Harlan Animal Hospital

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering:

 

1. Your male/female pet will live a longer and healthier life. 
 

• Spaying your pet will not only help prevent unwanted litters, it will help prevent pyometra, endometriosis, other uterine infections, and breast cancer. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these problems.

• Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and prostate problems.

 

2. Your female will not go into a heat cycle. 
 

• In cats the heat cycles can vary. These cycles may start as early as the fourth or fifth month of a kitten's life, and will continue until she is either bred or spayed. The heat cycles in cats last from several days to two weeks or longer, and repeat every two to three weeks. This will make it seem like a female cat is almost always in heat.

• The first heat cycle of the dog usually occurs by age 6-12 months; for some small breeds as early as five months of age. On average a dog can have two heat cycles a year. These cycles last on average 3 weeks.

 

3. Your male dog will not want to roam away from home. 
 

• A male dog that has not been neutered will do just about anything to find a female mate. He may dig his way under a fence, jump the fence, or make like Houdini to escape from the house. While a dog is out roaming he is at risk of car accidents, fights, getting captured by the local shelter, etc. These risks also go for your feline companions.

 

4. Your neutered male will be much better behaved. 
 

• Neuetered cats and dogs will let your pet relax and enjoy being a part of your family. They will not longer feel the need to roam from the house.

• An animal that is not neutered may mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house and yard area. Many of the behavioral problems can be avoided by early neutering.

 

5. It is higly cost-effective.
 

• The cost of having your pet fixed is a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your unneutered pet escapes and gets into fights, hit by a car, or any other problems that may occur while they are out roaming.

 

6. Spaying and neutering helps fight pet over-population.
 

• Every year, cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized (put to sleep) or suffer as strays. This is a result from unplanned litters that could have been prevented by having pets spayed or neutered.

 

Myths about spaying and neutering your pets.

 

1. Neutering will take away the "guard dog" instincts. Neutering a dog does NOT reduce its ability as either a guard or watch dog. They will still remain protective of their territory as they were before the neutering.

 

2. Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat or lazy. Too much food and not enough exercise is the main cause of obesity. Removing the ovaries or testicles does affect metabolism (Metabolism is the amount of energy (calories) your body burns to maintain itself.) Because of this reason spayed or neutered pets will tend to put on weight more easily if permitted to overeat. The important thing to remember in the last sentence is "if permitted to overeat". The diet of every cat and dog should be regulated to prevent an animal from becoming overweight.

 

3. Spaying and neutering will hurt my pet. This is NOT true. Fixing your pet is safe and relatively painless operation done by a registered veterinarian. Without the surgery your pet may experience more pain and even life threatening problems if they roam and get into fights or hit by a car. Plus, your pet will appreciate the freedom from sexual frustration or repeated parenthood.

 

4. She should have one litter first. NOT TRUE. It is actually better for her not to have a litter or a heat cycle before being spayed.

 

5. I will find good homes for the litter my pet has. NOT TRUE. You may be able to find homes for the puppies or kittens, but are they in "good" homes and "permanent" homes? Just keep in mind each time you find a home for the animal, somewhere else an animal is being killed because of overpopulation.

 

6. My pet can not get pregnant during her first heat cycle. NOT TRUE. Your female pet can still get pregnant during her first heat cycle. This is not advisable as a 6 month old animal is not yet fully grown/mature, and complications for the mother and the puppies are more likely.