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.

Absolutely not! Again, the cancer preventing benefits are the highest if the pet is spayed before her first heat. The bigger issue is the number of unwanted pets; the shelters are full of pets needing homes that may end being euthanized for lack of a home.

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.

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 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.

Yes, it can, but the young animals tend to be destructive. Whenever a young animal is in his Homestretch™ crate he should have some toys to play with or chew on and above all, supervision. He should not be left in his Homestretch™ crate alone until he is trustworthy.

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.

NO. The female should be spayed by the time she is six to eight months of age. Many veterinarians now believe that spaying at an earlier age presents little or no increased risk. Spaying a female puppy before the first heat cycle helps protect against mammary tumors and helps prevent the development of several reproductive tract diseases.

Pets less than 4 weeks old are fed kitten or puppy milk. Pets older than 4 weeks are fed a gruel of puppy/kitten food or dry if they are physically able.

Any puppy or kitten sold to a private owner or pet store should be microchipped to protect it against loss, theft or separation from its owner. In addition, microchips installed at the kennel level also protect the breeder, simplify management and solve problems with confusion of puppies. Make the most of the chip by visiting our Selling Your Pets page. Read more >>

There is no advantage in having a litter of puppies, plus you lose a great deal of the health benefits of having your female spayed. Why should I spay/neuter my pet? Unless you are planning on becoming a serious breeder, altering your pet is just plain practical. With females you no longer have the problem of keeping her confined every six months, and if done early before she ever comes in season, spaying practically guarantees she will not get mammary cancer.

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.

We get our animals from various sources. Some come from shelters where they are scheduled to be killed, some come in as strays and some are surrendered by their families who no longer want them.

Most of our adoptive home are found through posting our animals on www.petfinder.com. We also have adoption days at the Mechanicsburg, PA PetsMart the first Sunday of every month. Additionally, there are various events held each month at which we have adoptive animals.

You should take your puppy for its first vaccinations when it is 6 weeks old. Kittens begin their vaccinations at 6 weeks as well. Puppies have vaccinations at two-week intervals, while kittens get their second set of shots at 9 weeks. These vaccinations are crucial for the pets' health. Your vet may follow a different protocol, but the main thing is to get them to the vet at 6 weeks of age.

Yes. Laboratory and clinical studies showed that CAPSTAR® (nitenpyram) Tablets are safe for use in puppies and kittens 4 weeks of age and older, and 2 pounds of body weight or greater.

Oh, how often we've heard that question. If we took everybody's unwanted kittens, we would be overwhelmed with kittens, not to mention veterinary fees. So besides ending up in bankruptcy court, we would have to find homes for lots and lots of kittens. If we agreed to take your kittens, would you have their mother spayed or would we end up with the same question repeated in another four to six months? If we could, we would save them all. Right now we are filled to capacity.

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.

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.