Spaying
In recent years, breeders and even some veterinarians have recommended spaying or neutering at a later age. Unfortunately, these recommendations are misguided. Although several studies have shown that some large-breed dogs have an increased risk of certain cancers when spayed/neutered (LSA, MCT, HSA, OSA), they do not tell the whole story.
Multiple studies have shown that, when accounting for all causes of death, spaying and neutering increases lifespan in females by 26% and in males by 14%. This data, based on over 2,000,000 animals, clearly shows that desexing increases survival in dogs, especially in females. These facts hold true even when considering breeds highly susceptible to cancer, such as Golden Retrievers.
| Mean Survival (Urfer et al 2019) |
Mean Survival (Urfer et al 2020) |
|
| Intact females | 13.77 years | 14.9 years |
| Spayed females | 14.35 years | 15 years |
| Intact males | 14.09 years | 15 years |
| Neutered males | 14.15 years | 15.9 years |
Spaying
We recommend spaying female dogs and cats beginning at six months of age. During this procedure, the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes of the patient are removed.
Benefits Include:
- Prevents unwanted pregnancies
- Increases longevity
- Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine tumors
- Remove the possibility of uterine infections
What to expect after surgery
Spaying is a substantial procedure, requiring a 10-to-14-day recuperation period. Lethargy is typical in the days immediately following the spay, but your pet should never be uncomfortable.
Keep a close eye on your pet to ensure they don’t lick or bite at the incision.
Neutering
We recommend neutering beginning at six months of age for both cats and dogs. This procedure removes the testicles.
Benefits Include:
- Decreases inter-dog aggression
- Reduces roaming, thus decreasing the risk of dog fights, interacting with wildlife, and getting hit by a car
- Decreases spraying and territory marking
- Eliminates the risk of testicular tumors and torsion
- Decreases the risk of benign prostatic hypertrophy, perianal tumors, perineal hernias, prostatic cysts, and bacterial prostatitis.
What to expect after surgery
Neutering, while less invasive than spaying, is still a medical procedure that requires recovery time. Lethargy is typical after surgery, but a pet should never be uncomfortable. Keep a close eye on your pet to ensure it doesn’t lick or bite at the incision.
Veterinary Services
Below are all of the veterinary services we offer at Mendon Animal Clinic. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to call us.