Why Spay or Neuter?

This information on the value of spaying or neutering your pet is provided by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Your pet will be healthier.

Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life? Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering a male cat or dog before six months of age prevents testicular cancer and prostate disease. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravaneous fluids, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50% of female dogs and 90% of female cats. Spaying your animal before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

Peace of mind

Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal is better behaved?

• Males: Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unsterilized, unsupervised males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine on surfaces. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated.

• Females: While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. For four or five days every three weeks during breeding season, they yowl and urinate more frequently – sometimes all over the house – advertising for mates. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so. Often, they attract unneutered males – some from great distances – who spray urine around the females’ homes.

Responsible Care

Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Many of these are the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.

Facts vs. Myths
Myth: My female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.

Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future. As long as a kitten or puppy weighs more than two pounds and is two months old, he or she can be neutered or spayed. The longer a female goes unsprayed, the greater the likelihood of her developing mammary tumors or uterine infections.

Myth: Spaying or neutering will alter my pet’s personality.

Fact: Regardless of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet will remain a caring, loving and protective companion. Any slight changes will be positive. Neutering will reduce the need to breed, which has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered male dogs and cats tend to stop roaming and fighting, and they also lose the desire to mark their territory with urine.

Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
Fact: Absolutely not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding makes pets fat and lazy, not neutering. Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food intake. Also, sterilized pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.

Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.

Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals. With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of days.