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Fiction
Females should be allowed to have at
least one litter of puppies or kittens
before being spayed.
Fact
If you have a female dog or cat spayed
before her first heat cycle you are
protecting her against mammary tumors.
However, if you postpone this surgery
until later in her life it does not
provide this benefit. Early spaying also
helps prevent the development of several
reproductive tract diseases.
In female
cats, the majority of mammary tumors
become malignant so spaying provides an
important lifesaving benefit. Spaying
also eliminates uterine infections.
Fiction
A female is calmer, happier and more
content if she has at least one litter
before being spayed.
Fact
No evidence from behavioral research
supports this belief. Some animal
behaviorists suggest that this belief
can be described as the "placebo
effect." The owner expects that breeding
will result in a behavior change and
this expectation leads to the assumption
that the behavior has improved.
Good care,
proper nutrition and lots of love are
the components that keep a pet, female
or male, happy and content.
Fiction
Neutering male dogs and cats has no real
benefits. Keep dogs in the yard and male
cats in the house and everything will be
all right.
Fact
Everything will not be all right. You
may have a yard with strong fences and
you may keep a male cat indoors, but the
urge to roam will turn an intact (not
neutered) male into an escape artist.
Cats can slip out the door or window.
Dogs can climb fences and take advantage
of unsecured gates.
As male
dogs roam in search of females in heat,
they are vulnerable to being hit by a
car or attacked by other dogs.
If you
allow an intact male cat outside, it
often has violent fights with other
males. Wounds from these fights can be
serious and require veterinary
treatment.
There are
also health benefits to consider.
Neutering a male dog eliminates the risk
for testicular cancer as well as other
testicular diseases.
When
intact male cats reach maturity, they
typically begin spraying urine that has
a strong, offensive odor. Some neutered
male cats may spray occasionally, but
the urine is not as odorous as that of
an intact male. In many instances, this
infrequent spraying eventually stops or
it can be managed by a veterinarian.
As your
neutered male becomes a more content,
stay-at-home companion, the threat of
his being injured or killed by a car or
being injured in fights is reduced.
Fiction
Neutering a male cat often results in
blockage of the urinary tract.
Fact
Studies of stone formation in the lower
urinary tract of males show that early
neutering is not related to urethral
blockage.
Fiction
Spaying or neutering changes a pet's
personality.
Fact It's true that these
procedures may decrease aggressiveness
in animals. However, a pet's genetic
makeup, its early socialization and the
attention and training it receives are
key
Factors which shape its
personality.
Fiction
Neutered or spayed dogs and cats become
fat.
Fact
It's true that many neutered pets tend
to become obese as the result of
hormonal changes and a quieter life
style. However, this can be prevented.
Keep a watchful eye on your pet's body
condition and adjust its diet
accordingly. Many times eliminating
table scraps from its diet will solve
the problem. If necessary, reduce the
amount of pet food offered by no more
than one-fourth the usual amount. In
addition to diet management, encourage
your pet to exercise. Regular walks and
play time with your dog, and regular
play periods with y our cat should help
prevent obesity.
Fiction
Neutering or spaying makes a pet lazy.
Fact
These procedures are usually performed
just as a pet is approaching adulthood.
Changes in its playfulness and sleeping
habits normally develop as it matures.
These changes are sometimes attributed
to neutering and spaying.
Fiction
You are putting your pet at risk when it
is neutered or spayed.
Fact
As in any surgery, neutering or spaying
has possible complications which you can
discuss with your veterinarian. However,
you will find the benefits far outweigh
the potential risk of complications.
A Word
Of Advice
In addition to providing important
health benefits, neutering and spaying
help control the problem of unwanted
pets. A male who escapes from its house
can sire litters without its owner's
knowledge. Delaying spaying a female can
have consequences if she escapes from
the house and wanders away. In a couple
of weeks, you may discover that puppies
or kittens are on the way.
Neutering
and spaying your household pets is a
sound investment in their health and
companionship. You are also doing your
part to help control the pet population. |
