Primary Care

Spays and Neuters

We recommend that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered at 4–6 months of age, unless you are planning on breeding your pet. Spaying and neutering not only prevents unwanted births, but it is much healthier for your pet.

Spaying a female dog prior to her first heat cycle greatly reduces her risk for developing breast. It also eliminates the possibility of unwanted pregnancy and a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus.

Neutering a male dog can decrease some less desirable behaviors (mounting, marking, and wandering). Intact males are also at an increased risk for prostatitis, prostatic enlargement, and testicular tumors.

Spaying and neutering cats reduces roaming and fighting tendencies, which can lead to serious injuries. It also greatly reduces a male cat’s chance of acquiring feline leukemia and feline AIDS.