Spaying is a word that you will most often be associated with female animals and refers to the removal of the uterus and ovaries. Neutering is more often used to describe the surgical removal of both testicles. Each procedure is carried out under a general anesthetic so that your pet isn’t in any pain and is unaware of what is happening.
Spaying/neutering are two of the most common surgical procedures in veterinary practice, but it is something that many owners still don’t consider essential. Nevertheless, the vast majority of veterinarians do recommend that you ensure that your pet is either spayed or neutered fairly early on in their life. Here are 5 reasons why it is important to spay/neuter your pet.
Your Pet Will Live a Longer, Healthier Life
Spaying females has been shown to dramatically increase their life expectancy. One of the main reasons for this is that it prevents breast cancer, which is fatal in around 50% of dogs and a huge 90% of cats. In addition to this, they will no longer be at risk of uterine infections which can be painful and pose a significant threat to their long-term health. Meanwhile, males will no longer be able to develop testicular cancer and their risk of prostate problems will be significantly reduced.
Your Male Pet Won’t Experience Such Bad Behavior Traits
Although all pets can show less than desirable behavior from time to time, intact males can definitely be a handful. They are more likely to try and roam away from home to attempt to find a mate, will spray urine to mark their territory, badger any females that they come across (and potentially hump anything else within reach!) and in some instances, become aggressive. All of these problems can be significantly reduced by neutering.
Your Female Will Better Behave Too
It’s not only males that experience undesirable behaviors if they are left intact. Females cats can go into hearing for 4/5 days every 3 weeks during the breeding season, and female dogs will go onto heat on average twice a year for up to 4 weeks at a time. Not only will this cause them to experience messy discharge, but they may urinate a lot more frequently and yowl to try and attract the attention of a mate.
You Can Avoid the Hassle of Babies
Baby animals may be extremely cute, but they are a lot of hard work – there’s a reason why people compare them to having a newborn! If you have a female that becomes pregnant, you will be responsible for ensuring her health during pregnancy and birth, and for raising her litter until they are old enough to be rehomed. This means providing the right nutrition and veterinary care needed – which can be costly. You will also need to be responsible when looking for homes for them to ensure that they don’t go to uncaring owners or are abandoned early on in their life.
You Can Help to Reduce Overpopulation
Unfortunately, the sad truth is that there are many animals who are living in temporary accommodation across the United States. Why they have ended up in this situation can vary considerably. Some will have been abandoned in favor of younger, cuter pets, whilst others will become too costly or inconvenient for their owners who, if they are unable to successfully rehome them, could just let them run free. Even more upsetting is the fact that there aren’t the homes or the resources to care for them all, and many are euthanized every year. By getting your pet spayed/neutered, you are taking a small but important step towards reducing overpopulation.
To learn more about the importance of spaying/neutering, please get in touch with our veterinary team in Ashburn, VA.
