Neutering your pet can help reduce the pet overpopulation in the United States. Sadly, each year, millions of animals are euthanized because they can’t find the right forever home. Responsible pet owners take the step to spay or neuter their pet to help prevent unwanted litters. And this can be especially important for cats. According to spayusa.org, cats are 45 times more prolific than humans. Dogs are 15 times more.
When you consider neutering or spaying your pet, you’re providing a great service to both your pet and the community. And each has many behavioral and medical advantages. Here’s a look at some of the top reasons to have your pet spayed or neutered.
Spaying (female pets)
- Spayed pets have no heat cycles. This means males won’t be attracted to them to mate.
- They have less desire to take off on their own and roam, preventing fighting and the spread of disease.
- Reduces the risk of tumors and ovarian and/or uterine cancer.
Neutering (male pets)
- Greatly reduces or completely eliminates spraying and marking.
- Pets are less likely to roam, which can reduce the number of injuries from getting hit by cars or getting into fights.
- The risk of testicular cancer is eliminated and it decreases the risk of prostrate disease.
- Aggressive behavior is reduced.
One of the greatest benefits of spaying and neutering is increasing your pet’s chance at a longer and healthier life. Dogs that are fixed will increase their lives an average of one to three years; for cats, it’s three to five years.
While it can be easier on the pet to have spaying or neutering done at a young age, pets of all ages can be fixed. Our team at Anasazi Animal Clinic can answer all of your questions on the advantages of spaying and neutering, as well as what the recovery time is for the surgery.
Contact Anasazi Animal Clinic today if you’d like to learn more about the benefits of spaying or neutering.