In today's society, the issue of pet sterilization has always been the focus of pet lovers. Should pets be sterilized? When should they be sterilized? What should be paid attention to in pre- and post-operative care? This article provides an introduction to the issue of pet sterilization.
1. Should you sterilize your pet?
I believe that basically anyone who has raised a pet has considered this issue to some extent. Many people I feel that sterilizing my pets will cause them psychological and emotional harm. In fact, for those who cherish natural breeding, sterilization surgery seems a bit unpopular. But let’s take a look at the benefits of neutering for our pets.
1. Innovate character. Basically all pet owners who have had their pets neutered will find that their pets have improved in some way or another in terms of their character. Especially during the estrus period, this is particularly obvious. Due to the effects of hormones, unneutered pets often appear irritable, agitated, lack of food, and even aggressive during this period. Cats will also appear to make many people The unbearable shouting appears, which is the so-called cat making trouble. This period is also the time when pets are most likely to be lost. During this period, pets that have been neutered appear stable and easier to control because there is no stimulation of hormones. However, it is important to point out that if cats and dogs are neutered after they have gone into estrus (especially if they are older than a few years old), they may still have reactions in the subsequent estrus period, mainly if the hormone levels have not been fully metabolized. And formed.
2. Prevent certain diseases. Female dogs and cats that are infertile and have not been neutered are prone to diseases such as pyometra and breast tumors, while males are prone to diseases such as prostate hyperplasia and urinary tract infections, and the probability of these diseases increases with the age of the pet. Increasingly. Neutering pets is the most direct way to prevent the occurrence of these diseases.
Figure 1 The cat's uterus was removed due to pyometra
3. Prevent vigorous growth. Many pet owners prefer free-range care, that is, when cats and dogs want to go out to play, they are allowed to go out and play by themselves. Some owners who do not control themselves even abandon their pets. Abandoned pets are likely to add to the number of animals living in cities. To prevent the occurrence of this situation, in addition to strengthening general control, a more direct method is sterilization. In this way, even if someone accidentally lets their pet out of their sight, there is no need to worry about future worries. EspeciallyFor a cat who is agile and accustomed to going out, it is almost impossible for people on earth to trap it during its estrus.
Figure 2 A stray cat that grows vigorously
2. When is the best time to perform sterilization?
1. Age. The most ideal age for pets to be sterilized is before their first estrus (the first estrus period of dogs and cats varies depending on species and individuals, generally 6 to 12 months), that is, 4 to 6 months. And all immunization procedures in the first year have been completed. The purpose of using this time period is to minimize the probability of suffering from the diseases mentioned above in the future, and to prevent the occurrence of estrus. As mentioned earlier, due to hormone levels, many Adult pets that are neutered after going into estrus are likely to show signs of estrus again.
2. time period. When choosing the time for sterilization, first of all, try to avoid the pet's estrus period as much as possible. Due to hormonal effects, the pet's reproductive organs are in a congested state during the estrus period. Surgery at this time can easily cause heavy bleeding, thereby increasing the risk of surgery. Secondly, the most suitable season is autumn. The temperature and humidity at this time are effective for wound healing after surgery. Of course, this does not mean that surgery cannot be performed in other seasons, but compared with autumn, the owner needs to be more careful in wound inspection. protect. Finally, it is necessary to choose the method when the pet is in good health, which can effectively reduce the risk of surgery and help with postoperative recovery.
3. Precautions for preoperative and postoperative care
(1) Preoperative care
1. Make sure the pet has completed all previous vaccinations to prevent diseases caused by surgery. If immunization has not been carried out, vaccination should be made immediately and surgery should be performed at least one week later.
2. Food and water should be fasted in a timely manner, that is, the pet should not be fed within 12 hours before the operation, and should not be given water within 4 hours, mainly to reduce the risk of surgery and prevent damage to the pet due to the effects of anesthetic drugs. The substance in the stomach flows back into the trachea, causing obstruction and other phenomena.
3. You may wish to bathe your pet a day before surgery, because pets are strictly prohibited from bathing within a week after surgery. However, it should be noted that when bathing at this time, do not let your pet catch a cold.
4. Choose a pet hospital with good reputation, because after all, sterilization is also an operation, with complete surgical methods and rich experience.Veterinary pet hospitals can minimize the risks of surgery.
(2) Postoperative care
1. Due to the effectiveness of anesthesia, pets need several hours of recovery time, so pets do not need to worry too much. If you are really worried, you may choose to wait until the pet is fully awake before leaving the pet hospital.
Figure 3 A dog that is not fully awake after the operation
2. Do not feed the pet on the day after the operation. Feeding can be carried out for two days.
3. Keep the wound dry and avoid bathing. Most pet hospitals will wear Elizabethan rings or specialized surgical gowns on pets after surgery to prevent pets from licking their wounds.
4. Generally, veterinarians will prescribe antibiotics for 3 to 4 days, and pets should be fed on time.
5. Control the pet’s movement to avoid intense movement, which may cause the wound to heal.
6. Generally, the degree of wound healing should be checked within four days after surgery. If poor healing, inflammation, etc. are found, seek medical attention immediately.
7. Sutures are usually removed in 7 to 9 days. However, if autologous spermatic cord ligation or recyclable sutures are used, sutures do not need to be removed.
Figure 4 Testicle removal from a male dog
Figure 5 Suturing of a sterilized male dog Site
8. Since the current sterilization surgical methods used in different pet hospitals, different pets, and different genders will be different, the specific postoperative care is also different, and should be Contact the primary veterinarian immediately.
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