What are spaying and neutering?

• They are two surgical procedures that prevent animals from being able to reproduce and are the most common surgical procedures performed on animals. The spay surgery performed on females removes the ovaries and uterus. The word "neuter" is commonly used for sterilizing a male animal, but can be used to refer to an animal of unknown sex (or to a group of animals of mixed or unknown sex). The testicles are removed when neutering a male animal. Anesthesia is used, so the surgery itself is painless. Discomfort after surgery is usually minimal and part of the natural healing process.

Why should my pet be spayed or neutered?

1. A spayed or neutered pet typically lives a longer, healthier life. Many health problems can be difficult for the unneutered pet and expensive to treat.
2. A spayed or neutered pet is better behaved, more affectionate, satisfied, calm, and trainable. Overall, neutered pets are much better companions, as they are able to focus their attention on you and your family.
3. A spayed or neutered pet is less likely to bite and roam.
4. Spaying and neutering is good for your community which spends hundreds of thousands of dollars to control unwanted animals. These unwanted animals are often running at-large causing problems on the streets, hungry or diseased. Many others are living in shelters or rescue organizations and are costly to care for and if not adopted, euthanized by the thousands.

When should my pet be spayed or neutered?

• As early as possible. A pet that is spayed or neutered at four months of age or earlier benefits greatly. The first heat cycle is avoided for females and males haven’t developed common undesirable habits due to excessive hormones. A younger pet is more likely to experience an easier surgery with a faster recovery.

Why should my female dog be spayed?

1. If you spay your female dog before her first heat, she will have a near zero chance of developing mammary cancer, a very serious and potentially fatal form of cancer. If spaying occurs after her first heat, this incidence climbs to 7 percent and after the second heat the risk is 25 percent.
2. She won’t have heat cycles. She will go into heat twice per year for 6-12 days. She will experience a bloody discharge and attract male dogs.
3. She won’t experience Pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection, common in middle-age to older female dogs. Without treatment, she will likely die.
4. No chance of pregnancy complications.

Why should my female cat be spayed?

1. Mammary cancer will be prevented.
2. She won't have heat cycles. Cats in heat are typically very vocal, agitated, aggressive, and will rub excessively, often spraying urine in the house.
3. She won't have heat cycles, which occurs every 2-3 weeks for 6-7 days.

Why should my male dog be neutered?

1. Roaming, escaping, wandering typically decreases by 90 percent due to the reduction of excessive hormones driving him to search in heat females. This resulting in fewer car accidents.
2. Fighting, territorial marking, "riding" will decrease. A neutered dog will typically protect his home and family just as well as an unneutered dog, but excessive aggressiveness is typically reduced.
3. He is less likely to have infections and cancers of the reproductive system such as testicular cancer and prostate disease.