Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering Pets
It is often recommended for pet cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered. Spay and neuter campaigns are relatively common to help encourage pet owners to take the time and spend the money to have their pet rendered unable to reproduce. There are a number of benefits to these procedures.
Limits Overpopulation
The most well-known benefit is to limit the number of unwanted cats and dogs, and thus the need to euthanize these animals or find homes for an entire litter that the pet owners can't afford or don't want to keep. It's much more humane to keep these animals from being born in the first place.
Potential Health Benefits
Some people worry that it seems mean to put the animals through these procedures, but it can actually be good for their health. Dogs and cats tend to live longer when they are spayed or neutered, with these animals potentially living 18 to 23 percent longer. For example, female cats and dogs are less likely to develop breast cancer or uterine infections, and male pets may be less likely to develop testicular cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Dogs and cats that are neutered or spayed are also less likely to roam the neighborhood looking for partners, which means they're also less likely to be bitten by another animal or get hit by a car.
May Have Fewer Behavior Problems
While spaying and neutering won't solve all behavior issues, it is likely to reduce those that are associated with reproductive instincts, such as female cats urinating all over the house when they're in heat and male dogs escaping and roaming the neighborhood looking for a female in heat, mounting people and objects or marking their territory by urinating all over the home. Spaying and neutering will cure about 90 percent of all issues with pets urinating to mark their territory.
Cost-Effective Solution
Some people think that these procedures are an unnecessary expense, but they can actually save money in certain situations. Think of how much money it will take to care for an unwanted litter of dogs or cats or how much it costs to treat cancer in a pet, and you'll realize the truth in this. In some counties, it's also cheaper to purchase a license for your pet if it is spayed or neutered, according to the Humane Society. As long as animals are in good health, they can have these procedures done when they're about 8 weeks old or anytime after this.
Contact a company like Haverford Animal Hospital to set up an appointment to spay or neuter your pet.