Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

The tragic euthanasia of 4-5 million homeless dogs and cats each year is reason enough to spay or neuter your pet, rather than adding to the overpopulation problem.

Another reason? Spaying or neutering is one of the easiest ways to help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier and more content life. This routine surgery acts as both a preventative measure and a cure for some serious health conditions.

"In heat" is the common term used to describe the estrus cycle that an unspayed female dog or cat has at the time she is able to conceive. The heat cycle for dogs averages two per year starting as early as 6 months of age and lasts for 3 weeks.

Cats can go into heat as young as 5 months--barely out of kittenhood. The cycle begins in January or February and continues into fall. Estrus may last for 5-8 days and recur at 15-to 21-day intervals. If pregnancy does not occur, she may go through an estrus cycle every 3-4 weeks indefinitely. And it's possible for a cat to be nursing one litter while already pregnant with another.

Spaying cats eliminates the stress of repeated heat cycles, constant crying and nervous pacing. Altered dogs and cats avoid the dangers and complications of giving birth.

Spaying removes the ovaries and uterus, eliminating the possibilities of ovarian and uterine infection or cancer. Pyometra (puss-filled uterus) requires antibiotics and possibly emergency spaying, hospitalization and intravenous fluids.

Mammary tumors are more common in dogs than in humans and a high percentage are malignant. Unspayed dogs and cats are at tremendously greater risk for developing breast cancer.

Neutering male dogs and cats removes the testicles, which eliminates testicular tumors and greatly reduces the risk of developing prostate and rectal tumors. Testicular cancer must be treated--by neutering--before it spreads. Neutering also prevents an enlarged prostates, prevalent in unaltered dogs over five years.

In addition, neutering greatly reduces the urge to roam and fight, which in turn, reduces the risk of bite wounds; traffic injuries; contracting contagious diseases, and poisoning.

The simple fact is that spaying and neutering increases the life span of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

Dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered as young as 2 months of age. It's best to spay or neuter by the age of 6 months; older animals in good health can easily be done. Dogs and cats can be spayed when in heat or pregnant.