Do you ever worry about what you will do once your pet reaches sexual maturity and starts having the natural desire to reproduce? Currently, our country has a pet overpopulation problem because many pet owners fail to intervene and control their pet’s reproduction cycle. As a good pet owner, you should spay or neuter your pet so your furry friend doesn’t exacerbate the pet overpopulation problem. At Summit Veterinary Hospital in Los Gatos, we provide top-quality veterinary services, including spaying and neutering.

What Are Spay and Neuter?

Spaying and neutering are surgical sterilization procedures for pets that are performed under general anesthesia. Spaying refers to removing a female pet’s reproductive organs, i.e., ovaries and uterus, while neutering refers to removing a male pet’s reproductive organs, i.e., testicles. In both instances, the pet will no longer be able to reproduce.

Safety

Like many other invasive medical procedures, there is a small risk of your pet developing a complication during the spaying and neutering procedures. However, if the procedure is done in a clean, well-equipped animal hospital by a qualified and experienced vet, it’s generally safe for the pet.

How Long Do the Procedures Take?

The neuter procedure for a male cat typically takes less than 5 minutes, while for male dogs, the procedure lasts between 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the size and age of the dog. A female cat can be spayed in roughly 15 to 20 minutes, depending on where she is on the heat cycle and her age. A female dog can be spayed in 20 to 90+ minutes, depending on her size, age, and whether she is in heat.

Recovery

Before you leave our animal hospital, one of our veterinarians will provide some recovery advice for your pet. This includes:

• Keep your dog or cat indoors and away from other animals during recovery
• Make sure the pet has the “cone of shame” on at all times
• Don’t bath your pet for at least a week

Contact Our Animal Hospital in Los Gatos, CA

Are you considering spaying or neutering your cat or dog? Summit Veterinary Hospital is your top-class pet care clinic in Los Gatos. Call our team today at (408) 353-1113 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.