Why Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Sadly, each year in the US hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are euthanized because of overpopulation.

Altering pets through spay/neuter surgery helps prevent the unwanted birth of animals that may be difficult to place into good homes. The spaying and neutering of pets can also reduce the incidence of sex-hormone related diseases.

We encourage you to discuss this issue with your veterinarian who can recommend what is best for your pet. Some breeds may benefit from being altered at an older age, and there may be other considerations specific to your pet's health.

• The neutered male cat has a decreased urine odor and is far less inclined to mark its territory by spraying urine.
• The neutered male dog is less likely mark territory. Neutered dogs have fewer tumors around the anus and decreased urine odor.
• The spayed female cat and dog have less urinary tract infections and significantly fewer cases of mammary cancer. Spaying prevents the occurrence of pyometra in females. Pyometra is a bacterial infection in the uterus. If the bacteria gets into the pet's bloodstream, it can be fatal.
• Altered pets are less likely to make inappropriate sexual approaches toward people or objects.
• Altering your pet helps to control pet overpopulation by reducing the number of litters of puppies or kittens who will need good homes.

In both cases, the animal is given general anesthesia so that it cannot feel any pain or discomfort.

A spay surgery (also called an ovariohysterectomy) is performed on females. While performed routinely, an ovariohysterectomy is a major surgery in which the reproductive tract—including the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus—is removed. Bloodwork may be performed to make sure the pet is healthy enough for anesthesia and surgery.

Neutering refers to the castration of a male animal. It is a surgical procedure in which both testicles are removed. Neutering requires considerably less time and equipment than a spay surgery.

• Consult with your veterinarian about the best age for your pet to have this surgery.
• In most cases, it is considered safe to alter dogs and cats as early as eight weeks of age.
• There may be health risks/concerns specific to certain sizes and breeds of dogs, specifically larger breeds; your veterinarian may advise waiting to perform this surgery until the dog is 6 months to one year or older.
• As long as they are healthy enough for surgery, there is generally no upper age limit for pets to be spayed or neutered and, in fact, older pets can benefit from the surgery.

• If your pet is going to be a companion animal rather than a breeding animal, then there are no benefits to allowing her to have a litter or to go through a heat period.
• It is actually healthier for your dog or cat never to experience a heat as it lessens the animal’s chance of getting mammary cancer and decreases the animal’s stress and risks due to pregnancy and delivery.
• Research indicates that dogs spayed prior to their first heat have less than a half of one percent chance of experiencing mammary cancer as compared to an eight percent chance after the second heat.
• Cats spayed after their first heat have a seven times greater chance of suffering from mammary cancer than cats spayed prior to their first heat.

Females in good health can have the surgery done when they are in heat or pregnant. Talk with your veterinarian as to what is best for your pet.

No. Weight gain is due to being fed more calories than the animal uses. Be aware of the quantity of food give your pet, and follow feeding instructions as given by your veterinarian or on pet food labels. Older pets need fewer calories than younger ones because they tend to be less active and are no longer growing. Regular play and exercise, along with a proper diet, are the keys to keeping your pet in shape.