Pet Sterilization. Should I Spay or Neuter my Pet?

By Bob Robert

on January 07, 2011

There are many reasons to have your pet spayed or neutered. Did you know that a sterilized animal is better behaved? Fixed cats and dogs will focus their attention to their human families. Unsterilized males left unsupervised will wander in search of a mate, risking injury or becoming lost. They mark territory with strong-smelling urine. Male dogs kept indoors may embarrass you by mounting human legs or your furniture when stimulated. A fixed dog will protect his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be avoided by neutering a dog early in life.

For four or five days every three to four weeks a female cat will howl and urinate more frequently throughout house advertising for a companion. Often, they attract unneutered males who spray urine around the houses females. Female dogs also can also attract males from great distances. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so.

An altered animal will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are performed under general anesthesia by a veterinarian. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization. It is recommended that you spay or neuter your pet as soon as possible. Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies, neutering a male cat or dog before six months of age prevents the risk of prostate and testicular cancer. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent breast cancer and pyometra. You should have this done before the first heat as it offers the best protection against these diseases. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous fluids to, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50% of female dogs and 90% of female cats.

Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds end up as strays and are euthanized annually. Many of these are the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been prevented by spaying or neutering. These animals will not survive for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully and by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.

Questions and Answers:

Shouldn't my pet have a litter before she spayed? The sooner you spay your female, the sooner you will have a healthier future for your pet. As a kitten or puppy weighs more than 2 pounds and is two months, he or she may be spayed or nuetered. Many veterinarians will perform early sterilization. The longer a female goes unspayed, the likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections increased. If a female spayed before her first heat cycle (6 to 9 months of age) she has one seventh the risk of developing breast cancer as a female left intact.

Will spaying or neutering change the personality of my pet? No. Any slight changes will be for the positive. Regardless of what age the pet is altered, the animal will remain a caring companion, affectionate and protective. The change can have a calming effect on many animals. Both canine and feline males tend to stop the need to roam and fight, and they also lose the desire to mark their territory.

Will my pet become fat and lazy if they are fixed? Absolutely not! Overfeeding and lack of exercise make pets fat and lazy. If you provide enough exercise and monitor food intake, your pet will not gain weight. Altered pets tend to live an average of two to three years longer than unaltered animals.

Is sterilization surgery painful or harmful for my pet? No. Spaying and neutering are performed regularly on animals. With a minimal amount of recovery time in home, your pet will be back to normal in two or three days.

In summary, the benefits far outweigh any possible downsides to having your pet altered. Contact your local veterinarian, animal shelter, or humane society today. Many cities even offer free or discount programs to have the procedure done. Be a responsible pet owner and have your pet spayed or neutered.


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