SPAY AND NEUTER FOR PET'S HEALTH
While technically an elective procedure, we wholeheartedly recommend that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered. As part of your pet’s health plan for routine preventive care, spaying or neutering your pet will have a long-lasting impact on their overall quality of life. When your pet is spayed or neutered early in life, they are safe from adult diseases that affect their reproductive system, like breast, ovarian, uterine, testicular, or prostate cancer. It’s one of the many benefits of spaying or neutering, all with the goal of keeping your pet in optimal health for as long as possible.
Health Benefits of Spay and Neuter
The important benefits to consider for having your pet spayed or neutered include:
- No unwanted pregnancies
- No heat cycle (females)
- Less tendency to roam in search of a mate (males and females)
- A lower risk for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer (females)
- A lower risk for testicular cancer and prostate cancer (males)
- Less likelihood of spraying/marking in the house (male dogs and cats)
- Less risk of becoming aggressive and engaging in mounting behaviors (males)
Spay and Neuter Myths
There are several misconceptions about spaying and neutering, including:
CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN
There is little evidence to support the claim that pets will gain weight after being spayed or neutered. Once your pet has recovered fully from surgery and had their sutures removed, they should return to an active lifestyle and be on a balanced, age-appropriate diet.
PERSONALITY CHANGES
Your pet will not come out with a different personality after their spay or neuter surgery. While the procedure can affect certain behaviors, it does not affect their personality or intelligence.
