One of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner is spaying or neutering your furry friend if you do not want to breed them. Spaying and neutering surgeries are the best way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and they also provide several health and behavioral benefits. Family and Friends Veterinary Care in Fort Collins, CO, offers this routine pet surgery for cats and dogs to protect their long-term health and well-being. Learn more about spaying and neutering and how these operations benefit your pet below.
Understanding Spaying and Neutering
Spaying and neutering involve the removal of your pet’s reproductive organs to prevent pregnancies. Neutering removes a male pet’s testes, and spaying removes a female pet’s ovaries, uterus, or both. Having these organs removed helps your pets in the following ways:
• Lower risk of certain cancers in female pets, like uterine and ovarian cancer
• Reduced risk of prostate and testicular cancer in male pets
• Less risk of uterine infections in female pets
• Lower desire to roam or mark territory in males
• No heat cycles in females
• Potentially longer lifespan
• No unwanted litter to find homes for
What to Expect During the Pet Surgery
Our veterinarians will evaluate your pet’s health to determine if they can safely undergo surgery. We always run pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure there are no underlying issues prior to surgery. We will then put them under general anesthesia once we decide your pet can undergo the spay or neuter procedure. We do this to keep your pet and our staff safe and prevent pain from occurring during the operation. Our staff will monitor your pet’s vitals during surgery to ensure they remain healthy and safe.
The expected timeline of the surgery varies. Most spay and neuter procedures take under an hour to complete, with spaying taking slightly longer than neutering surgeries. Our veterinarians will monitor your pet as they wake from anesthesia, and then you can take them home.
What Happens After the Procedure?
Spaying and neutering are outpatient surgeries, meaning you can take your pet home the same day as the procedure. Your pet might only be at our clinic for a few hours. We will provide instructions for caring for your pet as they heal before you can take them home. These post-op instructions may include:
• Providing a calm, safe, and quiet area for your pet to rest
• Limiting your pet’s activity for a time
• Watching for infections at incision sites
Visit Our Veterinary Clinic Near You in Fort Collins, CO, Today
If you are searching for “spaying near you” or “neutering near you” to prevent unwanted pregnancies in your pet, consider contacting Family and Friends Veterinary Care in Fort Collins, CO. Our veterinarians will take good care of your pet before, during, and after their procedure to ensure they remain healthy and happy. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (970) 493-0204 to protect your pet’s long-term health and well-being.