spay / neuter

• Spaying/neutering helps dogs and cats live longer lives by reducing the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult — not to mention, expensive and painful — to treat.
• That’s why it’s better to spay your female pet before she goes into heat for the first time. This reduces the risk of breast cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer in your dog.
• Neutered males will not develop testicular cancer and their risk for developing prostate cancer is greatly reduced.
• Spayed/neutered pets are, typically, better behaved and more calm and affectionate than those that are not spayed/neutered.
• Male cats are less likely to spray urine and mark their territory, especially if neutered prior to developing this habit.
• Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle, thereby eliminating regular bleeding, and the incessant crying and nervous behavior that often accompanies the heat cycle.
• Neutering decreases an animal’s desire to escape and wander the neighborhood in search of a mate. This decreases the risk of fights, death caused by getting hit by cars, and lost or stolen pets.
• Spaying keeps unwelcome male animals away.

Still not convinced? Here are a few myths about spay / neuter, courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States:

MYTH: It’s better to have one litter before spaying a female pet.
FACT: In fact, the medical evidence shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier, and are at much less risk of many forms of cancer. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age.
MYTH: I want my children to experience the miracle of birth.
FACT: The miracle of birth is quickly overshadowed by the thousands of animals euthanized in animal shelters in communities all across the country. Teach children that all life is precious by spaying and neutering your pets.
MYTH: But my pet is a purebred.
FACT: So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and cats—mixed breed and purebred. About half of all animals entering shelters are euthanized.
MYTH: I want my dog to be protective.

FACT: It is a dog’s natural instinct to protect home and family. A dog’s personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.

MYTH: I don’t want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT: Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH: My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don’t give them enough exercise.
MYTH: But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten) just like her.
FACT: Your pet’s puppies or kittens have an unlikely chance of being a carbon copy of your pet. Even professional breeders cannot make this guarantee. There are shelter pets waiting for homes who are just as cute, smart, sweet, and loving as your own.
MYTH: It’s expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.
FACT: Many low-cost options exist for spay/neuter services. Most regions of the U.S. have at least one spay/neuter clinic within driving distance that charge $100 or less for the procedure, and many veterinary clinics provide discounts through subsidized voucher programs. Low-cost spay/neuter is more and more widely available all the time. Here’s a link to find low-cost spay/neuter programs in your area: www.neuter/spay.org.
MYTH: I’ll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
FACT: You may find homes for your pet’s puppies and kittens. But you can only control what decisions you make with your own pet, not the decisions other people make with theirs. Your pet’s puppies and kittens, or their puppies or kittens, could end up in an animal shelter, as one of the many homeless pets in every community competing for a home. Is it worth the gamble?

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