Neutering your male dog or cat can provide tremendous advantages for both you and your pet. Neutered pets are less likely to roam, decreasing their chances of being lost, injured by cars, or exposed to strange dogs, cats or wildlife that may carry disease. Neutering can decrease aggressiveness and territorial insecurity, minimizing behaviors such as urine marking or spraying and fighting. It also reduces the incidence of many male hormone-influenced conditions. These include testicular tumors, perianal tumors, perineal hernias and an assortment of prostate conditions.Neutering, of course, is an important component in reducing the severe pet over-population explosion. All pets not being used in a breeding program should be neutered.

When Should My Pet Be Neutered?
We recommend that you have your pet neutered at six months of age. At this age the pet generally has not begun to exhibit unwanted behaviors such as roaming, fighting or urine marking. These behaviors may become habit if allowed to continue.

Should I Breed My Pet?
Many people feel that they would like to breed their dog or cat at least once, especially if he is a purebred. There is, actually, no physiological need for your pet to breed, and with the tremendous overabundance of pets in our shelters, our suggestion has always been the same…neuter all pets. Many people note what a new puppy or kitten can be sold for, and decide that they, too, want to get into the pet breeding business. This business does have its challenges and expenses. Consider the veterinary examinations, the possible need for birth assistance, including surgical procedures, the care of the puppies/kittens, their de-worming, their vaccinations and then their sale. Pet breeding can be very emotionally rewarding, but it can also be financially taxing.

How Is The Neutering Procedure Done?
Neutering, or Castration, is a relatively routine procedure. Since general anesthesia is required for this procedure, we suggest a pre-surgical blood screen to better assess the health status of your pet. Even very young pets may show a subtle anemia or kidney ailment. We use an intravenous catheter for all surgical cases. Intravenous fluids will be given to cases showing a need due to age or health status. We will give your pet pre-anesthetic medications that will provide a calming effect for our induction of anesthesia, and provide pain relief during and after the procedure. All patients are monitored with either an ECG monitor that indicates their heart rate and rhythm, or a pulse oxymeter that measures both the oxygen saturation in the blood and their heart rate. In certain cases, for additional safety, we will use both monitors. The procedure itself involves removal of both testicles. At times, one or both testicles may be in the abdomen, not in the scrotum. This will require additional steps for the removal of the testicles. We hospitalize all surgical patients overnight for 24-hour post-operative observations. Your pet may be discharged with an Elizabethian Collar that will prevent licking and chewing of the incision. We may also send home pain relieving medications. You will be instructed to restrict activity for two weeks for best healing. After the incision has healed, usually at two weeks, your pet can have unrestricted activity and can be bathed.