Spay and Neuter Surgery: Serving the Greenfield, Oak Creek and Milwaukee Areas
Greenfield Veterinary Clinic has been serving the Greenfield Oak Creek and Milwaukee areas for more than 38 years. During that period we have provided spay and neuter surgery for a great many pets, thus preventing the birth of countless animals that might have had to be destroyed in shelters. Our sterilization surgeries have also given our furry patients happier, healthier lives than they would've enjoyed otherwise. Let's take a look at the important role this type of surgery has on ensuring a higher standard of living for pets just like yours.
Why You Should Sterilize Your Cat or Dog
The first and most obvious benefit of spay or neuter surgery is its ability to prevented unwanted pregnancies. No matter how much you may love your cat or dog, you may not be willing or able to support dozens of puppies and kittens year after year. For many owners, the only solution is to hand these animals over to shelters, most of which are already overburdened. Approximately 2.7 million of the 7.6 million animals who go into U.S. shelters each year must be euthanized. It's far more humane to control the animal population so the animals we already have access to homes and resources.
But there are also some significant health benefits to spay and neuter surgery. Sexual sterilization involves removing some or all of the reproductive organs. In neuter surgery, our veterinarian in Greenfield removes the testes of the male animal; in spay surgery, the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus are removed. Many pet owners don't realize that the removal of these organs vastly lowers their pets' lifetime cancer risk by eliminating the possibility of testicular, ovarian and uterine cancers. This is reason enough to schedule the procedure!
Sexual sterilization can also provide less direct health benefits for your dog or cat by modifying his or her behaviors. The removal of the sex organs also prevents the production of the hormones that cause animals to go into heat. This means the pets don't experience the aggression and frustration that accompanies sexual urges. Your sterilized pet will be less likely to get into fights with other animals or roam the streets in search of a mate -- behaviors that can lead to serious injuries.
Advice from Our Greenfield Veterinarian
Our Greenfield veterinarian recommends that animals be spayed or neutered before entering sexual maturity. Pets as young as 8 weeks of age can receive the appropriate surgery, which is why it's often included among the list of essential first-year wellness procedures, along with vaccinations, de-worming and other forms of preventative care. Neutering is a straightforward procedure, while spaying is somewhat more invasive and complicated, but both surgeries are well-understood and relatively safe. We can advise you on post-operative home care issues such as feeding schedules, restrictions on activity, and checking the incision site for signs of inflammation or infection.
For more information about spaying or neutering your pet in Greenfield, call us today at (414) 282-5230!