Modern spay and neuter procedures are humane and safe for pets and provide numerous lifelong health benefits. We provide these procedures at Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital in Elk River, MN for dogs and cats. While the procedures can be performed at any point later in life, it’s generally recommended that you spay or neuter your dog or cat at around six months of age.
Benefits of Neutering Male Pets
The neuter procedure removes the testicles of a male dog or cat. It provides the following lifelong benefits:
- Reduces aggressive male behaviors
- Reduces chances of prostate or reproductive cancers
- Reduces territorial urine-marking habits
- Reduces the likelihood of “roaming” away from the home or yard
Benefits of Spaying Female Pets
The spay procedure removes the ovaries and uterus from a female dog or cat. It provides the following lifelong benefits:
- No menstrual cycle or heat cycle
- Reduced risk of reproductive and breast cancers
- Eliminates the anxious behaviors, yowling/howling of heat cycles
Spay and Neuter Operations
Our friendly staff at Barrington Oaks Veterinary Hospital will fully explain the procedure to you beforehand. We recommend blood work analysis before a spay or neuter operation, to ensure the pet is healthy and won’t face any unwanted complications from the anesthesia.
Spay and neuter operations are routine surgical procedures. The vast majority of pets can go home the same day after the operation. General or local anesthesia is administered, to ensure that your pet will not experience any pain during the operation.
After your pet is spayed or neutered, we may send you home with an Elizabethan collar (e-collar) for him or her to wear for a few days. This keeps them from licking or biting the incision site and helps to prevent infection and facilitate healing.
Your pet will need to rest for a few days after the operation. You will want to minimize playtime and other strenuous activities. Cats should be prevented from climbing on their favorite objects, to ensure that they don’t tear the incision open. It generally takes around ten days to two weeks for a pet to be fully recovered after a spay or neuter procedure. We’ll schedule a follow-up appointment with you a few days after the operation, to ensure that your pet is healing properly.
Call Us to Schedule Spay and Neuter Services
If you have a pet that’s approaching six months of age, or an older pet that you’d like to have spayed or neutered, call our veterinary hospital in Elk River to schedule an appointment. We can be reached at (763) 441-4000.
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