The spay/neuter procedure is an “once-in-a-lifetime” procedure in a pet’s life.
Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for “spaying” the female pet. It is a surgical procedure, which removes both the ovaries and the uterus. In the dog and cat, one of the major reasons for performing the sterilization surgery is to eliminate the annoying “signs of heat” which cause males to be attracted. If the uterus alone was removed, the pet would still “come into heat”, but could not get pregnant.
Castration is the medical term for surgically sterilizing the male dog. The testicles are removed because they are the major source of male hormones which cause sexual interest, aggression, and urine marking of territory. Therefore, neutering the male pet provides significant advantage to the pet owner, as well as eliminating the ability to produce unwanted offspring and decreasing the risk of future medical problems, such as severe prostate disease.
- Spaying does NOT cause a pet to get fat or lazy. This comes from overfeeding and poor exercise.
- Personalities are NOT altered by spaying. Personalities do NOT fully develop until two years of age. Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery.
- In fact, because altered pets are not as pre-occupied with being dominant and finding mates, their personalities have been known to seem more even-tempered.
- Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under anesthesia. Post-surgical pain is minimal. Most pets go home the same day surgery is performed.
- There are thousands of cat, kittens, dogs, and puppies available for adoption at shelters, humane societies, pounds, and in the paper. Spay or neutering your pet DOES help the pet overpopulation.
- It is a case of “sooner is better than later”. Especially in females, the more heat cycles they go through before they are spayed, the greater the risk they could get cancer or infections later in life.
- Remember that 1 litter of kittens will multiply to 11,000 in 5 years if not spayed or neutered. For example, if a cat has two litters per year, that one cat and its offspring will produce more than 11 million cats in nine years.
- Altered animals make better, more affectionate companions. It stands to reason animals that aren’t preoccupied with mating have more attention to devote to their human friends.
- Neutered males are less likely to roam, run away, or get into fight and are less likely to start spraying if they have been neutered.
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