February is a great month for so many reasons. We have Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and we’re in the homestretch towards Springtime. However, there’s one more reason that makes February a great month… it’s National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.
In honor of this important topic, below are just some of the important reasons why you want to spay/neuter your pet and the benefits that doing so.
Overpopulation
It’s not a fun thing to talk about, unfortunately, however, there are millions of dogs and cats that end up in shelters. Many who will be euthanized due to lack of space. Spaying/Neutering your pet is the number one way to put an end to this problem. It’s truly the best way you can make your mark on ending pet homelessness.
Medical Benefits Of Spaying/Neutering
Spaying/Neutering has great medical benefits for both your male and female pets. In neutered male pets, they will be much less likely to run away. Un-neutered males are hard-wired to find a mate, no matter what the cost. This can cause your male dog to escape the house, and ultimately risk getting hit by a car, fighting other animals, or picking up illnesses. Un-neutered pets also mount people an or objects and urinate more frequently.
Spayed female pets will not go into heat, which will stop their ability to have babies. This cycle occurs for about four to five days, every three weeks. During this period, female dogs try to attract the attention of males through yowling and even urinating over their territory.
Consult With Your Veterinarian Before Deciding
You may be unsure whether spaying or neutering is right for your animals. Perhaps you’d like your pet to have puppies or kittens one day. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that as long as you take responsibility for your pet’s offspring.
We recommend speaking to your veterinarian about your options before deciding. They are the experts, and they will help you choose what’s best for both you and your pet. Statistics show that neutered pets live 18% longer, while spayed pets live 23% longer than pets who are not fixed.
For females, spaying can help reduce the risk of contracting a uterine infection or breast tumor – ultimately extending the life of your fur baby. ASPCA reports that breast tumors are cancerous in roughly 50% of dogs and 90% of cats – so it’s definitely better to take preventative measures than run the risk.
In males, neutering has shown to prevent testicular cancer and prostate problems. All good things! If you’re still unsure whether spaying or neutering is right for your pet, talk to your veterinarian to discuss your options.
Behavioral Benefits of Spaying/Neutering
While it’s true that spaying/neutering is not a quick-fix for curbing behavior problems, it can definitely help. Neutering your pet ultimately reduces their testosterone, but it does not eliminate it completely. This means that learned behaviors will probably not change even if your dog is neutered. You will most likely have to train them to behave otherwise. However, there are still several behavioral benefits that come with spaying/neutering your pet.
