But there are many benefits of spaying and neutering aside from preventing accidental feline pregnancies. This Spay and Neuter Awareness Month, we’re spreading awareness about how, when, and why you should spay or neuter an indoor cat. 

Four Reasons Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Indoor Cat

1: Prevent Pregnancies

The most obvious reason to spay or neuter your cat is to prevent kittens. Even if you plan to keep your cat indoors, they might still find their way outside at some point and have a run-in with the opposite gender. Cats can have multiple litters a year, and as adorable as kittens are, it’s hard work taking care of a newborn litter and finding loving homes for all of them. 

If a male indoor cat gets out and impregnates a stray female, that’s four to six more stray cats in the world. Overpopulation is the leading cause of death in healthy cats, due to shelters that euthanized unclaimed cats.  

2: Lower Chance of Escape

Cats are naturally curious, so there’s always a risk of your kitty dashing out the door. But cats that haven’t been spayed or neutered are much more desperate to get outdoors so they can find a mate—especially female cats when they’re in heat. Spaying or neutering your cat reduces their desire to escape, making it easier to keep your indoor cat safe and happy.  

3: Prevent Reproductive Cancers

Spaying and neutering are also important for your cat’s health. Spaying helps prevent breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers in female cats. And neutering male cats helps prevent testicular cancer as well as prostate issues like UTIs. 

The younger a cat is spayed, the lower their risk of developing a reproductive cancer. For example, a female cat who is spayed before the age of 6 months has a 91% reduction in their risk of mammary carcinoma, while those who are spayed between 6 months and a year have an 86% reduction in risk. 

4: Eliminate Unwanted Behaviors

Due to hormonal changes, intact cats can exhibit a variety of behaviors that can be a nuisance for you and stressful for your cat. For instance, female cats tend to yowl constantly for several weeks at a time when they’re in heat. 

And male cats like to mark walls, furniture, clothes, etc. with urine to attract a mate. Male cats may also be extremely aggressive because of high testosterone levels. The spay or neuter procedure will make your cat much calmer, without changing their unique personality. 

When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Cat?

Whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, the best time to spay or neuter is when they’re young. Kittens as young as 8 weeks old can safely undergo the procedure, but we recommend waiting until they are at least 16 weeks old. If you want to avoid pregnancies and unwanted behaviors, you should spay or neuter your cat before they turn 5 months old. 

Spay and Neuter Surgery in Gilbert, Arizona

Are you ready to spay or neuter your indoor cat? At Anasazi Animal Clinic, we perform safe and effective spay and neuter surgeries for both cats and dogs. We know that many people have concerns about neutering their pets, and we’re always glad to discuss any questions or qualms you may have about the surgery. Call us at 480-497-0505 today to schedule an appointment and make sure that your cat is on track for a happy, healthy life. 

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (2/6/2023). Photo by Hans Ott on Unsplash

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What is Pet Insurance?

The concept of pet insurance surfaced in the United States in 1982. Similar to some human health insurance plans, pet insurance typically requires full payment in advance for any services done, and then submission of invoices for reimbursement. Depending upon the type of plan, reimbursement might be partial or full.

Each insurance plan varies, but as a whole pet insurance often covers accidents and illnesses, and may even cover preventive or wellness care. If you are looking for a base plan, be sure to include accidents and illnesses, congenital and hereditary conditions, cancer, and chronic diseases.

Is It Right For Me?

You may be considering health insurance for your pet because they are ill, or you may just want to be prepared for the future since health care can be one of the most costly aspects of owning a four-legged friend. There’s no question pet health care costs can add up, especially if your pet has a chronic illness or requires surgery. With current medical and technological advances in pet health care, you will want to take advantage of the opportunity to diagnose and treat conditions early.

When your pet is young and healthy, pet health insurance may not be on your mind. But we recommend getting pet insurance early on in the life of your pet since pre-existing conditions are taken into consideration when applying. If you wait until your pet is aging or sick to consider insurance, you might have trouble finding a good plan that fits your needs. While there are a few insurance companies that will take senior pets or pets with chronic illnesses, the list is short.

