Spay & Neuter
Over population is one of the biggest problems in our area. Spaying and neutering your pets is very important to help out your community in the fight against over population of pets.
5 Great Reasons Why You Should SPAY or NEUTER Your Pet Now. . . Not Later!
1) Spaying or neutering increases your pet’s chances for a longer, healthier life – Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females. Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Neutering also decreases the possibility of peri-anal tumors and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are greatly reduced.
2) An altered dog or cat is a better pet for your family – Males neutered early in life are less aggressive toward other males and are not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your (or your neighbor’s) expensive shrubs with his urine as well as inside the house Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed.
3) No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy – Spaying prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or kittens.
4) Spaying results in a cleaner female dog and home – Because female dogs pass bloody fluid for about ten days, twice a year, as a part of their estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.
5) You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem – Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are abandoned at shelters across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are among some of the reasons animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets are spayed or neutered, the more we can control animal overpopulation.
The information above is adapted from “Should You Spay/Neuter Your Pet?” by Alpo Pet Foods/Nestles.