Spay and Neuter for Dogs and Cats
in Manchester, NH

DID YOU KNOW THAT SPAYING AND NEUTERING CAN ACTUALLY

INCREASE THE LIFESPAN

of dogs and cats? It can also eliminate some unpleasant behaviors.

If your pet is a current patient at Best Friends Animal Hospital, you already know we place a strong emphasis on preventive care. That’s why we recommend spaying and neutering for all dogs and cats. As an AAHA-accredited practice, we follow AAHA’s age guidelines for these procedures. These guidelines state that cats should be spayed or neutered around 5 months of age. Dogs under 45 pounds should be sterilized at 5-6 months. For large breed dogs, we recommend that they be neutered between 9-15 months and spayed between 5-15 months.

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Many people think the only reason to spay or neuter a pet is to prevent them from reproducing. While that’s one benefit to these procedures, there are actually many more health- and behavior-related reasons to spay or neuter your pet. The following is a full list of benefits of spaying and neutering dogs and cats:

  • Eliminates the heat cycle in female pets, making your pet more comfortable
  • Lowers the risk of uterine infections and mammary cancer in female pets
  • Reduces or eliminates aggressive, destructive, and territorial behavior in male pets, including marking and mounting (humping)
  • Reduces or eliminates risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease in male pets
  • Can lower the number of homeless pets and control overpopulation

What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

Because anesthesia can make pets nauseous, we ask that you withhold all food and treats after midnight the night before surgery. Water, however, is acceptable. We typically ask that all owners drop their pets off for their spay/neuter procedure in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. We can give you the exact drop-off and pick-up time ranges when you make your appointment.

Spaying and neutering are procedures that involve surgically removing the reproductive organs of an animal and making the animal sterile. For a female pet, the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are surgically removed. For a male pet, the testicles are removed. We monitor the vitals of every patient during surgery, prioritizing their safety and comfort before, during, and after surgery.

When you pick your pet up, they may be a little lethargic from the anesthesia, which is completely normal. A member of our team will discuss some other side effects to look out for as well as some post-surgical instructions to ensure your pet recovers properly. You will also receive some pain medication for your pet to help them stay comfortable. If you have any questions during your pet’s recovery, please give us a call.

Get the best care for your best friend.