At Friendly Animal Clinic, our veterinary team considers spaying and neutering essential to the preventive health of cats and dogs in the Greensboro and Guilford College area.
Spaying and Neutering Your Pet
Spaying and neutering are the surgical sterilization of an animal under general anesthesia.
SPAYING: This procedure is technically referred to as an ovariohysterectomy, and involves removing a female cat or dog's reproductive organs.
NEUTERING: This is the removal of a male cat or dog's testicles, also known as an orchiectomy.
You may also hear the term 'fixing' to describe the desexing of either gender.
Our vets in the Greensboro and Guilford College area strongly encourage this procedure for your cat or dog. If you're considering having your pet spayed or neutered, our Greensboro vets will happily guide you through the process.
Reduce Puppy & Kitten Overpopulation
There are millions of cats and dogs abandoned or euthanized every year. As a pet owner, you can help by having your pet spayed or neutered to reduce puppy and kitten overpopulation and the instances of unwanted animals being abandoned or euthanized.
Benefits of Spaying & Neutering your Pets
Benefits for Cats
- Reduces risk of female cats developing uterine infections.
- Prevents unwanted behaviors such as marking territory with urine.
- Reduces cats' likeliness to roam.
- Can increase affectionate behavior.
- Reduces risk of contracting certain diseases.
- Reduces the risk of developing mammary (breast) cancer.
Benefits for Dogs
- Reduces risk of female dogs developing uterine infections.
- Reduces behaviors such as marking and spraying.
- Stabilizes the mood of the dog (potentially calming).
- Reduces the urge to mate.
- Reduces sexualized behaviors.
- Reduces the risk of prostate and cancer problems.
Spaying & Neutering FAQs
- What's the ideal age to get my pet spayed or neutered?
There may be long-term health benefits associated with waiting until pets have passed through puberty before having them spayed or neutered, but your veterinarian will help you determine the best age to spay or neuter your pet.
- What is the recovery process like?
If there are no complications or health concerns, your pet may be able to go home the say day. Some vets prefer to keep females overnight after being spayed to monitor their condition.
In both cases, activity should be restricted to allow incisions to heal. After neutering, your male pet should be rested for a few days. Female pets will require more time to heal from the procedure and therefore should have about 7-10 days of restricted activity.
We may send your pet home with a protective collar after either procedure to ensure your pet is not licking their incision area.
A follow up appointment will be made to remove the stitches and check the healing process.
- Will my pet be in pain during the procedure?
No! Your pet won't feel anything during the procedure as they will be under general anesthesia.
- Do the Pet Wellness Plans include spaying and neutering?
As spaying and neutering are one-time procedures, they are not included as part of the Wellness Plan package.
However, you are qualified for 10% off the cost of spaying or neutering if your pet is on a Wellness Plan.