It is a common practice to spay and neuter your pets to help control the pet population. Although these procedures reduce the rate of stray cats and dogs, some pet owners have reservations when it comes to spaying and neutering. At Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital, Dr. Schexneider performs spay and neuter surgery for pets in and around San Diego. Let’s look at some of the questions that we run into about this topic.

What do Spaying and Neutering Mean?

Spaying refers to sterilizing a female pet by having an ovariohysterectomy surgery performed to remove her reproductive organs, rendering her incapable of having offspring. Neutering prevents male pets from reproducing through a castration surgery that removes the testes. Spaying and neutering also reduce territorial behaviors and other unwanted behaviors.

When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Pet?

A pet can be spayed or neutered as early as 6 – 8 weeks of age. As pets age, they can develop breast cancer, uterine infections, prostate disease, and tumors if they have not been spayed or neutered. Some pet owners choose to wait until after their pet has produced a litter to have the surgery performed. Many experts recommend that you have your pet spayed or neutered at approximately 6 months old or 2 weeks after they have given birth.

What Are the Risks and Side Effects of Spaying & Neutering?

Any kind of surgery involves the risk of complications from anesthesia or the procedure itself. Our veterinarian will conduct a comprehensive physical exam and lab work prior to the surgery. While your pet may feel some discomfort when recovering from the procedure, it will be completed anesthetized and pain-free throughout the surgery. Afterward, it is unlikely that your pet will experience fatigue or weight gain. You will likely notice some positive changes in behavior as your pet will have lost its breeding instincts and may become more docile and loving.

Contact Our Veterinarian in San Diego, CA

If you are a pet owner in the San Diego area and are interested in spaying or neutering your pet, call our team at Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital today at 858-292-6116 for an appointment with Dr. Schexneider.

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Our Regular Schedule

Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital

Monday

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Thursday

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Saturday

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Sunday

Closed

Tierrasanta Veterinary Hospital

Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday
Closed