WHY SHOULD I?
As a responsible pet owner, you provide your cat or dog with food, shelter,
exercise and medical care. You also spay your (female) or neuter your
(male) pet, preventing countless litters which might otherwise suffer
starvation, painful injury or death as unwanted animals.
WHAT HAPPENS?
Spaying is the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus to eliminate
the possibility of pregnancy. Neutering is the removal of the testicles,
which produce sperm, to eliminate the possibility of impregnation. Both
surgical procedures, performed under general anesthesia by a licensed
veterinarian, are relatively painless, and safe for young animals.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
*Prevents pet population explosion. A roaming male dog or cat can impregnate
several females in heat in a single day.
*Provides better health for your pet. Early spaying eliminates the potential
problems and risks associated with pregnancy and birth and uterine diseases
and decreases the incidence of mammary tumors later on. Prostate problems
and testicular tumors are also eliminated when an animal has been neutered
when young. Neither procedure will cause your pet to get fat and lazy;
too much food and too little exercise will.
*No sexual frustration. Males, sensing a female in heat, will often jump
out of windows or over fences, even break leash training, in a desperate
effort to follow the scent, and a roaming animal can be hit by cars or
get into fights. Neutered males stop "mounting" behavior (often
on people's legs) which can be annoying or even frightening. Spayed cats
do not pace or cry.
*A comfortable home. Spaying eliminates estrous or "heat" periods
when females have a bloody discharge and attract males from miles around.
The unneutered tomcat sprays a foul-smelling urine while a sexually-active
male dog howls or whines. Your dog will continue to guard your home. Spaying
and neutering don't affect the protective instinct.
WHEN?
You can spay your female cat as early as 2 months, easily at 3, and should
be spayed before their first heat. Male cats and dogs can be neutered
at 2 - 3 months, too, and female dogs can also be spayed early. It is
not true that a female should have one litter before spaying.
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