When Is the Right Time to Spay and Neuter Your Pets?

Spaying or neutering your pets is important for more reasons than just preventing an unexpected litter of puppies or kittens. Spay and neuter surgery represent an important form of preventative wellness care. By surgically sterilizing your pet, you can remove or drastically reduce its risk for many serious diseases, from mammalian and reproductive cancers to prostate diseases. At the same time, you eliminate unwanted heat-related behaviors and reduce the burden on animal shelters. But when exactly should you spay and neuter your pets?

You may have heard that owners can spay or neuter their pets as soon as the animal reaches four to six months of age. Actually, the issue is more complex than veterinarians originally thought, especially where dogs are concerned. That’s because dogs can mature sexually at different ages depending on factors such as breed and size category. For instance, toy dogs may mature by six months or so, while large-breed dogs may take at least 15 months to reach full maturity. Spaying large breeds too early can deprive them of the sex hormones necessary for their cardiovascular, immune, and musculoskeletal development – potentially raising their risks for injuries and diseases.

Cat spaying and neutering is a simpler matter. Kittens should nurse for at least six weeks. The mother cat and the kittens are ready to be fixed two weeks after they stop nursing, usually around eight weeks or when the kittens are at least two pounds.

Whatever your pet’s ideal age for spay or neuter surgery, you need to know where to go for expert veterinary care at affordable rates. But before you start Googling “spay and neuter near me,” you should know that Hill Country Animal League offers low-cost spay and neuter services in Boerne. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!