Should You Spay and Neuter Your Pets?

     Spaying or neutering a pet is a huge decision for any pet owner. While some owners may overlook these procedures thinking that they are unnecessary, they are sure to increase the quality of life for any patient receiving them! If you want your pet to live a longer, healthier life, I would definitely consider getting them spayed or neutered!

Dog being examined by a veterinarian: https://www.123rf.com/photo_28247138_maltese-dog-at-the-doctor-s-office.html

    Spaying is a surgical procedure performed on a female animal. A spay is a process where the ovaries and uterus are completely removed in order to sterilize an animal.  Neutering is the surgical removal of the testicles from a male animal. These procedures are most effective when performed prior to being a year old. The cost of spaying or neutering a dog can range anywhere from $35 to $400 based on the animal and where you have the procedure done. 

Diagram showing female dog anatomy: https://pineconepethospital.com/services/spaying/

Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Your Pets:

1. Animal Lifespan is Increased

    It has been proven that non-fertile pets live on average, noticeably longer than fertile ones. Life expectancy is increased by 18 percent for male dogs, and 23 percent for females, while in cats it is 62 percent for males and 39 percent for females ("Banfield: Spaying, neutering correlate with longer lives", 2013). 

2. Heath Risks are Lessened

    Spaying and Neutering your pets is shown to lessen health risks; especially the risks related to reproductive organs. Spaying your pet eliminates the risk for uterine infections/cancer, ovarian cancer, and greatly reduces the possibility of mammary cancer. Choosing to neuter your pet eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and greatly reduced the risk of enlarged prostate and perianal tumors ("Spay and Neuter Your Pets!", n.d).

3. Hormone-related Behaviors are Put At Ease

    Hormone-related behaviors are known to cease after an animal has been spayed or neutered. Some unwanted behaviors that can be eliminated or greatly minimized with spaying are roaming, irritability, aggression, frequent urination, and a menstrual cycle. Some behaviors that will be minimized or even eliminated after neutering your pet are roaming, mounting, aggression, and marking ("Personality vs. Behavior: How Spay and Neuter Affects Your Pet", n.d.). 

Common Misconceptions:

1. Are These Procedures too Expensive?

    Although price can be a big concern with spaying and neutering, there are many factors that contribute to the total cost. While your regular veterinarian may be slightly pricey, if you take your pet to a low-cost clinic, spaying and neutering procedures can be very cost-effective. If the procedure is done for a reasonable price, it can be less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. In my opinion, it is better to have your pet spayed or neutered rather than ending up having to pay for the treatment of an injury caused by hormone-related behaviors or treating a disease that could've been prevented. 

2. Will My Pet Gain Weight From Spaying or Neutering?

    Weight gain is a common misconception said to be related to spaying and neutering. Personally, I have had all my pets spayed or neutered and none of them have ever been considered overweight or obese. It is up to the owner to take control of their pet's diet and activity level. Lack of exercise and overfeeding are both factors that can contribute to obesity. As long as you provide adequate levels of exercise and monitor your pet's food intake while making adjustments when needed, your pet should remain a relatively healthy weight!

The Concerning Overpopulation Issue:

    Feral cat overpopulation is a growing issue in the United States. There are far too many cats for homes that want pets, so the remaining cats left without homes resort to a feral lifestyle. They start to reproduce, and then their offspring reproduces, and it's a never-ending cycle resulting in a large number of stray cats. Cats left unattended on their own are very likely to contract diseases and transmit them to animals and even humans. Cats are the number one source of rabies among domestic animals. In order to combat this, the process trap-neuter-release(TNR) was established. It slowly reduces the feral cat population by trapping stray cats, spaying/neutering them, and then releasing them back into their habitat. To help support the cause, if you have stray cats living near you, you can call a shelter or vet that participates in TNR and they will find a way to get the cats into the program. 

    Spaying and neutering have been proven to provide numerous health benefits for your pets! These procedures add on years and improve the overall quality of your pet's life. This means more time with your furry friends and fewer medical-related worries. Taking advantage of low-cost spay and neuter clinics is a great way to get the procedure done without breaking the bank! Spaying and neutering procedures are safe for your pets and have very positive outcomes!

Works Cited: 

"Banfield: Spaying, neutering correlate with longer lives." American Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Association, 19 June 2013, https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2013-07-01/banfield-spaying-neutering-correlate-longer-lives#:~:text=Neutered%20male%20cats%20live%20a,female%20cats%2C%20the%20report%20said.

"Debarking Pet Myths: Does Neutering Cause Pets To Gain Weight?" Diamond Pet, Diamond Pet, n.d., https://www.diamondpet.com/blog/culture/myths/does-neutering-cause-weight-gain/#:~:text=NOPE!,your%20pet%20after%20the%20surgery.

"How Much Does it Cost to Spay or Neuter a Dog?" Gallant, Gallant, 15 November 2019, https://www.gallant.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-spay-a-dog

"Personality vs. Behavior: How Spay and Neuter Affects Your Pet." Michelson Found Animals, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, n.d., https://www.foundanimals.org/nonsurgical-sterilant/

Sizemore, Grant. "New laws should address the hazards feral cats pose to birds and humans." The News & Observer, The News & Observer, 15 Decemebr 2017, https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/op-ed/article190165509.html#:~:text=Some%20background%3A%20The%20U.S.%20is%20suffering%20a%20cat%20overpopulation%20problem.&text=Animal%20shelters%20suffer%20under%20the,require%20attention%20and%20effective%20management.

"Spay and Neuter Your Pets!" Brown Edu, Brown Edu, n.d., https://www.brown.edu/Research/Colwill_Lab/CBP/spaynueter.htm#:~:text=Spayed%20and%20neutered%20dogs%20and,the%20incidence%20of%20prostate%20cancer.

Stregowski, Jenna. "What is a Dog Neuter or Castration?" The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Pets, 7 May 2020, https://www.thesprucepets.com/what-is-a-dog-neuter-or-castration-1118665

"Trap, Neuter, Release." American Bird Conservancy, ABCBirds, n.d., https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/trap-neuter-release/#:~:text=Trap%2C%20Neuter%2C%20Release%20(TNR)%20is%20a%20program%20by,slowly%20reduce%20populations%20over%20time.

Williams, Krista. "Spaying in Dogs." VCA, VCA Hospitals, n.d., https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/spaying-in-dogs