As an owner, you have a responsibility to make decisions about your pet’s health and welfare. Among the most important of these decisions is whether or not you should have your pet spayed or neutered. Most veterinarians and animal welfare advocates recommend spaying or neutering pets because in addition to helping to reduce pet overpopulation, these surgeries have health and behavioural benefits for dogs and cats .
Health Benefits
Females
Benefits of spaying female cats and dogs include the following:
Spaying Female Cats Dogs
- Dramatically lowers the risk of mammary tumours, especially if done before the pet reaches sexual maturity.
- Prevents cervical, uterine and ovarian tumours.
- Almost eliminates the possibility of pyometra, a potentially fatal inflammation of the uterus.
- Decreases the risk of perianal fistulas.
- Eliminates the risk of complications due to pregnancy and giving birth.
Males
Benefits of neutering males include the following:
- Prevents testicular cancer.
- Reduces the risk of perianal tumours.
- Reduces the risk of some non-cancerous prostate problems.
- Behavioural Benefits
Spaying and neutering cats and dogs actually makes them better pets and reduces the chance that they will become lost or injured through roaming.
Common behavioural benefits of spaying and neutering pets include the following:
- Decreases the urge to roam.
- Eliminates the howling, restless behavior and mess associated with heat in females.
- Decreases aggression, including aggression toward people and other pets.
- Reduces urine marking.
- Reduces humping behavior.
Population Control
In North America, the number one cause of death in healthy dogs and cats is euthanasia due to overpopulation. Millions of pets die in shelters in the United States and Canada each year because adoption rates are far lower than birth rates, and shelters simply lack the resources to house and care for all of these unwanted animals. Currently, spaying and neutering all pets is the best way to reduce the homeless pet population.
Common Owner Objections
Despite the many benefits of spaying and neutering pets cited above, many caring owners refuse these surgeries for their dogs and cats. The following list presents four of the most commonly cited reasons for this and offers counterarguments.
Cost
Many owners worry that spay or neuter surgery is too expensive. In reality, this surgery is substantially cheaper than lifelong responsibility for one or more litters. It is also less expensive than treatment for preventable cancers and injuries due to accidents caused by roaming in search of mates.
Fear of Complications
ComplicationsSome owners delay or refuse surgery for their pets because they fear anaesthetic, surgical or postsurgical complications. In truth, the risk of complications is low while the risk of intact pets producing unwanted litters or developing preventable health problems is high.
Wanting Children to See a Litter of Puppies or Kittens
Doing this teaches your children to be irresponsible. Shelters are overflowing with adoptable pets, including puppies and kittens, and contributing to this problem sets a poor example for your children.
Underestimating the Risks
Many owners feel that keeping their pets indoors eliminates the need for spaying or neutering. Because the drive to mate is so high, however, this is ineffective. If an intact male or a female in heat slips the leash, encounters another intact pet in your fenced yard, darts out the door or gets free in some other way, the odds are good that you will find yourself responsible for an unwanted litter.
Schedule your spay or neuter surgery with the experts at Martindale Animal Clinic by phone or stop by our office today.
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