Neutering vs. Spaying: Understanding the Choices for Your Pet

Taking great care of your pet is vital for ensuring it lives a long and happy life. One of the ways you can protect your pet’s well-being is through preventative care such as spaying or neutering. Understanding which procedure your pet needs and the benefits they provide can help ensure a healthy life for your pet. Glastonbury Animal Hospital in Glastonbury, CT, is here to tell you about spaying and neutering surgeries and how they can help your pet.

What Is the Difference Between Spaying and Neutering?

While spaying and neutering procedures have the same goal, the surgeries have differences. Spaying is a surgery for female pets and involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Doing this eliminates your pet’s ability to become pregnant. Neutering involves the removal of your male pet’s testicles, preventing your pet from being able to cause pregnancies in other animals. Both spaying and neutering surgeries are safe with minimal risk of complications. While spaying has a longer recovery time than neutering, most pets can return home the same day as their procedure.

How Do These Procedures Help?

The primary benefit of spaying or neutering your pet is preventing unwanted pregnancies. These preventative care surgeries eliminate the risk of your pet becoming or getting another pet pregnant. This simple form of pet care can help reduce the unwanted pet population.

Spaying or neutering your pet can also provide several behavioral and health benefits. Spaying or neutering your pet is integral for cancer protection. Spaying eliminates your pet’s risk of uterine infections, ovarian cancer, and mammary cancer. Spaying can also alleviate hormonal fluctuations in your pet caused by heat cycles, leading to less marking and roaming. Neutering reduces your pet’s risk of testicular cancer and other prostate problems while decreasing aggression and mounting behaviors.

Visit Your Veterinarian Near You in Glastonbury, CT, for Quality Pet Care Today

If you have concerns about aggression or cancer prevention and want more information on spaying or neutering your pet, contact your vet at Glastonbury Animal Hospital in Glastonbury, CT. We can answer your questions and help you make an informed choice about your pet’s care. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (860) 295-3939 to keep your pet happy and healthy.