Did you know that there are many benefits that your pet can gain by being spayed or neutered?

CANCER: 50% of unspayed female dogs and 80% of unspayed female cats will get breast cancer. They can also get uterine and vaginal cancer. Male dogs can get prostatic and testicular cancer. Spaying or neutering reduces these risks to about 0.5% or less!

UTERINE INFECTIONS: Many middle-aged and older females will get an infected uterus (pyometra). Uterine infections are life threatening, and she must be spayed to make her well - even though the surgery is more dangerous at this time than when she was younger and healthier.

UNWANTED PREGNANCIES: Humane Societies call this the “Whoops” factor! Unless you are willing to keep her in the house and walk her only on a leash for 6-9 weeks of the year, you run the risk of her getting pregnant. Fencing isn’t adequate - male dogs come from miles away and they can climb over, dig under or through fences!

It takes two! Male animals are the other half of controlling the pet population! Neutering the male will also help decrease the number of cats and dogs that are destroyed every day at Humane Societies.

BEHAVIOR: Female dogs in heat bleed for 7-9 days twice a year, and will attract male dogs. Female cats in heat cry at night, urinate out of their litter boxes, and will attract male cats to your house. Allowing a female dog or cat to have a litter does nothing to improve her personality.

Male dogs and cats have a powerful urge to roam in search of females. Of the dead animals that the Department of Transportation picks up off the roadside, 75% are unfixed males! Neutering removes the number one reason why male animals try to get out and roam.

Male cats spray urine in the house to mark their territories. Male dogs are harder to housebreak, and they mark trees, telephone poles, plants, etc. with urine. Neutering also helps eliminate leg mounting and certain types of aggression.

Click here for printable version. (PDF)

< BACK TO LEARNING CENTER