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.

It is actaully better for her to NOT have a litter or heat cycle before being spayed. Spaying before the first heat cycle significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancers later in life. Although there is risk with any surgery, spaying and neutering are relatively safe and painless operations. We routinely provide all our surgical patients with medication to help them cope with pain.

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.

There is no scientific evidence to support this and studies to date show that cats that have been desexed as kittens show identical behaviour to those that have been desexed later. If you allow your cat to have a litter, there can be several problems ? there may be difficulties with the birth and she may require a caesarean, which is both draining on her health and expensive; there may be difficulties rearing in rearing the kittens and there is a need to find the kittens homes.

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.

Don't trap a mother who is nursing her kittens unless you can catch the kittens, too. Tiny kittens cannot survive away from their mothers for long. If the kittens are newly weaned (usually four to six weeks), ask if your veterinarian can perform surgery and return the mother within 48 hours. Even though eating solid food, very young kittens are unlikely to survive without their mother for body heat and protection.

The mother must be licensed in order to sell or give away puppies or kittens. All forms of advertising must contain the current license number and the name and address of the buyer or recipient of those animals must be reported to Metro Animal Services. The other options are to obtain a Breeder, Dealer or Kennel Permit. Section 91.

Both sexes are equally suited to be service dogs. All dogs are neutered before placement so their working behavior will not be affected by hormonal changes.

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.

Reduces your pet's desire to roam in search of a mate -- this also helps reduce the problems of free roaming animals; for example, car accidents and pet theft

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.

No domestic, feral or otherwise, cat should be allowed to have kittens. Early spay is imperative. (See About FFSC.)

Yes, you can train older puppies and adult dogs to use Purina secondnature® brand Dog Litter. Success depends on how consistent and attentive you are at following the guidelines in the training booklet. Visit the secondnature® brand Dog Litter site for further details and be sure to read that site's FAQ. Success depends on how consistent and attentive you are at following the guidelines in the training booklet.

Is the litter box clean? Is there food near it, if so move the food (and water) away from the box. Have you changed litters, or tried another brand of litter? Has something changed within the home lately? Have you brought a new pet into the home? You can also try to have more than one litter box--or if your litter box is covered, take the cover off--if not covered, put one on it. Suspect UTI take cat to vet.

The H5N1 HPAI virus is not present in the United States at this time. Therefore, wild birds, including Canada Geese, turkeys, and song birds, pose little risk to you or your pets. Keeping cats and dogs indoors, unless being walked on a leash or otherwise confined, is best for their safety, regardless of risk of infection with the virus. Cats and dogs allowed to roam outdoors are exposed to many dangers, including automobile injuries, animal bites, poisoning, and other infectious diseases.

Puppies and kittens must be at least 8 weeks old and weigh 2 pounds before they can be spayed/neutered and put up for adoption. We ask that you keep the puppies/kittens until they are old enough and weigh enough to be put up for adoption.

Q:I have 2 dogs and I would like to know why they keep passing out? And also why, when they obviously need to do something (potty, sleep, etc), they don't just do it.

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.

Cats can sometimes come back into heat while nursing a litter, so it's important to keep them away from male cats until they can be spayed.

It depends upon the dog or cat. Most dogs and cats may see your chin as an animal to kill, or in the instance of your cat it may find it to be similar to the mouse or rat. It could make a toy out of it. Do not leave the chin alone with other animals at any time. You will have to use your own judgment on this one! (back to top)

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.

The length of time varies from animal to animal, but if your pet is in hard labor for an hour with no sign of a puppy (or kitten) being born, she may be having a problem. Call the doctor if this happens.

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 >>

A - The first six (6) were born on the 28th of April and the last two (2) were born on the 29th April 2006.

The answer to this question varies considerably depending on the personalities of the cats. Example: If you have a very shy cat, it's best not to get another that is aggressive. Your shy cat will feel threatened and hide. Try to match the personalities of the cats. The highest incidence of urine marking or spraying comes with bringing an adult female cat into a household with an adult male cat. The male may react by spraying.

This depends on the dog. You can get one that has a heavier door that requires more force to open that only a larger dog can open. Smaller dogs may be out of luck. Cats can easily slip through a automatic door when a dog opens it, so an automatic door may not be the best option.