Spay/Neuter Your Pet
Spaying and Neutering Services at Portage Park Animal Hospital
You can help control the pet population by having your dog and/or cat spayed or neutered at our veterinary hospital in the Albany Park area. Along with helping to lower the number of homeless pets, you are also providing medical and behavioral benefits to your furry loved one by spaying or neutering your pet.
If you are looking to have your pet spayed or neutered at our full-service vet clinic in the Albany Park area, contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Benefits to Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
When you neuter your male pet, there are both medical and behavioral benefits. The benefits include:
- Helping prevent testicular cancer
- Removing the risk of certain prostate problems
- Less aggression
- Less likely to run away from home to find a mate
- Less likely to mark their territory and mount other dogs and other objects
Your male companion will live a longer, healthier life, and will most likely be better behaved throughout it.
Having your female pet spayed will enrich their livelihood with specific medical benefits, including:
- Prevent life-threatening uterine infections
- Lowering the risk of breast tumors
- Not having heat cycles
Along with these benefits, spaying/neutering is also cost-effective. Having this procedure done is much cheaper than caring for and raising a bunch of kittens or puppies you weren’t expecting or a costly emergency surgery!
When to Spay/Neuter
Dogs
With most dogs we generally recommend waiting until between six and nine months of age to have them neutered. With some larger breed or pure-bred dogs, it’s recommended that you wait even longer. Your veterinarian here at Portage Park Animal Hospital will discuss with you what is best for your dog. You can have your dog neutered as an adult, however, most behavioral issues will not change.
Cats
We recommend having your kitten spayed or neutered at five to six months of age. This will help prevent urine spraying and remove the risk of your cat becoming pregnant.
What is the Recovery Process Like?
After the surgery has been performed, they’ll be monitored until they are fully awake. Your pet will be given pain medications to alleviate any discomfort before, during, and after the procedure. When you pick up your pet later that same day, they’ll be able to walk out to the car with you.
We will guide you through the entire process, but here are some helpful tips to know about ahead of time:
- Find your pet a place indoors that night for them to recover away from other animals
- Do not allow your pet to lick the incision site – this may cause an infection
- Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks
- Do not bathe your pet for 10-14 days after the procedure or until sutures are removed
- Make sure to check the incision area regularly that it is healing properly
We will give you all the information you need to ensure your pet recovers back to full health. And, we are only a phone call away to answer any questions or concerns you may have during the recovery process.
Visit Portage Park Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic
Portage Park Animal Hospital is a full-service facility, providing everything from preventative care to all veterinary care services and surgeries. If you need to have your pet spayed or neutered, or just want to bring your pet in for a wellness check, we’d love to see you.
Call us at 773-725-0260 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
