- My Pet's Wellness App:
- Apple Download
- Android Download
Each year, 6.3 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters nationwide, with nearly 1 million being euthanized due to overpopulation. At Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, we strongly advocate for spaying and neutering as the most humane way to prevent unwanted pregnancies, reduce health risks for your pet, and help control the animal overpopulation crisis. Our veterinary clinic offers affordable spay and neuter services, and our compassionate team is committed to making the experience as stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.
You’ve probably heard the terms “spay” (for females) and “neuter” (for males) but only have a vague idea of what they mean. Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic is here to help you! Spaying and neutering are surgical procedures in which we remove your pet’s reproductive organs. Spaying or neutering provides these undeniable benefits:
Stopping pet reproduction means you don’t contribute to pet overpopulation. With millions of pets (and thousands in Colorado Springs alone) euthanized every year, this population control is essential to end needless suffering for all animals — male or female.
Spaying or neutering your pet can lead to a longer, healthier life. It helps prevent common behavioral issues seen in unfixed pets and significantly reduces the risk of reproductive cancers and infections.
Does your cat want to roam outside or mark everything with urine? Is your male pooch aggressive toward you or other dogs? Neutered male pets won’t be prone to territorial fights or conflicts, and your female dog or cat won’t be as stressed during their heat cycle.
Spaying your female pet involves removing the ovaries and the uterus. Typically, a spay is completed around 4 to 6 months before your pet’s first heat cycle.
However, you have options if your pet is beyond that age. After being spayed, fur babies need a week or two to recover and may need pain medication.
Spaying your female pets is a kindness that protects them from many health problems. For example, it can reduce their risk of cancer and even uterine infections. When you spay your pet, it ensures:
Keep your female pet from feeling restless, excessive vocalization, and meeting up with males during their heat cycles, where they’re more likely to escape or run away.
Research from 2023 shows that non-spayed female dogs or cats are at four times the risk for developing mammary (breast) tumors or cancer if left intact.
False pregnancies can pose serious health risks for female pets and may be expensive to treat. Spaying helps prevent these complications before they start.
Neutering your dog or cat involves removing the testicles with a safe and quick surgical procedure. Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic uses effective pain medicine while neutering to keep your pet comfortable.
Our veterinary hospital prides itself on providing humane and effective pet services, neutering between 6 to 9 months, because it’s the best time for your fur baby.
Neutering your male animals provides many benefits, most similar to spaying. There’s no question that your male cat or dog will be much happier and more comfortable because they’ll:
Protect your home from unwanted spraying — especially from intact male cats — by neutering your pet. Elevated testosterone levels can trigger this behavior, but neutering helps prevent it.
Studies show neutered male dogs live 18% longer, while neutered male cats live 62% longer for a much more fulfilled life expectancy as a valuable part of your family.
Neutering your pet promotes regular social interaction with other pets and people, resulting in a stronger, longer bond and a more comfortable environment.
Our team knows that taking your cat or dog in for surgery can lead to anxiety for all pet owners. We treat your fur babies with love and respect for every spay and neuter service with these three easy steps:
Step #1 - Safety First: Your fur baby’s safety is always our top priority, and we take many steps to protect your pet. We’ll do a short consultation with an exam and bloodwork to ensure no underlying health concerns before surgery.
Step #2 - Surgery Day: We assure you that your pet can undergo anesthesia without complications. Our experienced and caring staff use sterile operating techniques to protect your pet, monitoring vital signs closely to ensure they sleep peacefully and safely.
Step #3 - Recovery Time: Once we’re done with spaying or neutering, and your pet is awake from their anesthesia, we’ll let you know they’re ready to come home and rest. During pickup, our staff will provide you with detailed aftercare and recovery instructions.
We’re always here to provide you with transparent veterinary care and information so you can feel informed about making the best decision for your pet. As a vet clinic in Colorado Springs, we think it’s crucial to mention that deciding to spay or neuter your pet is highly beneficial for your pet’s health and your community.
And while we can’t fix the pet overpopulation crisis, we can work together to start doing something about it as a community — one pet at a time. Instead, we can make educated choices about the health of our pets and intentional decisions about the number of fur babies in our families.
The best time for spaying or neutering your dog is when they’re still young and have yet to reach their first heat cycle in females. We recommend waiting until your puppy is at least six months old. Our expert veterinarians and technicians will want to know more about your dog’s breed because the more they will grow, the longer we may decide to wait.
Here are some statistics about spaying and neutering to provide clear educational information about the procedure.
DogCancer.com estimates that about 85% of dogs in the United States have been spayed or neutered, which is news we love to hear! In addition, about the same number of cats are also no longer intact.
According to a study by Banfield Pet Hospital, unneutered dogs are twice as likely to be bitten by another animal compared to neutered dogs. Unneutered cats are three times more likely to be bitten by another animal than neutered cats.
The North Shore Animal League of America estimates that a single unspayed female dog can have about 67,000 puppies in a matter of only six years, leading to overpopulation at animal shelters or homeless pets.
24Petwatch says that one cat can give birth to about 25 kittens in just a year. The offspring can be responsible for adding a staggering 370,000 kittens over another seven years.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that neutered male dogs live about 18% longer than those left intact, while spayed female cats live approximately 39% longer.
Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic is always here for you and your four-legged friend. If there’s something you’d like to talk to us about, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Read some of our most common questions:
Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic is always here to provide transparent veterinary care so you can make the best decision for your pet. As a Colorado Springs vet clinic, we believe that spaying or neutering your pet benefits your pet’s health and community. Our team outlined the animal control benefits above.
While a spay or neuter won’t fix the pet overpopulation crisis, we can work together to address it as a community — one pet at a time. Making informed choices about the health of our pets and intentional decisions about the number of fur babies in our families can help with pregnancy prevention and population control and do something good for the world.
No! We do everything we can to keep costs affordable for every family. The Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic knows how important it is to have your cat or dog complete the spay and neuter process. Consider this: going through this process will be much less costly than any surgeries or treatments they need later in life if they get sick. Emergency care to treat a pet’s medical condition quickly will undoubtedly strain your budget more financially. Don’t let cost hold you back; please reach out to us.
Absolutely not! What’s great about spaying and neutering takes away the hormonal, primal urge for your pet to want to mate and make more kittens or puppies. There’s a good chance your cat or dog will be a calmer, content pet. You’ll see they’re affectionate, probably as their way of saying thank you for taking such good care of them and making their well-being a priority.
You never want to put your pet in harm’s way. Making the routine decision to spay or neuter your pet is a caring choice. At Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic, we will answer all your questions about spaying and neutering to protect your pet. Our loving team will answer questions, walk you through the process, and provide compassionate care.
Ponderosa Veterinary Clinic is now accepting new patients. If you’d like to schedule an appointment please give us a call at 719-433-7671 .