Choosing A Plan

As with anything, it’s always a good idea to do your research on the various pet insurance plans out there. There are a variety of options and coverages available, and depending on the current health of your pet, or your particular concerns, you want to know what will be covered. We suggest you create a list of what’s most important to you regarding your pet’s health and work from there to find the right plan.

Once you’ve chosen a few of plans that match your most important concerns, it’s time to give the providers a call. Contacting a providing insurance company to get all the plan details, including the fine print, is a smart idea that will help narrow your options until you’ve discovered the plan that best suits your family and pet.

For a more comprehensive overview of the ins and outs of pet insurance, check out a valuable online resource called 365 Pet Insurance.  And if you’re looking for an experienced and compassionate animal clinic, we are confident you’ll be happy with our team at Anasazi Animal Clinic. We’re always willing to meet with potential new patients to answer questions and go over options for treatment and payment. Contact us today. We can’t wait to meet you, and to meet your furry friend!

Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst (5/7/2018)

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Why Spaying Your Dog Is Important

When you choose to spay your dog, you’re not only preventing unwanted puppies but also contributing to the control of pet overpopulation. Every year, millions of healthy dogs and cats in the U.S. are put down due to a lack of available homes.

While the traditional age for spaying dogs is six to nine months, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be spayed as long as they are healthy. Adult dogs can undergo spay surgery as well, but there is a slightly higher risk of postoperative complications in older dogs who are overweight.

Health Benefits of Spaying Your Dog

There are significant medical benefits to be gained from spaying your dog, including the prevention of cancer, infection, and disease.

Mammary (Breast) Cancer

Spaying female dogs prior to their first estrus, or heat cycle reduces their risk of developing mammary cancer, which is common in unspayed female dogs. The chances of developing this cancer increase if a female does not undergo spay surgery until after her second heat cycle, but they still remain lower than the risk for unspayed females. If your dog has already had her first heat, it’s not too late. Spaying will still reduce her risk of developing cancerous mammary tumors.

Pyometra 

Hormonal changes in the reproductive tract can sometimes cause a dangerous and potentially fatal infection of the uterus called pyometra. Infections usually occur in older females about seven to eight years of age. Approximately 25% of all unspayed females will suffer from pyometra before the age of ten. Having your dog spayed greatly reduces the possibility that she’ll contract this infection.

Contact us if you notice any of the following symptoms of pyometra:

• Lethargy
• Depression
• Anorexia
• Excessively drinking water
• Vaginal discharge
• Excessive urination
• Pale mucous membranes (the skin inside her mouth and nose)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Abdominal distension
• Inflamed eyes

Ovarian and Uterine Tumors

Although they are uncommon in dogs, some breeds may be genetically predisposed to developing ovarian and uterine tumors. Older female dogs also have an increased risk. Spaying your dog completely eliminates the possibility of her developing ovarian or uterine cancer.

Injury, Stress, and Disease from Having Puppies

Carrying and giving birth to puppies can be very stressful on a dog’s body. It can also cause certain injuries and diseases, some of which can spread to the puppies. Spaying eliminates the risk of milk fever, brucellosis, and other reproductive disorders.

Will Dog Behavior Change After Spaying?

Dogs become sexually mature between six and twelve months of age. At this time, female dogs produce a surge of the hormone estrogen and begin their reproductive cycle, which leads to estrus, or “heat.” When in heat, a female dog will be receptive to breeding with males. Most dogs experience two heat cycles per year.

Spaying your dog will not affect her working abilities, friendliness, playfulness, or personality. However, female dogs may experience positive changes in behaviors associated with the heat cycle after spaying. You may see a reduction in the following unwanted behaviors after you spay your female dog:

Roaming

Female dogs often try to leave home in search of males, which puts them at risk of getting lost and injuring themselves (sometimes fatally) on roadways. Spaying your dog will reduce or eliminate her drive to roam while in heat. If you do not spay your dog, you will need to confine her indoors or in an escape-proof yard when she’s in heat to prevent escapes and pregnancy.

