companions:spay/neuter benefits

Companions

here’s to the new year

by gerri reid, dvm

Happy New Year to one and all! As we enter into 2022, many of you may have acquired a new furry four-legged friend. Maybe from Christmas or just because you wanted a new pet. For some, pet ownership may be new and for others it may be all too familiar. Whatever your level of knowledge is to owning a pet, it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves of what our pet may need to keep them healthy. Vaccines, diet and regular visits to your Veterinarian will help you ensure your pet's health. But when it comes to long term health, spaying (female pet) or neutering (male pet]] your pet is most important.

I find that many people do not know the benefits of having their pet spayed/neutered. As I speak to these people, there seems to be some reservation about having it done. There seems to be a fear of putting their pet thru surgery/anesthesia. A Blood test will be done prior to surgery to evaluate the kidneys and liver as these organs need to be functional to process anesthesia. Proper monitoring of your pet during surgery is not only done by a Licensed Veterinary Technician but also by blood pressure/oxygen machine. An IV catheter is placed for quick access in case of an emergency. Rest assure that your Veterinarian will take all the necessary measures for your pet to have a positive outcome for this much needed surgery.

So why spay/neuter? There are medical and behavioral benefits to having your pet spayed/neutered. Medical benefits for female pets include preventing uterine infections as well breast tumors. Spaying your female pet before the first heat, 5-6 months of age, offers the best protection from these diseases. Neutering a male pet prevents testicular cancer and prostate issues. Behavioral benefits for male pets include less aggression, less likely to roam away from home and making your pet a better behaved pet as unneutered males are more likely to mark their territory.

Another myth pet owners have about spaying/neutering their pet is that it will not cause your pet to be overweight. We tend to see this after surgery due to the lack of exercise and over feeding. Your pet can remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake. Many feel that neutering your pet will fix behavioral problems. As it may in certain cases but if your pet has had certain behaviors prior, neutering may not fix the problem.

As we can see, the benefits of spaying/neutering your pet out weighs the diseases/cancer that can occur. There are low cost Spay/Neuter Facilities in our area that can help off-set the cost. The goal is to provided these services at a lower cost to help curve the number of unwanted pets and homeless pets. These facilities are highly equipped to offer these surgeries with the same preventive measures as your Veterinarian to ensure your pet's safety during the procedure.

Spaying and neutering your pet is one of the most beneficial procedure you can do to ensure that your lives a healthy life. Hopefully understanding why we recommend to spay/neuter your pet will ease your mind about making the decision to have it done. We can avoid issues such as reproductive infections and cancer. So, in the famous words of Bob Barker from The Price is Right…Please Spay & Neuter Your Pets!

Dr. Gerri S. Reid is the Owner/Veterinarian of Reid Mobile Veterinary Services. She can be reached at 540-623-3029 or reidmobilevetservices.com or facebook @ReidMobileVetServices