Spaying and Neutering is recommended for all pets for three primary reasons: 1) significant health benefits to our patients, 2) behavioral problems that can be prevented, 3) the prevention of serious pet overpopulation in the United States.
Some of the health benefits to Spaying and Neutering include: Prevention of testicular and uterine cancer in males and females respectively, prevention of mammary tumors in females, prevention of the influence on prostate cancer and prostate disease in males.
Behavioral problems are a major cause of animals being either turned over to shelters and/or euthanized each year. Some behavior problems can be lessened or prevented by spaying or neutering your pet, including: aggression toward people and other pets, urine marking, escaping to breed, other dominance issues influenced by hormones.
The sad truth is, an estimated 9.6 million animals are euthanized in the United States annually through shelters. Based on 2001 data, that number is more than 3 times the amount of companion animal pets (dogs and cats) in the entire state of Indiana. This horrible truth alone should be reason enough for promoting spaying and neutering of pets to help prevent this overpopulation nightmare.
Many myths and misunderstandings often prevent people from electing to have their pet spayed or neutered. Some important things for you to know are:
Spaying and Neutering do not change your dog or cats personalities nor does it “take their spirit” away.
Spaying and neutering is not the cause of obesity in pets. Often pets reach adulthood a few moths after their surgery, at which time their metabolism changes. That combined with overfeeding and a lack of exercise is usually the cause of pets being overweight.
Spaying and neutering do not cause “gender-like” changes that people would expect. Humans often think of this surgery in terms of having it done personally for themselves. Pets don’t change gender because of this surgery.
Pets don’t hold grudges after surgery, they don’t miss having the ability or drive to breed, and they go home happy and healthy after surgery.
