6 Reasons to Have Your Pet Spayed or Neutered

You hear it all the time: “have your pets spayed or neutered.” But, is it really that important? Yes, it really is important to spay or neuter your dogs and cats.

Before we go into some of the reasons you should spay or neuter your pets, let’s first give a quick definition of what each term refers to. Spaying is done to female pets. It removes their reproductive organs (fallopian tubes and uterus), ensuring they will not get pregnant. Neutering is the procedure done on male dogs and cats. When a male animal is neutered, his testicles are removed. This will prevent a male dog or cat from getting another animal pregnant.

Both spaying and neutering are very common procedures. Most vets are very experienced with performing them. With any surgery, there is always the risk of complications. But that risk is very low when you have your dog or cat spayed or neutered.

Your pet may act a little different or be more subdued following the surgery, but they should be back to acting like themselves in just a few days. You’ll want to let your pet rest and avoid overstimulating them while they are still recovering from their procedure.

Now that you have a little more background information about what is involved with spaying or neutering a pet, let’s discuss why you should do so. In the sections below, we’ll share six reasons you should always have your dogs, cats, and even rabbits spayed or neutered.

You Won’t Be Contributing to the Growing Problem of Homeless Pets

Sadly, there are thousands of homeless pets in every state. There simply aren’t enough available homes to accommodate all of these animals. And, sadly, many of these homeless animals are euthanized each year. Rather than adding to the growing pet population, be a responsible pet owner and have your pets spayed or neutered. This way you won’t be responsible for adding to the already out-of-control pet population. If you think you’ll want more animals, opt to adopt from a rescue shelter rather than having your pet give birth.

Neutered Males Behave Better

Unneutered male dogs and cats are more likely to get into trouble. When a cat or dog hasn’t been neutered, they are much more territorial. They may mark their territory by spraying or wetting your walls, floors, boxes, or other items. This will obviously be a big hassle to deal with. When you have your male pets neutered, they will be more interested in you, their family, than they will be on marking their territory. Since male cats are more likely to spray and it is more in their nature, it is recommended to have your cat neutered before they are four months old.

Spayed Females Can Live Longer

Did you know that spaying your female pets can actually increase their lifespan? When you have your pets spayed, they will be much less likely to develop breast cancer or uterine infections. For the best chance of protecting your cat or dog against these diseases, you should have their spayed before they go into heat for the first time. However, if you have older pets, you will still be reducing the risks of these diseases by spaying your pets now.

You’ll Reduce Your Male Pet’s Chances of Developing Some Cancers

When male dogs or cats have been neutered, their chance of developing prostate or testicular cancer decreases. Both of these types of cancer can be fatal for your pet. By neutering your dogs and cats, you’ll be potentially adding years to their life by cutting down the risk that they’ll get one of these serious diseases.

Your Dog Will Be Less-Likely to Roam from Home

If your dog hasn’t been neutered, he will be hyper-focused on finding a female mate. This could lead to him running out of the house or finding a way to escape from your backyard. When you have him neutered, this will remove his desire to find a mate. He’ll be content at home with his family and will be less likely to take off running whenever an opportunity presents itself.

You’ll End Up Saving Money in the Long Run

If you’re worried about the cost of spaying or neutering your pet, consider the alternative of high vet bills a few years down the road. If your female cat gets pregnant, you’ll need to bring her in for more frequent check-ups and monitoring. Then, you’ll also be responsible for taking care of all her babies. The vet bills and food you’ll need to feed a litter of kittens will definitely add up quickly.

Even if your pet doesn’t become pregnant, you still may face large vet bills in the future. Since the risk of cancers are higher for unaltered male and female cats, not only are you gambling with your checkbook, but you’re gambling with your pet’s life. Keep your pet healthy and save yourself future bills by scheduling an appointment ASAP to have your dog, cat, or rabbit spayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering are essential. It can help keep the pet population down. Plus, it can help increase your pet’s lifespan and can even help them to behave better. If you were on the fence about whether you should spay or neuter your cat or dog, hopefully you’ve decided to be a responsible pet owner and will contact your vet to schedule an appointment today.