Spaying or neutering your pet involves more than deciding whether you want to breed your animal in the future. It’s an invaluable part of responsible pet ownership and a crucial decision that contributes to your pet’s health and happiness. To ensure you are taking the necessary steps to encourage the most fulfilling life for your pet, here are three reasons veterinarians recommend having your pet spayed or neutered.
Eliminate the Risk of Unwanted Litters and Pet Overpopulation
Even if your cat or dog is an indoor animal, having them spayed or neutered is essential to eliminating the risk of unwanted litters and pet overpopulation. Puppies and kittens are a huge responsibility and the reality is that many of these adorable animals end up in shelters. Across the United States, thousands of animal shelters are faced with the issue of animal overpopulation. As a result, thousands of healthy animals are euthanized each year. By preventing unwanted litters, you can reduce the strain on local shelters and allow them the time and resources to focus on finding their current shelter residents the best possible forever homes.
Decrease the Risk of Reproductive Health Conditions
Spaying and neutering procedures both serve to remove portions of an animal’s reproductive system. As such, spaying and neutering contribute to the decreased risk for a range of different health conditions. For male cats and dogs, neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer. Additionally, neutering has been proven to reduce the risk of prostate problems. For female cats and dogs, spaying rids your pet of their heat cycle by removing their ovaries and uterus. Spaying also promotes a decreased risk of uterine infections, breast cancer, mammary gland tumors and eliminates the possibility of developing ovarian cancer.
Manage Sex Hormones That Influence Negative Behaviors
Sex hormones in both male and female animals can influence your pet to adopt some pretty troublesome behaviors. In male pets, roaming, territorial urination, and aggression are commonly alleviated by neutering. For female animals, spaying can contribute to better socialization, less vocalization, and a minimized risk of roaming.
Spaying and neutering are transformative for your pet’s health and happiness. To learn more about how you can engage in responsible pet ownership through spaying and neutering your pet, contact your trusted veterinarian today.