“Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet”

First things first –

Both spaying and neutering (altering) are licensed veterinary procedures. Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus of a female pet, while neutering remove the testicles of a male pet. This is where I usually lose the male readers, but stay with me for a few minutes and let me explain further.

Benefits for the Pet –

Your altered pet will live longer and be healthier than pets that are not fixed. Male dogs live 18% longer, female dogs live 23% longer, male cats live 62% longer, and female cats live 39% longer.

Males will avoid testicular cancer, will have a reduced desire to roam, will be more gentlemanly in mixed company, and will be less aggressive toward other dogs.

Spaying helps your female pet prevent uterine infections and breast cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.

Benefits for You –

Having your pet altered is cheaper than having and caring for a litter of puppies/kittens.

Your female pet will not go through heat cycles, which can be stressful and time consuming for the household.

Your pets will be more loving and social. They will be less likely to roam, bite or get into fights.

Benefits for the Community – 

Altering you pets will avoid many unwanted dog/cat litters. These unwanted litters are big contributors to the over population of companion animals.

Community Animal shelters are constantly overtaxed in their effort to care for unwanted, neglected and abused animals. Nationwide approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized annually.

Communities spend millions of dollars each year to control unwanted companion animals.