"...have your pets spayed or neutered."
Thanks, Bob Barker.
Most pet owners who are not in the business of breeding will have their pets spayed or neutered. Here we will discuss some of the benefits of performing reproductive surgery on our pets.
By spaying or neutering your pet, you will help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals.
Medical Benefits:
Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.
Neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems.
Behavioral Benefits:
Your spayed female pet won't go into heat. While cycles can vary, female felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise for mates, they will yowl and urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house.
Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways to escape from the house. Once he is free to roam, he will risk injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.
Your neutered male may be better behaved. Intact dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people, and inanimate objects after he’s neutered. Some aggression problems may be avoided by early neutering.
Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet's spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter.
Financial Assistance is Available
There are resources available to low-income families to help cover the cost of reproductive surgery for their pets. Visit our Community Resources page to learn more. Dr. Emilee Alms at Shoreview North Oaks Animal Hospital will be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about reproductive surgery for your pet.
Original Article Posted:
Comments