Spaying and Neutering for Pets

Otherwise known as getting your cherished pet “fixed”, spaying and neutering procedures prevent them from producing their own offspring. These simple procedures have huge positive impacts not only on your pet’s health, but also on other furry friends here in our region and beyond. Did you know that over 2 million dogs and cats in North America are euthanized each year due to overpopulation? Animal shelters and rescues cannot take care of all the pets born each year. By spaying or neutering your pet, you can help prevent the global issue of unwanted breeding. To learn more about the benefits of spaying and neutering, and how our team performs these services, give us a call at 519-307-2510.

Does spaying or neutering make my pet gain weight?

Not at all. This is a common myth among pet owners. If your pet continues to get proper exercise and maintains a healthy diet, they should not gain weight due to these surgeries. In fact, spaying and neutering has many health benefits such as:

• Longer life expectancy
• Lowered risk of cancer (i.e. ovarian, testicular, and more)
• Lowered risk of infections, tumours, and other reproductive health problems
• Spayed females will no longer display yowling, spraying and other signs of “going into heat” during the breeding season
• Neutered males will less likely roam away from home to breed
• Your pet will be less likely to develop aggression, anxiety and other behavioural problems

When should I spay or neuter my pet?

Dogs are usually spayed or neutered as young as eight-weeks-old. Their feline friends can be spayed or neutered at eight-weeks-old, and it is best if they undergo the procedure before they reach their fifth month of life. Dogs and cats can be fixed well into adult age, but we must be careful of complications that can occur if they are overweight or if they are seniors.