3 Important Facts About Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

Admin • March 23, 2018
Dog — Dog Laying on the Grass in Citrus Heights, CA

You love your dog or cat, and you only want to do what is best for them. Some pet owners avoid spay and neuter procedures because they don't want to cause their pets pain or because they've heard rumors that these procedures are unsafe.

While your intentions to protect your pet are noble, they are a bit misplaced. In almost all cases, spaying or neutering your pet really is the best choice - for you, for your pet, and for the animal population as a whole. These three key facts about spaying and neutering will show you why this is the case.

1. Spaying and Neutering Reduces Pet Euthanasia

Pet overpopulation is an enormous issue in the United States. There are more than 3,500 animal shelters in the country, and most of these shelters are packed to the gills - unable to accommodate any more abandoned or unwanted pets. Many of these pets - about 3 million of them a year - are euthanized.

If you do not spay or neuter your pet, there is a very good chance they will reproduce and contribute to the overpopulation problem. Even if you find good homes for the kittens or puppies, those animals will be taking homes that could otherwise have been given to at-risk shelter pets.

By spaying or neutering your pet, you are doing your part to help fight pet overpopulation and reduce euthanasia rates. Spaying and neutering, quite literally, save lives.

2. Spayed or Neutered Pets Live Longer, Healthier Lives

Researchersat the University of Georgia recently examined death records of dogs and found that dogs who were spayed or neutered lived a year and a half longer than those who were left intact. There are a few likely reasons for this difference.

First of all, spayed or neutered pets cannot develop cancers of the reproductive organs since those organs have been removed. Intact males may develop testicular cancer, and intact females may develop uterine or ovarian cancers, but spayed or neutered pets are protected from these often-fatal ailments. They cannot die giving birth, either.

Spayed or neutered pets are also less prone to injuries. They are less likely to roam and become injured by people, other animals, or structures. Fewer injuries lead to a decreased risk of potentially deadly infections. By having your pet fixed, you are giving them a longer, healthier life.

3. Spayed and Neutered Pets Display Better Behavior

People are often annoyed when their cat sprays the door frame or when their dog becomes aggressive towards other pets. Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to display such aggressive and territorial behaviors. They tend to be easier to train, and in the case of male dogs especially, they are safer to leave with children.

Curbing bad behavior is not just good for you - it's also good for your pet. Spaying and neutering reduces the chance that your cat or dog will roam. Neutered males won't wander in search of a mate, and spayed females won't stray when they are in heat - as unaltered females tend to do. A dog or cat who takes off is in a huge amount of danger. Comparatively, spaying or neutering your pet is much safer.

There are many good reasons why your veterinarian recommends spaying or neutering your animals, and making money is not one of them. Spaying or neutering your pet helps fight the problem of pet overpopulation, promotes a longer and healthier life, and curbs behaviors that may put you or your pet in danger. These procedures are very safe, and with pain relievers, far less burdensome on your pet than you may imagine.

If you are looking for a vet, contact us at Sylvan Corners Pet Hospital. We are a full-service veterinary hospital providing care for dogs and cats, and we are happy to address any lingering concerns or questions you may have about the importance of spaying or neutering.

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