Keep your feline feeling energetic and healthy for life: Spay and neuter essential to wellness

We at Bluestar Pet Hospital and Grooming congratulate you on being a responsible pet owner and community steward. By moving forward with getting your cat “fixed,” you are doing your part to assure they have the healthiest and happiest life possible. Additionally, you play an important role in managing the population of unwanted felines in our area – St. Johns, Jacksonville, and our surrounding slice of sunny northeastern Florida. 

As with all services and procedures, the spaying or neutering process starts with a visit to one of our clinics. Cats may generally undergo these standard surgical procedures at a young age, around eight weeks. However, recommendations for “timing” depend on various factors, including the overall health and physical condition of your pet, as well as his/her age and breed. Before the procedure, one of our veterinarians will confirm that your pet is sufficiently healthy to undergo surgical sterilization since routine spaying and neutering are still surgical procedures. So, there is always some slight risk of complications due to the anesthesia that is administered (for comfort) and the surgery itself. 

The potential health risks, and other undesirable consequences of intact male and female cats, outweigh the risks associated with surgical sterilization via spaying or neutering. We will also go over everything to expect before, during, and after the procedure and answer any questions you may have prior to your pet’s appointment. 

A few points to consider:

• The “traditional” spay is technically called an “ovariohysterectomy.” The “ovario” part refers to the ovaries, which are removed during your female cat’s surgery. The “hysterectomy” is the procedure required to remove your cat’s uterus and fallopian tubes. By removing these organs, your kitty is not able to reproduce. Undesirable behaviors related to being “in heat” (such as loud or persistent vocalizations) are also eliminated.
• The “standard” neuter procedure, or “orchiectomy,” refers to the Greek words for “orchis” (for testicle) and “ektemnein” (for “cutting out”). So, the name describes the procedure – the removal of the testes in male cats. Without the organs necessary to reproduce, you are not contributing to the overpopulation of kittens in your household and our communities. Furthermore, inappropriate behaviors or urges among male cats are curbed. No more aggressive tendencies, roaming, and other unwanted traits associated with intact males!

Your pet won’t feel anything and will be completely relaxed throughout the treatment since these procedures are administered with general anesthesia. Bluestar Pet Hospital and Grooming monitors pets’ vitals for utmost safety. The incisions made to perform the surgery are closed with sutures made from materials that naturally dissolve and are safely absorbed by the body. The whole process takes just a few minutes for neutering, whereas a spay may take as little as 20 minutes (but the time for female cats varies depending on factors such as the pet’s age and size). 

We will go over what to watch for after your cat’s surgery and how to care for your pet well in advance of their surgery. When inflammation at the incision site and other complications arise, they are often due to or made worse by behaviors such as your cat repeatedly licking or biting at the area. It is critical to keep pets calm and quiet as they heal.

Surgical sterilization procedures are fundamental to cats’ and dogs’ quality of life and health. Call (904) 720-4275 with questions or to schedule an appointment at our St. Johns location. Be sure to ask about our affordable wellness plans for adult cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens.

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