Intact (not spayed or neutered) dogs and cats contribute to the homeless pet population each day at alarming rates. As that number grows, so does the number of healthy pets being euthanized as a result of a shortage of adoptive homes. At Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital, we understand the importance of spaying and neutering your pet and offer these procedures 5 days a week for your convenience. By getting your furry friend spayed or neutered, you’ll not only be helping control pet homelessness, but there’s also several medical and behavioral benefits.

The benefits:

- Reduce Marking and Spraying

- Reduce Roaming

- Reduce Aggression

- Lower Risk of Cancer

- Decrease Overpopulation

Although most pets vary on when the best time to get them spayed or neutered, you can follow this general rule:

- Small/ Medium-sized pets: about 6 months of age

- Large pets: between 8-12 months of age

Getting your small/ medium-sized pet spayed or neutered around 6 months of age will prevent them from having a heat cycle which means they’re less likely to roam to find a mate and less likely to mark/ spray inside your home.

Larger dogs can vary by breed depending on when the absolute best time to get them spayed or neutered is. A consultation with your veterinarian will help determine the safest time to get your furry friend scheduled.

We still highly suggest sterilization into adulthood. We always say “age is not a disease” and recommend preanesthetic blood work to look for any preventable issues.

Spaying and neutering your pet helps prevent wandering for a mate and potential dangers outside of the yard such as getting hit by a car, fleas/ ticks, and the potential for getting lost. Additionally, spaying reduces the risk of ovarian, uterine, and mammary cancer and eliminates the risk for life threatening uterine infections. Males will have a higher chance of testicular or prostate cancer if left unneutered. These factors make having your pet spayed or neutered important to be done as soon as your veterinarian is comfortable. Your veterinarian can also microchip your pet while they are in surgery! Once the microchip has been injected underneath the skin, the chip can then be scanned showing a set of numbers specifically registered to you. This means your pet can always be linked back to you should they ever be found elsewhere.

Overall, spaying and neutering your pet is beneficial for the pet itself and the population. When you schedule your pet's procedure at our hospital, your furry friend will have a dedicated doctor and nurse from start to finish. Most pets will have no complications with the quick surgery, but it’s still important to keep a close eye on them for their recovery at home.

Tips for after the procedure:

-Provide your pet with their own quiet space away from other animals.

-Don’t let your pet run or jump for up to 2 weeks.

-Make sure your pet does not lick the incision site. An e-collar (cone) may be provided by your veterinarian for safe measure.

-Avoid getting the incision wet (bathing) for at least 10 days

-Keep an eye on the incision daily to make sure it’s healing properly

To see if your pet is ready for their spay or neuter, please call our office today to schedule an appointment. We’re committed to keeping your pet happy and healthy for a lifetime!

Tulsa: 918-492-2674

Broken Arrow: 918-355-5662