If you're a new pet owner, or you're considering getting a pet, you may have some questions about the recommendation to spay or neuter your pet. You're probably aware of the problems with overpopulation and understand that spaying or neutering helps keep the population down so that more cats and dogs don't wind up homeless or in animal shelters. But what if you plan to keep your pet indoors or in a fenced yard, well away from other animals? Is it still necessary to spay or neuter your pet if you don't intend to give it the chance to breed? What you may not know is that there are reasons besides overpopulation to spay or neuter your pet.
Reduce the Risk of Cancer
Just like humans, animals can develop cancer. Spaying or neutering can have a protective effect against some common types of cancers that cats and dogs are vulnerable to. Breast cancer is a good example. Spaying your dog before their first heat can greatly reduce the dog's risk of developing breast cancer. A dog spayed before their first heat is 200 times less likely to develop cancer than an unspayed dog. Even after the first heat, spaying reduces the risk of breast cancer compared to unspayed dogs.
The effect is less well-documented for cats, but veterinarians generally agree that spaying offers cats similar protection against breast cancer. And male animals shouldn't be left out either – neutering reduces their risk of testicular cancer. You can talk with a veterinarian clinic, like Caring Hands Animal Hospital, for more information.
Improve Overall Health
It's not just cancer that dogs and cats are vulnerable to. Other conditions, like uterine and testicular infections and anal gland problems are also less common among spayed and neutered pets than they are among unaltered pets. By having your pet spayed or neutered while they're young, you can prevent them from having to go through painful infections later.
Reduce Unsafe Behaviors
Unaltered pets are prone to certain unwanted behaviors that are less of a problem for pets that have been spayed or neutered. Some of these behaviors are simply annoying for human owners – for example, a cat in heat might make a lot of noise, and an unaltered dog might make a mess by trying to mark their territory with urine.
But other behaviors are not just inconvenient or messy, they're dangerous and can put your pet's life at risk.. Unaltered pets are more likely to wander away or escape and roam about. In many residential locations, this can end in an accident that could leave your pet injured or dead. Animals in heat are more easily distracted and may also be more at risk of injury for that reason. And unaltered animals are more likely to be aggressive with humans or other pets – behavior that could get them quarantined or even put to sleep. A spayed or neutered pet will roam less, pay more attention to their surroundings, and display less aggressive behaviors. This can help keep your pet alive longer.
Spaying or neutering your pet is about more than reducing overpopulation. It's about protecting your pet's life and health. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate time to spay or neuter your pet.
Share15 July 2017
Hello, my name is Marissa. Welcome to my site about veterinarians. I decided to buy myself a puppy for the holidays. I searched my community for a breeder and picked up my puppy right away. Unfortunately, within a day, I noticed my puppy was not feeling well. The poor animal picked up a virus on the way home due to the lack of proper vaccinations. The vet was able to save my puppy and give her all the correct vaccinations. I will use this site to explore viruses and other conditions that vets prevent through precisely timed vaccination schedules. Thanks.