Spaying and neutering help control the number of unwanted pets roaming our communities. It also promotes a healthy, happy pet and household. With that being said, at Bluestar Pet Hospital & Grooming in Jacksonville, Florida, we understand that our clients often have many questions about these common reproductive procedures.
Notably, you may be wondering about the best age to neuter your dog. Our veterinarians are privileged to provide trusted guidance that supports your pet’s lifelong health and well-being. So, we will base our recommendations for the timing of this procedure, or orchiectomy, on factors such as:
- Your dog’s breed
- Their age
- Overall physical condition (comorbidities)
- Lifestyle
We account for these and other characteristics when determining the best time to undergo this process, which generally involves removing the testicles of male dogs and cats. In turn, the pet cannot reproduce. Unpleasant and unhealthy breeding behaviors are also minimized or eliminated. Plus, altered pets tend to have protection against certain diseases; for instance, neutered pets are at lower risk of painful skin conditions such as perianal fistulas and of developing testicular cancer and perianal adenomas (tumors).
Accounting for the many factors that vary from pet to pet, the American Animal Hospital Association set forth a series of canine life stage guidelines. According to these guidelines, smaller breed dogs (weighing less than 45 pounds as adults) should be neutered by six months. Dogs that weigh more than 45 pounds, falling into the “large breed” category, may ideally undergo an orchiectomy after their growth has stopped. Again, this varies from breed to breed. But generally (for large dogs), growth ceases between nine and 15 months.
We also offer safe, advanced, and affordable spaying options for female dogs and cats. These recommendations, too, vary based on the age and heat cycles that the cat or dog has gone through and their breed, size, disease risk, and lifestyle.
We congratulate you on being such a responsible pet owner and neighbor in Jacksonville! Call Bluestar Pet Hospital & Grooming with any questions you may have specific to your pets about neutering or spaying. We can be reached at 904-720-4272.
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Dr. Venkat Gutta
Bluestar Pet Hospital & Grooming
At Blue Star Pet Hospital and Grooming, Dr. Venkat Gutta provides high-quality and modern veterinary services to all your furry friends! At Bluestar, Dr. Gutta and his team are committed to providing your pets with both a full-service Veterinary Hospital and a modern grooming salon (St. Johns location only) for dogs and cats. Our primary commitment is to provide your companion animals with the highest quality medical care. Dr. Gutta strongly believes in treating your four-legged companions as family members and providing them with excellent yet affordable veterinary care. At Bluestar, we also think that it is important to educate you, as a pet owner, and ensure that the unique needs of you and your pet are met at all times. Through Bluestar, Dr. Gutta and his team serve clients in Durbin Crossing, Jacksonville, St Augustine, St Johns, CR 210, and other areas. Whether it is pet vaccinations, surgery, techniques, advanced diagnostic testing, or even flea and tick control products, we give you access to the best and most cutting-edge treatments and technologies. At Bluestar, we believe that your pet is the STAR!
