We recommend against spaying a dog that is in heat but it can be done. During this time the ovaries and uterus are swollen and filled with blood, increasing the risk of hemorrhage. We prefer to wait until about 4 weeks after your dog goes out of heat to perform surgery. We can spay cats that are in heat. What is a neuter and what are the benefits? Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles.

We recommend that all mixed breed pets be spayed. Purebred animals that are not being used for breeding or for show should also be spayed. Spaying a female dog or cat involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. The primary benefit to spaying your pet is to eliminate their ability to have puppies or kittens.

We recommend having your pet spayed/neutered at 6 months of age. By 6 months all adult teeth should be in and the baby teeth should have fallen out. Sometimes, the baby teeth do not fall out and are retained behind the adult teeth. This can cause a lot of dental problems in the future, so while they are already anesthetized we like to pull the retained deciduous teeth.

Yes, they may bleed a little more so it may take a little longer; extra risk and expense is usually minimal. It is recommended that they be spayed before their first heat.

There has been much controversy over the age of spaying (female) and neutering (male). Generally, as soon as the vaccination series is completed approximately at 4 months of age it is recommended to spay or neuter. It is always recommended to spay/neuter your pet before sexual maturity as this decreases the incidence of mammary cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and many other diseases. Dr.

Cats - Polyestrus, this means during the spring and fall they go in and out of heat every 1 “ 4 weeks. The winter and summer is a time when they usually don't go into heat.

We recommend sterilization as early as possible, usually between 4-6 months of age is the perfect time. Early sterilization will lessen your pets chances of developing cancer as well as preventing undesirable behaviors such as marking and wandering.

Yes. See CARE's Please Spay/Neuter Your Pet page for more low cost spay/neuter resources. Also, spaying a pregnant dog or cat does abort the puppies or kittens.

No. There are no medical benefits associated with an animal have a litter or puppies/kittens prior to being spayed. In fact there is an increase risk of developing mammary tumors with each heat cycle. What is the normal gestation length for dogs/cats? The gestation period (length of pregnancy) on average is 63 days.

Although Estrus cycles can vary greatly among individuals, small breed dogs typically come into heat around 6 to 8 months old. Large breed dogs may not come into their first heat cycle until 8 to 10 months old and may be even later for some giant breeds. Puberty in kittens typically occurs at 6 to 10 months of age depending on when the kittens are born. Typical breeding season for cats is February to August.

The heat cycle is the mating period for female animals. Cat's normally have their first heat cycle between 5 to 10 months of age with the average being 6 months. Dog's first heat cycle are normally between 6-12 months. Some females of larger breeds may not have their first cycle until they are 12-24 months of age. Remember the above information is general not all females follow these patterns. Consult with your veterinarian if your pet does not seem typical.

Animal Rescue Center does not accept stray animals unless they are injured. All stray animals should be taken to your local Animal Care & Control so that their owners have an opportunity to find them.

Yes, they can be spayed. There is an additional charge for both cats and dogs if they are in heat. The risk of complications is slightly higher because of rare occasions of blood clotting dysfunction.

Yes. During pregnancy, flea baths or dips which have long-acting synthetic insecticides should be avoided if possible. If necessary to use them, consult with a veterinarian.

It is best to wait until a female is out of heat before she is spayed. During the heat cycle all the blood vessels that lead to the ovaries and uterus are inflamed and this makes surgery more of a risk to the dog. A dog can be spayed if she is early pregnant. You should discuss this with a veterinarian.

If your dog was not previously licensed you will need to get an Unaltered Dog Permit. The cost is $50. This provision of the ordinance will become effective April 5, 2007. We strongly recommend that you spay or neuter your dog if you are not a breeder, or involved in other activities that would dissuade you from doing so. If you are in your own yard with your puppy or dog the animals should either be confined in a secure enclosure or accompanied by the owner and under his/her direct control.

There are no predictable behavior changes in the female dog or cat after ovariohysterectomy. Male dogs, however, often become less dominant and aggressive with other dogs and roam less after neutering. Male cats generally do less territorial fighting and roam less, which dramatically increases their life span. There are many solid health reasons for spaying and neutering our pets. Early spaying prevents mammary cancer and a uterine disease called pyometra.

This FAQ is taken from the Veterinary Medicine forum, where NIGHTSTARR1221 asks: "Our female dog was spayed when she was 4-5 months old. She is now 1-1/2 years old and bleeding; our male dog keeps trying to mate with her. The vet told my husband that sometimes this happens and that the way the dogs uterus is sometimes they miss an ovary and have to go back in. I cannot see that this is possible if they removed the uterus. Does anyone know if this is possible?"

We recommend spaying /neutering at the age of 5 months. Performing these procedures at an early age reduces the chances of medical and behavioral problems such as , mammary tumors, uterus infections and spraying urine.

Because we firmly believe in helping to end the problem of pet overpopulation, CAT spays or neuters all cats and kittens prior to their going home with their new families. We do not offer the option of not altering cats or kittens and focus on educating adopters on the importance of spay/neuter.

A cat or dog that has been spayed is always kept over night. Dog castrations also must stay overnight. Cat castrations can go home the same day, unless they have been declawed. The overnight stay allows us to observe your pet for any immediate anesthetic or surgical complications which may arise.

A dog will begin her heat or estrus cycle at different times depending on the breed but typically it begins between 6 and 8 months of age.

If ingested, make sure the pieces pass in the pet's bowel movement. If nothing passes within 24-48 hours or the animal seems uncomfortable, contact your vet and let them know of the incident.

Please check FDA's Web site at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html to see if your pet food has been recalled: If your pet food is not listed, the pet food is not affected by the recall and you can continue to feed it to your pets. If your pet shows a sudden onset of symptoms, including loss of appetite, vomiting, or lack of energy, stop feeding the pet food and contact your veterinarian. If the pet food is one of those being recalled, do NOT feed it to your animals.

Yes - Although rare cats have been infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Dogs at this time have not been found infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, however other mammals have become infected and it is thought dogs could also become infected.

For any dead animal in the road, call Public Works at 561.804.7000 and they will remove it. If the animal is on private property, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove it.

Please refer to the list provided on Metro Animal Services website). An application can also be downloaded from the Metro website.