cat and dog spay and neuter icon

Providing Spay and Neuter Surgery for Cats & Dogs in Clifton Park, NY

Having your pet spayed or neutered is a proactive and preventive option that gives them a chance to live their healthiest, longest life. It also benefits the Clifton Park community as a whole, by reducing the number of strays and helping animal shelters avoid overcrowding. At Cornerstone Veterinary Hospital of Clifton Park, we recommend spay and neuter surgery for all our patients, granted they’re healthy. Additionally, we perform each procedure with great care and regard for your pet’s safety.

Call our animal hospital in Clifton Park at (518) 383-6254 or use our online form to schedule a consultation for your pet.

black kitten in bed horizontal after spay neuter procedure
black kitten in bed after spay neuter procedure

How Spay and Neuter Surgeries Benefit Companion Animal Health

Cats and dogs, male and female, can greatly benefit from spaying and neutering from both a physical and behavioral standpoint. These benefits include:

Males

  • Reduces/eliminates aggression
  • Reduces/prevents roaming tendencies
  • Less likely to spray and mark their territory
  • Prevents testicular tumors
  • Prevents enlarged prostate

Females

  • Prevents unwanted pregnancies
  • Prevents heat cycle and spotting
  • Reduces/prevents roaming tendencies
  • Prevents mammary tumors and uterine cancer
  • Prevents infection of the uterus (pyometra)

By reducing undesirable behaviors and preventing life-threatening conditions, spay and neuter surgeries can help pets live longer, healthier lives, and also be more cost-effective in the long run.

When to Spay and Neuter Your Pet

Once your pet has completed their puppy or kitten vaccinations, we can discuss their spay or neuter surgery. Our doctors consider the ideal age range to be 5-7 months, just before cats and dogs reach maturity. We prefer to spay females before they enter their heat cycle, which can increase health risks during surgery. If your pet has gone into heat before their scheduled spay, we will need to postpone it until their heat cycle is complete.

Occasionally, males may have a retained testicle, a condition known as cryptorchidism, which can be corrected via cryptorchid castration. This condition is more common in dogs than cats, but nonetheless can occur in both. If your veterinarian diagnoses cryptorchidism in your pet, it is imperative that both the retained and descended testicle be removed as soon as possible to prevent the development of tumors.