Soon after your dog is born, it’s important to bring them to a veterinarian for spay or neuter surgery. This procedure prevents your pet from reproducing and has a variety of other benefits. Here’s what you need to know once you get a new dog. 

A Guide to Spaying & Neutering

What is spay or neuter surgery?

Spaying or neutering are terms used for sterilizing a dog. Female pets are spayed, while male pets are neutered. During a spay procedure, a veterinarian removes the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus from a female dog. For a neutering procedure, a male pet’s testes are removed.

What are the benefits?

Every year, over a million shelter dogs and cats are euthanized because there aren’t enough homes for them. This procedure ensures your pet won’t contribute to the number of unwanted dogs. You also won’t end up with a litter of puppies that you’ll need to find homes for. 

Additionally, sterilization has health benefits. Spaying a female dog helps prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, and they won’t go into heat. Neutering a male dog prevents testicular cancer and helps reduce his desire to roam, potentially getting lost.

At what age is it recommended?

Dogs can be spayed or neutered by a veterinarian at around six months of age, but sometimes the procedure can be done as early as three months. Although, you should aim for the earlier option to reap the benefits for longer, such as preventing aggressive behaviors. 

What is recovery like?

Although your pet may experience some discomfort after the surgery, this can be reduced with rest and pain medications from the veterinarian. The discomfort generally goes away within a few days.

Give your pet a quiet space away from other animals so that they can recover safely. Also, you’ll need to keep them from licking their incisions, which might require them to wear a cone collar.

Kokua Pet Clinic in Honolulu, HI, is a knowledgeable and friendly veterinary clinic that will help you get your dog spayed or neutered. They’ve been taking care of pets of all sizes, breeds, and species across the state since 2000. Their primary veterinarian has over 40 years of experience in the industry, making him one of the area’s best choices. Visit their website or call (808) 843-8382 to set up your pet’s first appointment.