Spay and Neuter: Let Scarlet Explain it All
Hi everyone, I’m Scarlet and it’s so nice to meet you! As you may be able to tell, I’m a puppy and I’m ready to bring allllll of my puppy energy to your life. My friends at AWS thought it would be a great time for me to be this week’s Pet of the Week. And I’m super excited. You see, my littermates all got adopted, so it’s just me left. Since I’m still here, I’m taking time to learn about some of the cool things AWS offers to members of the public. One thing in particular I learned about is facts about spay/neuter. Now, having just had the procedure myself, I thought I’d ask my veterinarian friends here at AWS to explain more about spay and neuter services. Ready to learn? Let’s get some explanations!
When should you have your pet spayed or neutered?
One thing that I’ve learned in my time here at AWS is that state law requires all pets adopted from animal shelters be spayed or neutered! It’s safe to spay/neuter a pet as young as 8 weeks, like me, provided they are at least 2lbs. So what if you don’t get your pet from a shelter. When should they get the snip-snip? Let our team explain it:
If you do have an intact pet, the optimal age in which they should be fixed can differ, based on many factors. Relevant factors can include age, sex, breed, lifestyle, animal’s role (family dog vs working dog, for example) and personal preferences. So consult with a veterinarian for more information (or schedule a spay-neuter consult with one of AWS’ vets)
While having surgery sounds scary, I’ll tell you, it wasn’t that bad. I was in dreamland during the surgery, and because they give plenty of pain meds, I wasn’t feeling too bad when I woke up. Now, I’m good as gold! Because I am a puppy, I bounced back lickety-split. Adult pets may need a few days to be feeling better but all in all, it’s a quick recovery.
Should you wait until your female has a litter before spaying her?
What a great question! I think my friends from AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic can explain:
No. Spaying your female pet before her first heat cycle eliminates the risk of mammary cancer in dogs and cats. The longer a female goes unspayed, the greater the risk of developing mammary cancer or pyometra, not to mention other potential negative reproductive health issues.
Now, I’d rather not get cancer or pyometra, and I’m sure you can agree! So no need to wait for your lovely lady to become a mommy before having her spayed! And (yes, AWS can spay a cat in heat, though they prefer to wait at least 6 weeks post-heat cycle to spay a dog).
But what if your female dog or cat does get pregnant? Can AWS help then? Let’s Explain!
Yes, they can! Check out the Mother Spay program. If your female dog or cat is expecting or just had babies, this program might be just for you! My vet pals at AWS will cover the cost of your mama pet’s surgery AND find homes for all the little ones through the Adoption Center. And I can tell you, from all the ‘awwwws’, ‘oooohs’, and ‘how cutes’ I’ve heard since my arrival, puppies and kittens are a big hit with the AWS staff and volunteers! Not to mention the amazing people who adopt us (hint hint!) So, if you’re looking to find out more information about the wonderful Mother Spay program, check out AWS’ website now!
How you can learn more
Well, that was a lot of explaining! I bet you didn’t think a puppy like me knew that much about spay/neuter – maybe I’m ready to become a vet myself! My head is swimming in spay/neuter facts, but there’s even more you can discover! Visit AWS’ spay/neuter services pages for all the details. And speaking of details, wanna know more about me?
I’m cute and I’m smart, I think you know that by now. I’m excited to have a family to wow with my good looks and intelligence. At this point in my life, I’m still a puppy extraordinaire – I’m in what the grownups call my baby shark era. As I understand it, that means I’m practicing my chomp chomp chomping skills with all my favorite toys (and other things that I think are toys…. But maybe aren’t!). How can I resist when there is so much to explore with my tiny puppy teeth? I’m looking for a home that has all of the chew toys and treats my heart desires, as I get through my baby shark phase! Outside of that, I love to play, snuggle and engage in plenty of puppy antics! You’ll love having me around!!!!!
If you or someone you know is interested in adopting, come by the Adoption Center or call (207) 985-3244 and ask for your newest learning buddy!
