Guide to neutering your furry baby
Spaying or neutering your furry child is an important decision that has a profound impact on your furry child's health and behavior. In addition to controlling the number of fur babies, neutering can improve the animal's quality of life and reduce the risk of certain health problems. Let us tell you about the need for sterilization, the procedure, aftercare, and some common misconceptions.
1. The best time for sterilization
The best time to spay or neuter depends on the age, sex, and health of the animal. Generally speaking, the following are some recommended sterilization periods:
Cats • Female cats - It is usually recommended to be neutered at 6 months of age, because female cats begin to go into heat around 6 months of age, which increases the risk of pregnancy during this period and will often "meow" in heat. .
• Male cats - generally neutered at 6 months of age to reduce aggressive and territorial marking behavior and reduce the tendency to escape, as unneutered animals are often driven by the instinct to find a mate and attempt to escape from the home .
• Female dogs – Neutering is recommended between 6 months and 1 year old. This avoids the risk of pregnancy during the first heat and reduces the risk of breast tumors and uterine infection (pyometra).
• Male dogs - Male dogs are also usually neutered between 6 months and 1 year old. This helps reduce aggression, territorial marking, and other behavioral issues.
However, every fur baby is unique, and it is best to determine the timing of neutering based on the specific situation under the guidance of a veterinarian.
2. Preparation before sterilization
Before undergoing sterilization surgery, adequate preparation must be made to ensure the safety and success of the surgery.
• Health check
Before surgery, your veterinarian will perform a comprehensive health exam on your cat or dog, including blood work and a physical exam. These exams help identify potential health issues to ensure the animal can safely undergo anesthesia and surgery.
• Dietary management
Typically, veterinarians will recommend stopping food 12 hours before surgery, and water can be continued for a few hours before surgery to reduce the risk of vomiting during anesthesia.
• Ensure a comfortable environment
Before surgery, prepare a quiet and comfortable environment for your fur baby so that they can relax before surgery. Owners can provide their furry children with familiar toys as companions to help reduce their anxiety.
3. Post-sterilization care
Post-operative care is crucial to your cat or dog’s recovery. Proper care can reduce the risk of complications and speed up the recovery process.
• Monitor recovery status
In the days following surgery, your furry child's recovery should be closely monitored, including appetite, activity levels, and urination and bowel movements. Normally, fur babies will start to regain their appetite within 24 hours.
• Control activities
In the days after surgery, your furry child's activities should be limited to avoid pulling on the wound or participating in strenuous exercise. It is generally recommended to avoid jumping, running, and playing for 10-14 days after surgery.
• Take care of wounds
Check the surgical wound for redness, swelling, drainage, or an odor, which may be signs of infection. If anything seems abnormal, contact your veterinarian immediately. Anti-licking collars are recommended to prevent animals from licking wounds.
• Give proper diet
After surgery, your veterinarian may recommend providing easily digestible food for a period of time and maintaining adequate hydration. At the same time, additional nutritional supplements can be provided to the furry baby to help the furry baby regain its appetite and supplement the nutrients needed during recovery.
Royal Pet's " Cordyceps and Chicken Essence " is suitable for use during the recovery period after sterilization. It is added with cordyceps mycelium and Ganoderma lucidum to help fur babies recover after surgery and at the same time increase their appetite.
• Regular follow-up visits
Schedule regular follow-up visits based on your veterinarian's recommendations to check on wound healing and overall health. A return visit is usually required within 7-10 days after surgery to remove sutures or perform an examination.
4. Common misunderstandings
• Neutering makes animals obese
Many people worry that neutering will cause their fur babies to gain weight. In fact, this is mainly due to improper management of diet and activity level. After sterilization, the basal metabolic rate of a furry baby may decrease slightly, but by simply adjusting the diet and increasing the amount of exercise, the chance of the furry baby becoming obese can be greatly reduced.
• Sterilization changes personality
Although neutering will reduce some behavioral problems of fur babies, it will not change the basic personality of fur babies. The main purpose of neutering is to reduce breeding behavior and related aggression, and it does not affect the natural nature of the fur baby.
• Only fur babies without breeding plans need to be neutered
With or without a breeding plan, neutering is a responsible choice. This can not only reduce the number of stray cats and dogs, but also improve the quality of life of furry children.