Should You Spay/Neuter Your Pet?
Most dogs and cats should be spayed or neutered at an early age. Animal shelters are crowded with unwanted pets that, in many cases, are the result of accidental or poorly planned breeding. The majority of these unwanted pets are never adopted.
Altering your canine or feline companion results in better health and longer life for the animal and peace of mind for you. Nonetheless, many owners do not spay or neuter their pets.
Whereas spaying or neutering is recommended for the general dog population, purebred dogs shown for conformation cannot be spayed or neutered. Spayed or neutered dogs are eligible for obedience and field trials, hunting tests, and sighthound lure coursing trials. On the other hand, female dogs in heat are not eligible to participate in any trials or tests.
Spayed or neutered cats have a special category in shows and do not compete against unaltered cats.
Low-cost spay/neuter vouchers: Humane Society of Garland County collaborates with Hot Springs Village Animal Welfare League in providing spay/neuter services to our community. For more information, please call HSV AWL at 501-915-9337.
Four Good Reasons Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet
Reason Number One: Spaying or neutering increases your pet’s chances for a longer, healthier life.
- Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females.
- Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Neutering also decreased the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites and diseases transmitted by fighting is greatly reduced.
Reason Number Two: An altered dog or cat is a better pet for your family.
- No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy. Spaying prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or kittens.
- Males neutered early in life are less aggressive towards other males and are not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your (or your neighbor’s) expensive shrubs with their urine.
- Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed.
Reason Number Three: Spaying results in cleaner female and dog homes.
- Because female dogs pass bloody fluid about ten days twice a year as part of her estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.
Reason Number Four: You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem.
- Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) at shelters all over the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reason animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets that are spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs and cats will have to be destroyed.
