There are many factors to consider in selecting the correct time to spay or neuter your pet. Most veterinarians will suggest doing it shortly after the completion of puppy vaccines, which is around five months of age. In the case of male pets it may be an especially good idea to neuter them at this time before they develop bad habits, such as aggression.

Spaying a dog or cat before their first heat cycle virtually eliminates the possibility of the pet getting breast cancer. Neutering will limit the possibility of the pet getting testicular cancer and greatly cut down on prostate problems. Spaying and neutering sterilizes the animal and thus reduces unwanted litters. It also may reduce undesirable behaviors such as spraying, marking, straying, aggression towards other animals and mating behaviors.

There are many reasons why it is important. The main one would be to help prevent the suffering and deaths of millions of animals. Millions of animals (who were once "cute" kittens and puppies) end up suffering as strays, or are euthanized because they are no longer wanted or cared for. Many of these animals are the result of unwanted and/or unplanned litters. Another reason is to have a better behaved animal.

Unspayed females are allowed to participate in daycare if they are not in heat. If they are in heat or come into heat during their stay at The Velvet Snout, they will be removed from the playgroup and placed into their suite where they will receive walks and individual attention. Unneutered males are taken on a case by case basis andare usually not allowed in playgroups but can board.

No. However we can assist with low cost spay/neuter. Please call us or email for more details or visit the Spay/Neuter Your Pet website.

We prefer to spay and castrate dogs and cats sometime between 5 months and one year of age. Spaying before the first heat cycle reduces the likelihood of breast cancer in dogs. "Early age" spaying and castration as done by shelters and adoption agencies has generally worked out well for animals that have not been adopted yet. We believe that this has reduced the numbers of unwanted dogs and cats.