Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Dog or Cat
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Posted by Charla Dawson Jul 18, 2006 |
By spaying your pet you are doing your part to fight the pet overpopulation problem we are currently having in the United States.
- Avoid unwanted pregnancy and offspring - When your pet is spayed the reproductive organs are removed and she will no longer be able to have babies.
- Prevents future heat cycles and blood stains on carpet and furniture - Heat cycles or estrus cycles can be messy, by spaying your dog you eliminate this messy cycle.
- No longer attract stray males during heat cycles - Males will no longer be attracted to your female dog or cat after the spay surgery.
- Decreases your dog or cats roaming habit - After being neutered, and the testosterone has decreased in their bodies, your dog or cat will not feel the need to roam and breed.
- Decreases chances of being hit by a car - Un-neutered dogs and cats are more likely to be hit by a car then neutered dogs and cats. The un-neutered or intact dogs and cats are more likely to roam (out looking for a mate).
- Decreases chances of mammary tumors - If your dog is spayed before the first heat the chances of later developing mammary tumors, or breast cancer, are eliminated and if the surgery is performed before the second heat the chances of later developing mammary tumors are greatly reduced.
- Eliminates the chances of developing a uterine infection - Dogs and cats can develop an infection in their uterus called a pyometra that is life threatening, and in many cases requires emergency surgery to remove the infected uterus. If you spay your pet the risk of developing a pyometra is eliminated.
- Eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer - When your pet is neutered the testicles are removed eliminating the chances of later developing testicular cancer.
- Avoid needing to find homes for puppies - A female Labrador can have 10 - 12 puppies in a litter. Puppies are cute but it is difficult to find homes for all of them. Most breeders end up selling puppies to pet stores who will sell to anyone who has the money, most of them don't care where the pups end up. If you can't sell all the puppies you generally are not able to make up for the cost of the breeding and veterinary care, it may not be worth the trouble.
- Already full shelter - The Humane Society of the United States estimates 6 - 8 Million dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year of which 3 - 4 million are euthanized. This does not take into account all the abused, neglected, and abandoned animals that are left to make do on their own or starve - this is a tragedy. There are not enough homes for the animals we have, if your dog or cat is not up to breeding standards then why breed? Related Articles - Dog and Cat Neuter Dog and Cat Spay