Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Pets
Did you know that spaying or neutering your pet doesn't just prevent unwanted litters? It also has a number of important health and behavioral benefits!
- Mammary cancer is 7-10 times more prevalent in dogs than it is in people. Spaying before six months of age (before the first heat cycle) reduces the risk that your dog will develop mammary cancer by up to 98%! Spaying after the first cycle but before the second reduces the risk by up to 90%. Spaying after that point does not prevent your dog from developing cancer, but has many other health benefits.
- Pyometra is a bacterial infection of the uterus that occurs in 22% of unspayed dogs. It mostly plagues dogs that are middle aged or seniors but can show up in younger dogs and cats. The bacterial infection generally presents 4-8 weeks after a heat cycle. It’s highly fatal if left untreated and is usually resolved by emergency spay surgery.
- Unspayed females can be whiny and restless during their heat cycles. Spaying decreases this behavior (and increases your sleep!).
- Neutering males at a young age greatly reduces the dog’s urge to mark. Neutered dogs are less likely to have issues with inappropriate urination.
- Tumors and certain types of hernias can be avoided by neutering your dog at a young age.
- Intact male dogs tend to roam, looking for females in heat. They are much more likely to become lost or be hit by a car.
- Neutering greatly curbs mounting instinct, saving you much embarrassment in front of house guests!
- Aggression. In 84.4% of fatal dog attacks, the dog(s) owner failed to neuter/spay the dog(s).