Frequent Urination

Females in heat urinate frequently to attract male dogs with its scent. Not only will this cause a line-up of neighborhood male dogs at your door, but it can also lead to urine stains on your carpet and furniture. Spaying your dog will eliminate frequent urination and bloody discharge, both of which may occur during her heat cycle.

Irritability

Each heat cycle causes significant hormonal changes in a female dog. Some become irritable or nervous and even feel pain due to ovulation. Because dogs don’t experience these hormonal changes after spay surgery, a spayed female dog’s behavior may be more consistent.

Fighting

Unspayed females sometimes compete for the attention of a male dog by fighting. Spaying your dog reduces any aggressive behavior patterns so your dog will likely be less aggressive toward people and other dogs after spay surgery. 

Aggressive Guarding

Female dogs will sometimes behave aggressively if people or other animals attempt to approach or touch their puppies. Some dogs who don’t get pregnant during a heat cycle will experience a “false pregnancy” or “pseudopregnancy.” Females in false pregnancy often “adopt” objects and treat them like a litter that they will aggressively guard as if the objects were real puppies.

Preventing These Unwanted Behaviors

To prevent the development of these behaviors, it’s best to spay your dog before she reaches sexual maturity. That way, she’s unlikely to develop difficult habits associated with her heat. If your dog has been exhibiting these habits for months or years, they might persist even after spaying. 

If you have an older dog, it’s still worthwhile to spay her. Even if spaying doesn’t get rid of her problematic behaviors entirely, you might see them less often afterward, and spaying will still be beneficial to her physical health.

If your dog still has habits you dislike after spaying, it’s best to seek professional advice, especially if your dog is particularly aggressive. Discuss your dog’s aggression with your vet to determine if the behavioral issues stem from a treatable medical condition or if your dog needs professional training.

Common Myths About Spaying

Don’t Spay Your Dog Until After Her First Heat

There’s no behavioral or medical benefit to waiting to spay your dog until after her first heat cycle. In fact, each heat cycle your dog experiences increases her risk of developing serious medical conditions. To best prevent the development of unwanted behavior and medical problems, make plans to spay your dog before she reaches sexual maturity at six to twelve months of age.

Letting a Dog Have One Litter Will Calm Her Down

There’s nothing magical about giving birth that leads to a calmer, better-behaved dog. Two things that do lead to a better-behaved dog are proper obedience training and regular exercise. If you use gentle, consistent training techniques to teach your dog some basic manners, she’ll learn how to control her impulses. 

Making sure your dog gets at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day, as well as plenty of mental exercise, can also greatly improve her behavior. If you have a puppy, keep in mind that maturity may lead to calmer behavior as well.

Spaying Is a Quick Fix for All Behavior Problems

Some people think that spaying a dog will get rid of all her behavior problems. Although it often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by the heat cycle, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after spay surgery. 

The effects of spaying largely depend on your dog’s individual personality, physiology, and history. Although spaying can remedy hormonal behavior problems, it’s not a quick fix that will instantly transform your dog into an angelic companion. If you want her to learn polite manners, you still need to teach her basic obedience skills. 

Potential Side Effects of Spaying Your Dog

Although spaying is beneficial in many ways, there are a few potential effects to be aware of:

