Care Corner 

The ten most important things you must do for your pets to keep them healthy and happy:

      1.  Yearly veterinary exams with vaccines appropriate for the pet's

            age and lifestyle.

      2.  Spay or neuter your dog or cat before they are six months old.

      3.  Keep your pet on the appropriate internal and external parasite

            control.

      4.  Keep your pet properly groomed.      

      5.  Feed your pet appropriately for age, type and body condition and

            keep them at a healthy weight.

      6.  Exercise your pet daily.                      

      7.  Keep your pet confined to the house or fenced yard unless you

           are in direct control.  (Keeping a dog chained up is not a good      

           option)

      8.  Keep an ID collar on your pet or have your pet microchipped.

      9.  Train your pet.                              

     10.  Love your pet! Give them all of the attention that they need and

             deserve.                  

The facts of life

Important reasons to spay or neuter your pet.

 

Spaying your female pet (ovariohysterectomy):	Neutering your male pet (castration):
Removal of the ovaries and uterus.	Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord.
Ideal age is 4 to 6 months.	Ideal age is 4 to 6 months.
If spayed before the first heat cycle, your pet has a less than 1 percent chance of developing breast cancer.	Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common tumor in male dogs.
If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an 8 percent chance of developing breast cancer.	Greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis.
If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increased to 26 percent.	Reduces the risk of perianal tumors.
After two years, no protective benefit exists.	Reduces roaming and fighting.
Pets with diabetes or epilepsy should be spayed to prevent hormonal changes that may interfere with medication.	Eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in males neutered before 6 months of age or before the onset of these behaviors.
Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.	Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
Eliminates unwanted pregnancies.	Eliminates unwanted litters.

Unfortunate reality

More than 4 million pets are euthanized in U. S. animal shelters each year simply because they have no home.  Many are puppies and kittens less than 6 months old.  Help stop this needless loss of life.  Spay and neuter your pet.

Common myths

Spaying or neutering your pet does not:

   *  Cause laziness or hyperactivity

   *  Reduce its instinct to protect your family and home

   *  Cause immature behaviors

   *  Postpone or delay normal behavioral maturity

   *  Alter its personality in any manner

Our staff can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet or any other procedure your pet may undergo at our hospital.  Please don't hesitate to ask.

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