Spay and Neuter Benefits

 

The most obvious reason for spaying or neutering is to prevent adding to the pet overpopulation problem. However, there are other real benefits particularly relating to a pet's health.

No Pregnancy or Pregnancy Complications

Spaying, or ovariohysterectomy, is the surgical removal of the animal's ovaries and uterus. By preventing pregnancy, spaying permanently eliminates a source of great physical stress for female animals, including complications such a caesarian section delivery of the puppies or kittens. What's more, spaying female pets eliminates:

 

• Attendant males in abundance while the female is in heat
   
• Spotting during the heat period
   
• False pregnancies (increasingly common with age)
   
• Mammary tumors (less than 1% incidence in animals spayed before their first heat, versus higher than 50% incidence in intact female dogs over 5 years of age)
   
• Uterine infections (increasingly common with age; often life-threatening)
   
• Tumors of the ovaries or uterus
   
• Stress, leading to increased susceptibility to disease
   
• Need for extra food during pregnancy and nursing

In female dogs, heat periods occur twice a year and last about 3 weeks each time. Female cats may come into heat every 2-3 weeks. During heat both dogs and cats will be more irritable and nervous than usual, and may even become aggressive and damage furniture or attack strangers. Female cats will howl and rub excessively.

Less Testosterone, Less Trouble

In terms of behavior, male dogs will benefit even more than females from being neutered. Neutering, or castration, is the surgical removal of the animal's testicles. An unneutered male can detect a female in heat even miles away. Neutering decreases roaming by 90%. Responding to the overwhelming urge to reproduce, he will often become nervous and irritable, perhaps picking fights with other dogs, or become lethargic, less responsive to his owner, stop eating, or act ill or depressed. Among the problems reduced or eliminated by neutering male pets are:

 

• Territoriality and aggression, including urinating to mark territory, and fighting to defend it
   
• Wandering, escaping, and automobile injuries
   
• "Riding" inappropriate objects
   
• Prostate enlargement (occurs in at least 60% of unneutered male dogs 5 years or older)
   
• Prostate tumors and infections
   
• Tumors of the testicles, penis, anal area
   
• Perineal hernia (rupture of the posterior abdominal wall)
   
• Stress, leading to increased susceptibility to disease
   
• Need for extra food

Early Age Spaying and Neutering

Too many people are under the impression spaying/neutering can only be done after a pet reaches the age of 5-7 months. Early age altering of pets has been practiced for over 25 years in North America. Early age altering means spaying and neutering pets between the ages of 6 and 14 weeks. By tradition (due to years by-gone anesthetic techniques that weren't available at the time) waiting until a pet was older increased survival rate during surgery. However, with modern technology, there is no need to prolong spaying and neutering as a medical reason. Susan Little, DVM of the Cat Fanciers' Association Health Committee states:
 

Over the years, the safety of early altering has been questioned, mainly by veterinarians who may be unfamiliar with the surgical and anesthetic techniques required for pediatric patients. As well, concerns that early altering could increase the incidence of feline lower urinary tract disease, could affect skeletal development, and affect behavior have been voiced. These concerns have largely been laid to rest by many studies, and early altering is becoming more widespread and available. A study recently published by researchers at the University of Florida found no significant differences in the physical and behavioral characteristics of cats altered at 7 weeks of age compared to those altered at 7 months of age.

By improving a pet's health, spaying or neutering can also increase her or his lifespan. Best of all, altering is the first step toward preventing homelessness, and will allow a pet more opportunities to be a member of the family, an unconditional benefit for everyone.

Reference Resource:

Healthy Pets are Spayed and Neutered Forgotten Felines and Friends Brochure, 1997

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