Neutering your pet has many benefits, with very few risks. The procedure, which prevents male animals from reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Neutering will not change your pet’s personality.
By neutering your pet, you’re reducing or eliminating his risk for testicular cancer, reducing risk of prostatic infection, as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Neutering can also reduce or eliminate undesirable and embarrassing behavior, including roaming, fighting, humping, and spraying/marking. In addition, neutering your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.
Neutering, which involves removing the testicles, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.
There is some evidence in larger and giant breeds that early sterilization may slightly increase risks of orthopedic disease and certain cancers. For this reason, our Practice policy is a minimum one year of age for these breeds. Exceptions are on case by case basis.
To set up an appointment to have your pet neutered or to learn more about this procedure, please call or visit our clinic. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to neuter your pet, please call us or stop by so we can discuss your concerns.
Did you know that Memphis, TN has a city wide ordinance that requires all non-breeding Pets to be spayed and neutered to reduce the overpopulation and high shelter euthanasia rates? Breeding permits are available. Please refer to the following link for details:
http://www.memphistn.gov/Portals/0/pdf_forms/ordinances/5379_SpayNeuterOrdinance.pdf