• A small number of studies report that unspayed female dogs who are aggressive to family members may become more aggressive after they’re spayed. This could be caused by a decrease in estrogen and oxytocin, both of which may have calming, anti-anxiety effects.
• Spay surgery increases the risk of developing urinary tract infections in females.
• Five to twenty percent of spayed females suffer estrogen-responsive urinary incontinence (or “spay incontinence”), which means they have poor sphincter control and are less able to hold their urine. At least one study found a slightly higher risk in dogs who were less than three months of age when spayed. The risk is higher for overweight dogs, and dogs of certain breeds. Fortunately, this kind of urinary incontinence is almost always easily controlled with medical treatment.
• Dogs who undergo spay surgery before they reach their adult size may grow slightly taller than they would have without spay surgery.
• Spay surgery could slightly increase the risk for dogs to develop transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, osteosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma—particularly breeds that are already predisposed to these types of cancer.
• Spaying dogs prior to five months of age may slightly increase their risk of developing hip dysplasia and cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture, especially in breeds that are already predisposed to these conditions.
• Spay surgery can increase a dog’s of developing hypothyroidism.
• Physiological changes after spaying may affect your dog’s metabolism and appetite, making her prone to weight gain. Spaying puppies before they are five months of age could put them at greater risk of becoming obese. This potential drawback is easily controllable using an appropriate diet and exercise. If you notice that your dog looks overweight, you can decrease the amount of food you give her and increase her exercise. If you’re not sure if your dog is at a healthy weight, please consult a veterinarian.

Spay Surgery in Gilbert, AZ

The benefits of spaying your female dog far outweigh the potential drawbacks. However, knowing whether surgery is right for your dog requires a visit with an experienced vet. At Anasazi Animal Clinic in Gilbert, AZ, we provide a variety of affordable surgical services. To discuss spay surgery for your dog, contact us to schedule an appointment. 

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (9/1/2021). Image by Pexels from Pixabay 

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Not convinced yet? Check out our handy—and persuasive—list of the top 10 reasons to spay or neuter your pet!

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What Are the Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering?
Spayed dogs are less likely to develop breast cancer and will not be at risk for ovarian or uterine tumors.  Neutered male dogs will not get testicular cancer and they will have a decreased chance of developing prostate enlargement. By neutering male dogs, you lessen their desire to roam, thus decreasing their risk for injury and transmission of infectious disease.

Why Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog?
In addition to the many health benefits, spaying or neutering your dog ensures that he or she won’t contribute to the pet overpopulation problem. Even an unsterilized dog who lives primarily indoors may escape or break away from a leash on a walk and could mate and produce puppies. Each year, millions of homeless dogs are euthanized or end up in shelters simply due to a lack of good homes.

What Are Some Behavioral Issues Associated with Dogs Who Aren’t Spayed or Neutered?
Both male and female dogs will show general behavior signs such as howling, barking and urine marking. There is also a strong need to roam and find a mate, often leading to fighting.

When Is the Best Time to Spay or Neuter My Dog?
It is generally considered safe for puppies as young as eight weeks of age to be spayed or neutered. In animal shelters, surgery is often performed at this age so that puppies can be sterilized prior to adoption. In an effort to avoid the start of urine marking in male dogs and eliminate the chance of pregnancy, it’s advisable to schedule the surgery before your dog reaches six months of age. It’s possible to spay a female dog while she’s in heat, but not always recommended since she may be susceptible to increased blood loss. Though older dogs can be good candidates for sterilization surgery, your vet can best determine if the procedure can safely be performed. Please check with your veterinarian about the best time to spay or neuter your pet.

What Happens When My Dog Is Spayed or Neutered? Will He or She Act Differently?
After sterilization, your dog may be less likely to exhibit certain behaviors, but his or her personality will not change. Spayed and neutered dogs may be predisposed to weight gain, but proper body condition can be maintained with appropriate diet and exercise. Your vet can help you choose a proper diet for your dog.

How Do I Prepare My Pet for Surgery?
Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice for you to follow. In general, you should avoid giving your dog any food after midnight the night before surgery. A puppy, however, needs adequate nutrition, and your veterinarian may advise that food not be withheld. Water should generally not be withheld from any canine patient prior to sterilization surgery.

What Is the Recovery Process for Recently Spayed or Neutered Dogs?
Your veterinarian can provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although your dog may experience some discomfort after surgery, your vet can take various measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your dog. Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery:

• Provide your dog with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
• Prevent your dog from running and jumping for the first few days following surgery.
• Discourage your dog from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar.
• Avoid bathing your dog for at least ten days after surgery.
• Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing.

If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your vet. Also call your vet if your dog is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea following surgery.

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