The Health Benefits of Spaying / Neutering Your Pet

[bumplett]

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The reasons for spaying are compelling and well-known:

Overpopulation and the resulting mass euthanasia and neglect. There can never be enough good homes for all the puppies and kittens born, including purebreds.

It avoids heat cycles, unwelcome visitors fighting on the lawn, accidental pregnancies, unwanted puppies and kittens, inconvenience and expense.

Better-behaved pets - Spayed pets are less likely to spray or mark or roam. They are less aggressive toward humans and other animals. 85% of dog bites involve intact pets.

Healthier pets

Females spayed before their first heat cycle have 96.4% less risk of breast cancer. Spaying after the first heat but before a litter still reduces the risk by 84%. Breast cancer is four times more common in dogs than in humans.

Spayed females have no risk of uterine infection, or uterine, ovarian, or cervical cancer.

Dogs and cats have their own sexually-transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.

There are many complications associated with pregnancy, having babies, and raising a litter - infections, emergency c-sections (very expensive), seizures due to calcium deficiency, etc. The risk of pregnancy and rearing a litter is far greater than the risk of anesthesia and spaying.

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The reasons for neutering are compelling and well-known:

Overpopulation and the resulting mass euthanasia and neglect. There can never be enough good homes for all the puppies and kittens born, including purebreds.

It avoids fighting over females, trying to escape looking for females, and the resulting inconvenience and expense that results. Males can smell a female up to 3 miles away, and will often get in trouble out looking for girls. Most of the animals hit-by-cars and lost are intact males. Smaller dogs are often killed by larger ones.

Neutered pets are less likely to spray or mark or roam. They are less aggressive toward humans and other animals. Eighty-five percent of dog bites involve intact pets. And who can stand the aroma of Tom Cat urine?

Dogs and cats have their own sexually transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Feline Leukemia, for example, is the leading disease killer of cats in our area, and is spread through fighting and sexual contact. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.

Neutered males have no risk of testicular cancer. Prostate cancer, and other prostate problems, are very common in older un-neutered males.

[ubumartin]

Thanks for the info. Both of my pets were neutered before we took them home from the animal rescue league. I just saw an article in the paper today about the severe over population and the shelters having to euthanize due to overcrowding. I am even thinking of fostering some kittens. I am not sure that I would be able to but I am going to look into it.

[bumplett]

I think it would be wonderful if you would open your home & heart and consider fostering!

We are just creeping out of kitten season - but we still have a month or so to go - I hate this time of year

I know it's hard for some to "not get attached" but honestly, we all get attached, it's just a line you have to draw in the sand - if you go into it KNOWING that you are only a stepping stone, it's easier when it's time to let them go -

[SewCrafty]

I'm one of those that just can't let go. I know, no matter what I say to myself, doesn't matter, I nurse them back to heath and then just won't let them go.

So my count is now up to 26 and only little Maxie, my newest, is not spayed yet. But soon for her too.

Great article, Bumplett, thanks for posting it.

[Mom23boys]

Dogs and cats have their own sexually-transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.

I did not realize that animals carried sexually transmitted disease. Thanks for the eye opener.

There are many complications associated with pregnancy, having babies, and raising a litter - infections, emergency c-sections (very expensive), seizures due to calcium deficiency, etc. The risk of pregnancy and rearing a litter is far greater than the risk of anesthesia and spaying.

After our miniature dachshund had her last litter, she had seizures due to calcium deficiency. It scared me to death because I didn't realize what was going on. I took her to the vet who placed her on calcium tablets. After that event, I swore she would not have to go through that again and we had her spayed. All I could do was talk to her and try to comfort her during the seizures. I would not want her to have to go through that again.

[JanieD]

Thanks for sharing... I wasn't aware of all of the benefits (a bit surprised by some). Wish we (the public) could be more educated on these kinds of things. Vets/humane societies/animal sheters encourage spaying or neutering, but I think more information like this would help many to make the decision spay or neuter.

[Neeley]

We had Jack Daniels (our psycho kitty) fixed 2 years ago. He almost died because of a reaction to the sleepy meds. Luckily I have a wonderful vet who bagged him (that's what she called it) and breathed for him for over 3 hours. He survived and is now a much calmer, more loving fellow. I don't know if it was because he was fixed or if his near death experience but he is a happier guy for sure.

Hunter (the weimerraner sp?) was fixed in December and he has not tried to run away since - knock on wood. He was escaping all of the time before.

[pinetree]

Well said!

[Lori Biever-Launder]

Let's not forget another important reason to spay/neuter: altered dogs bite waaaay less than unaltered ones.

[kaykwilts]

Male animals are less like to escape to get out to satisfy his lusts. Having your female spayed you won't have male animals hanging around your property and stinking up the place.