MYTHS OF SPAYING & NEUTERING
A host of myths surround spaying and neutering. Unfortunately, they often discourage people from having the surgery performed on their animals. We must battle misconceptions with facts -- dogs' and cats' lives depend on it. Following are some of the myths with the correct information:
#1. Preventing animals from having litters is unnatural.
False. We've already interfered with nature by domesticating dogs and cats. In doing so we helped create their overpopulation. We must now take responsibility for solving it.
#2. It's better to allow a female to have one litter before spaying.
False. The best time to spay a female is before her first heat. Early spaying greatly reduces the incidence of mammary cancer.
#3. Behavior is adversely affected by surgery.
False. The only change in behavior is positive. Male cats tend to reduce territorial spraying, depending on their age at neutering. Neutered dogs and cats fight less, resulting in fewer battle scars, contagious diseases and abscesses. They also wander less, because they aren't as interested in pursuing females in heat.
#4. Animals become fat and lazy after spaying or neutering.
False. In most cases animals become fat and "lazy" only if their guardian overfeeds and under-exercises them.
#5. We don't need to neuter males because they don't have litters.
False. It takes two to tango. In fact, one unaltered male can be responsible for impregnating dozens of females.
MEDICAL BENEFITS OF SPAYING & NEUTERING
Spaying and neutering not only curtails overpopulation, it also provides medical benefits to the animal: Neutering decreases and often eliminates diseases that intact male dogs are prone to later in life, including diseases of the prostate, testicles and other tissues influenced by male hormones. Testicular and perianal gland cancers are the second and third most frequently diagnosed
tumors in older intact male dogs. Spaying female cats and dogs entirely eliminates diseases of the ovaries and uterus, and, if performed before their first or second
heat, drastically decreases the chance of mammary gland cancer. Mammary cancer is very common in older intact females, and is the most common cancer to spread to the lungs.
Neutering greatly reduces the risk of injuries and illnesses to males. Unaltered males tend to roam, increasing their chances to be
killed or injured. They also tend to fight more, which guarantees wounds and infections.
Source: The Fund For Animals Companion Animal Fact Sheet #1; "If you have questions about spaying and neutering, please email us at fundinfo@fund.org."
The operation for both males and for females is straightforward and low risk. Recovery is usually uneventful. The worst your pet might experience is some discomfort for a short time after the operation.
Will My Pet Become Fat and Lazy Once He or She is Sterilized?: No. Your pet will actually benefit from spaying or neutering, because he or she will lead a healthier and longer life. Pets become fat and lazy as a result of overeating and a lack of exercise, not from spaying or neutering. Furthermore, spaying a female eliminates the possibility of her developing uterine and/or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the chance of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces the incidence of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer.
Will It Change My Pet's Personality?: Generally not. For a female there is virtually no change at all. For males it usually results in a diminishing of some aggressive behaviours. Spayed/neutered pets are free from sexual anxiety and are, therefore, calmer and more content to stay at home. Neutered tom cats generally don't spray. You also have the peace of mind that you are not adding to the pet overpopulation. Also, if you have more than one pet, you will find they get along much better if they
are all spayed or neutered.
How does spaying and neutering animals contribute to the community? On three levels:
1) Ethical: Reducing the number of animals born is the only ethical solution to overpopulation that will have a long-term effect. Killing is not an ethical means of reducing the number of animals.
2) Financial: Increasing the number of animals sterilized will reduce the number of animals born and will, therefore, reduce the number of animals entering shelters. This, in turn, will reduce animal control costs.
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