societies.
How will the surgery affect my dog or
cat?
There are no adverse effects of spaying or neutering pets. Male
dogs and cats will become less territorial and aggressive. Weight
gain, which is often erroneously associated with neutering and spaying
is more accurately due to the slowing of the animal's metabolism
as it reaches adulthood.
My dog/cat just had puppies/kittens.
When can she be spayed?
We recommend spaying your pet about 2 weeks after the puppies/kittens
are weaned.
Should my dog/cat have puppies/kittens
first before being spayed?
No. There are no medical benefits associated with an animal have
a litter or puppies/kittens prior to being spayed. In fact there
is an increase risk of developing mammary tumors with each heat
cycle.
What is the normal gestation length
for dogs/cats? The gestation period (length of pregnancy)
on average is 63 days.
How old is too old for a dog/cat to
be spayed or neutered?
While technically a cat or dog can be spayed/neutered at any age,
it is best to perform the surgery while the animal is young and
healthy to reduce anesthetic and surgical risks.
My dog just got bred by mistake. What
should I do?
You have 2 options. You can have the dog spayed as soon as possible,
or you can allow the dog to continue the possible pregnancy.
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What is a spay and what are the benefits?
A spay, or ovariohysterectomy, is the surgical removal of the ovaries
and the uterus. The benefits are pet population control, elimination
of the risk of uterine infections, and a decreased risk of the incidence
of mammary tumors especially if done prior to the first heat cycle.
Can a dog/cat be spayed while in heat?
We recommend against spaying a dog that is in heat but it can be done.
During this time the ovaries and uterus are swollen and filled with
blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhage. We prefer to wait until
about 4 weeks after your dog goes out of heat to perform surgery.
We can spay cats that are in heat.
What is a neuter and what are the benefits? Neutering
is the surgical removal of both testicles. Benefits include pet population
control, reduction in prostate cancer and infections, reduction of
perianal tumors, and reduction in territorial/aggressive behavior.
At what age does a dog come in heat? How
often? How long?
The age of onset of the heat cycle varies with the breed of dog. Small
breeds tend to begin cycling sooner, as early as six months of age.
Larger breeds begin later, sometimes not until 12-18 months of age.
Heat cycles then occur approximately every six months and last approximately
three weeks.
At what age does a cat come in heat? How
often? How long?
Cats can come into heat as early as six months of age. Increasing
day length stimulates them. During the spring and summer, female cats
will be receptive to breeding for several days. This will continue
to cycle about every 2 weeks or until the cat is bred. The heat cycle
will end with coming of fall and decrease in day length.
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