Most dog owners make sure to spay or neuter their pets. In fact, statistics indicate that about 80% of dogs are spayed or neutered, which helps control the animal population.
But, it might be surprising to know that the practice has other benefits beyond preventing the arrival of unwanted litters — particularly important in a country that sees people abandon dogs to shelters at a rate of about 3 million a year.
Spaying and neutering dogs, which sterilizes the animal, is a common, and often complication-free procedure that is done in our Dr. Kelly’s clinics. During the procedure, testicles are removed from male dogs, and the uterus and ovaries are removed from female dogs.
Dogs are put under general anesthesia for the procedure, which can take between 20 and 90 minutes depending on the procedure and the size of the animal. And, while a full recovery generally takes a couple weeks, dogs are feeling better within a couple of days.
The long-term benefits of female dog sterilization and male dog sterilization surgeries represent the real value of the procedure. And at Dr. Kelly’s, we offer low-cost spay and neuter procedures to make sure that this valuable and beneficial surgery is available to as many pet owners as possible.
Not only with a spay or neuter keep puppies at bay, but both procedures have lasting preventative benefits that dog owners would appreciate. For example, female dogs that are spayed before their first heat will have a very minimal chance of developing mammary cancer. As the dog matures, the risk increases with each passing year for dogs that aren’t spayed.
In addition, the risk of developing uterine and ovarian cancer is completely eliminated when a female dog is spayed.
For male dogs, neutering helps prevent testicular cancer and it heads off potential challenges related to prostate enlargement — a condition that can be very painful. Neutering a male dog could also help prevent the development of perianal tumors and specific types of hernias.
Beyond physical health, a spay or neuter procedure can have behavioral payoffs as well. Neutered male dogs often pull back on their marking behavior or stop doing it all together. Their territorial aggression is reduced and they feel less inclined to venture out on their own in search of a mate.
While spayed females generally don’t exhibit undesirable behavior prior to being spayed, except for when they’re in heat, the procedure does eliminate the chance that male dogs will come looking for a female when she goes into heat — making it easier and safer to allow her outdoors, take her to dog parks and even take her on walks.
If you have questions about the benefits of spaying and neutering your dog, reach out to our team. We’d be happy to talk you through it!
Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit is a trusted veterinary team serving the Phoenix, Peoria and Tucson metro areas, with accessible locations in each market, offering highly specialized surgery, quality spay and neuter procedures, and accessible dental care for pets. Contact us to learn more about our specialized services or to schedule an appointment.
