Spaying and Neutering Improves Pets

 

Benefits of spaying

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is a procedure that involves surgical removal of your dog's ovaries and uterus. This surgery may be performed at any age, but the preferable age is between 3-7 months. There is NO medical evidence to suggest that your dog will benefit in any way from going through a heat cycle or having a litter prior to being spayed.

Spaying can provide you and your dog with the following benefits:

1. Eliminates "heat" cycles and therefore eliminates the bloody discharge and odor associated with being "in heat."
2. Stops neighborhood male dogs from being attracted to your dog because of her "heat."
3. When performed PRIOR to the first or second heat, spaying greatly reduces the risk of future mammary cancer, one of the most common cancers of female dogs.
4. Eliminates the risk of future ovarian and uterine cancer.
5. Eliminates the risk of pyometra (pus-filled uterus), a serious uterine infection which usually requires emergency surgery. This is a common problem in older, un-spayed, female dogs.
6. Eliminates the problem of "false" pregnancy experienced by many dogs. This is a normal occurence in female dogs following a heat cycle. this condition mimics pregnancy, complete with mammary development and milk production.
7. Helps control the pet population crisis by avoiding unwanted pregnancies. Millions of unwanted pets are destroyed in animal shelters every year across the country.

There are many good reasons to have your dog spayed early in life. Unless you are convinces that you would like to show and breed your dog, we recommend spaying at the earliest convenient time.

 

Benifits of Neutering

Neutering (castration) is a procedure that involves surgical removal of the testis. Neutering may be performed at any age, but the preferable age is between 3-7 months. Neutering can provide you and your dog with the following benefits: Reduces annoying sexual behavior such as mountin and territorial marking with urine. Unneutered dogs have a strong incentive to escape from their areas of confinement such as a fenced-in yard or pen. Neutering reduces traumatic accidents (being hit by cars) and bite injuries inflicted by other territorial dogs while roaming in search of females in heat. A decrease in roaming also reduces the incidence of disease and parasites. Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate cancer, both of which are common in older dogs. Reduces the incidence of aggressive behavior. Statistics show that most dog bites are inflicted by non-neutered male dogs. Reduces the pet population by preventing unwanted pregnancies. Millions of unwanted pets are destroyed yearly in animal shelters across the country. DO NOT expect a major personality change due to neutering. However, many dogs become calmer, more devoted family pets after neutering. There are many good reasons to neuter your dog early in life. Unless you are convinced that you want to show and breed your dog, we recommend neutering at the earliest convenient time.