The Facts about Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is an important part of pet ownership. There are many health and behavioral benefits, and it saves lives by helping to control the pet overpopulation problem.
The term "spay," also called an ovariohysterectomy, applies to female animals. It is an abdominal surgery involving removal of the uterus and both ovaries. The term "neuter" applies to male animals and involves the surgical removal of both testes.
Health Benefits
The most significant benefit is the reduction of your pet's cancer risk. Mammary gland cancer can be life-threatening, yet the chance of developing mammary tumors is almost non-existent if the female pet is spayed prior to her first heat cycle. This risk increases to 7% by waiting until after the first heat, and then jumps to 25% after the second heat. Sterilization also prevents ovarian, uterine, and testicular cancer.
Neutering your male dog prevents benign prostatic hyperplasia, a painful swelling of the prostate gland. For both dogs and cats, spaying prevents pyometra, an infection of the uterus that can be fatal.
Behavioral Benefits
The behavioral benefits of spaying and neutering make the pet easier to live with and much happier. The positive aspects of the pet's personality will remain unchanged yet any aggression, mounting behavior, and the desire to roam away from home are significantly reduced. In cats, neutering will result in a 90% reduction in urine spraying, fighting, and roaming.
Spayed female pets are much calmer and happier because their heat cycles disappear. The term "heat" refers to the period when the female is receptive to the male. During this period the pet is highly agitated, and cats often spend this time yowling and searching for a male.
Risks to the Pet
Spaying and neutering are surgical procedures, so standard surgical risks apply. These include anesthetic complications, post-operative bleeding, and infection. These occurrences are rare and sterilization is considered safe and routine.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a pet to become overweight following their surgery. The metabolism slows down, and the pet will require fewer calories. The resulting weight gain is almost always caused by overfeeding, and can be easily prevented by portion control.
The Surgery
During a neuter, an incision is made on or near the scrotum. The procedure is quick and noninvasive, so recovery is rapid. The spay procedure requires an incision into the abdominal cavity, so recovery is slightly longer than for neutering. Either way, the veterinarian may keep your pet overnight for observation. Most pets are back to their normal selves within a day or two. Some veterinarians will leave stitches in the skin that required removal, but often the stitches are placed beneath the skin and dissolve on their own.
Most animal shelters typically sterilize puppies and kittens between two and four months of age, but the traditional age for sterilization at a veterinary clinic is approximately six months
Cost
The price of the procedure can vary significantly depending on your region and on the veterinary clinic. There are many low cost spay-neuter clinics and subsidy programs to insure that all owners are able to afford the surgery. Call your local animal shelter for more information. The lifetime benefits gained from spaying or neutering your pet easily offset this one-time expense.
Sterilizing your pet is also the socially responsible choice. Three to four million unwanted pets are euthanized by animal shelters every year. Surprisingly, the majority of these unwanted dogs and cats are the offspring of household pets that were never sterilized, as opposed to stray animals or from breeding operations.
From cancer prevention to decreased aggression, the benefits of sterilization far outweigh the risks. The surgery is simple, safe, and relatively inexpensive. Call your veterinarian today to schedule your pet's spay or neuter surgery.
Dr. Cori Gross is a feline-only veterinarian from Seattle, WA. Dr. Gross practices at Meow Cat Rescue in Kirkland, WA, serves as a Field Veterinarian for Veterinary Pet Insurance, and provides in-home behavior consultations for the Seattle/Portland area through Feline Behavior Housecalls.
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Comments (8)
Beenie45 September 17, 2009 7:49 PM
Thank you for this important information. I just had my 2 adopted male kittens neutered and they recovered in one day and are doing wonderful.
pat. manning September 18, 2009 11:10 AM
Will spayiny my rat terrier shortin her life?
Sharebear57 September 18, 2009 3:16 PM
No, Pat. If anything, the surgery tends to lenghthen the animals' lives due to the decreased incidence of cancer and decrease in roaming behavior.
lorraine September 18, 2009 8:55 PM
i have two female cats maybe 3 and 5 yr old can they have the surgery done?
Anonymous September 19, 2009 11:15 AM
I live in South CAROLINA.I want to adopt a yorkie or a small dog. I have gone on all the SPCAs. Can anyone help me find one ?
Petside Team September 22, 2009 11:22 AM
@lorraine - Yes of course they can! It will make your life a lot easier with them not going into heat!
@Anonymous - Have you checked out Petfinder.com? They have many wonderful doggies looking for homes!
Mike October 18, 2009 11:57 AM
I just found (or it found me) what looks like a Irish setter. The color of hair is golden/blond. It has a white star in the chest area. Size and length appear to be the same as a Irish setter. Question: Is there setters out there that are this color.
sylvia October 23, 2009 11:39 AM
I have a 13 year old chihuahua she was spayed when she was 5 yrs old and she is doing well, we don't want to think about her leaving us, she is our baby and are very attached to her.
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