Spaying and neutering are important to reduce pet overpopulation. If you decide to spay or neuter your pet, you have options. Many pet owners choose to spay or neuter their pets, and spaying and neutering are important to reducing pet overpopulation. Discuss options with your vet so you can make the right decision for you, your family and your pet.
We recommend spaying or neutering your kitten or dog. Every year, millions of unwanted dogs, cats, kittens and puppies are euthanized. Sterilizing your dog or cat will help prevent unwanted cages, protect against some serious health problems, and may reduce many of the behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct. It is important to note that recent data suggests that castration before puberty may inculcate a tendency to shyness and insecure behavior.
Although these procedures can be performed on puppies as young as a few months old, dog owners should consult their veterinarian to determine the best age for spaying or neutering their pet. The AKC Canine Health Foundation sponsored research that indicates that spaying or neutering dogs after they have gone through puberty may have long-term health benefits. The benefits of castration after puberty may include a reduction in orthopedic health problems, a possible reduction in certain types of cancer in specific breeds, and a possible improvement in behavior. More research is being done in this area to compare the differences between breeds and the size of dogs.
Talk to your vet for advice on spaying or neutering your puppy or dog. She will be able to answer any questions or concerns you may have. One factor that contributes to the increased longevity of altered pets is their lower risk of suffering from certain types of cancer. Intact female dogs and cats are more likely to develop pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection) and cancers of the uterus, mammary glands, and other types of reproductive system cancers.
Neutering male pets eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and eliminates the possibility of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia, which can affect the ability to defecate. Spaying or neutering your pet benefits both your animal and your community. According to the ASPCA, animals that have been spayed or neutered tend to be less aggressive, since their mating instinct has been eliminated. Many unwanted behaviors, such as fighting, wandering, spraying and crying, will go away after surgery, and most pets become even more affectionate to their owners.
In addition, sterilizing women prevents breast cancer and eliminates both uterine infections and cancer, and in the case of men, castration reduces the possibility of testicular cancer and prostate problems. Neutering or spaying can decrease your pet's overall activity level, its natural tendency to wander, and its hormonal balance, which can influence appetite. By spaying or neutering your pet, you can help protect it against certain diseases, perhaps address certain unwanted behaviors and save money. Both terms refer to the surgical sterilization of an animal, but castration is sometimes used for both sexes.
For more information on how to spay or neuter your pet, schedule an appointment at the Animal League Wellness Center. Early sterilization of dogs and cats can help protect them from some serious health problems in the future, such as uterine infections and breast cancer. Eliminates the possibility of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus suffered by many mature, unsterilized animals (pyometra). A study by the University of Georgia, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 13.8% longer and that of sterilized female dogs 26.3% longer.
Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to abandon his property and cross that dangerous road in search of a mate. Another study, conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals on a database of 2.2 million dogs and 460,000 cats, reflected similar findings and concluded that neutered male dogs lived 18% longer and sterilized female dogs lived 23% longer. It has been shown that the average life expectancy of sterilized and neutered cats and dogs is longer than the lifespan of those that are not. In addition, while spaying or neutering your pets may help curb certain undesirable behaviors, it won't change their fundamental personalities.
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