|  | | | | | | Spaying or Neutering your Pet |
| | | | | | | | | Did you know that oral disease is the Number 1 problem diagnosed in dogs and cats? According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease by the time they are three years old!
Bad breath and yellow teeth are no laughing matter. Plaque and bacteria build up on the teeth and, without proper dental care, can progress to dental disease causing bad breath, tooth decay, swollen and bleeding gums, tooth loss and eventually damage to the heart, kidneys and other internal organs.
Because teeth are "out of sight" they are often "out of mind," too, taking a backseat to exercise, nutrition and grooming. However, one thing is certain, if you take care of your pet's teeth you will help him/her live a longer, healthier life. The AVDS has made the following preventive recommendations to maintain good oral health for your pet:
Visit your veterinarian for a complete check-up – Don't wait for an annual exam if you suspect a problem, see your veterinarian right away
Start a dental care routine at home – Speak with your veterinarian about brushing your pet's teeth and diets that can help remove or combat plaque buildup
Schedule regular veterinary dental checkups – This will allow you and your veterinarian to monitor the progress of your pet's dental health routine
If your pet already has signs of dental disease, a physical exam including a thorough evaluation of the mouth will help us determine the appropriate course of action. This may be anything from sending you home with a toothbrush and toothpaste to a complete dental scaling and polishing with tooth extraction(s).
It is never too late to begin a good dental hygiene program. Speak with us about our recommendations for your pet. | |
|
| | | The most common surgeries performed at Animal Hospital of Montgomery are spays and neuters, providing a permanent method of sterilization. Although weight gain is often associated with spaying or neutering, it is mainly due to inactivity rather than as a result of the surgery. The following descriptions will assist you in determining if this is the right procedure for your pet(s). | | | | | | | | | | Male cats are very territorial. An intact male will roam the neighborhood using urine to mark their domain. When another cat enters a marked territory a fight often occurs, usually injuring both cats. Abscesses can quickly form under the skin potentially causing blood poisoning.
When a male can has been neutered, or "fixed," his urine will loose its pungent odor, he will stay closer to home and become more gentle and affectionate.
We recommend that neutering be done at 6 months of age. His testicles will be surgically removed while under anesthesia. No sutures will be used and the only home care required is that any cat litter be replaced with shredded paper for a week following the surgery. | | | | | | | | | | Some male dogs exhibit objectionable sexual behaviors including aggressiveness towards pets or even family members, urine marking in the house (leg hiking on furniture), mounting or riding other dogs or people, and pursing females in heat often long distances from home.
Neutering a male dog can help reduce or eliminate these behaviors. | | | | | | | | | | We recommend neutering small dogs at 6 months and medium to large breed dogs at 9 months. He will be anesthetized and prepared for surgery. An incision is made in the front of the scrotum and the testicles are surgically removed. | | | | | | | Buried sutures are placed to close the incision and after a week of restricted activity he will be back to normal.
Females do not need to go through a heat cycle of have a litter before being spayed. In fact, evidence suggests that spaying before heat cycles begin can reduce the incidence of mammary tumors.
Female cats cry, roll and spray urine during heat cycles. Female dogs bleed during heat and attract male dogs to your house. Unwanted pregnancy can result in unwanted puppies and kittens adding to the over 7 million that are put to sleep in the US each year.
Unless you plan on breeding her, spaying your cat or dog is wise. It is the permanent answer to the problem of heat cycles.
We recommend spaying cats and small dogs at 6 months and medium to large breed dogs at 9 months. While under anesthesia your pet's ovaries and uterus are removed through an abdominal incision. The abdominal wall is sutured with strong absorbable sutures and the skin is closed with sutures that will need to be removed in 10 days. Dogs and cats can be spayed while in heat or even in the early stages of pregnancy | |
|
|
|
|
