Like most veterinarians, I recommend all puppies and kittens be spayed and neutered by 6 months of age. Why should we spay and neuter our pets, you ask? This will hopefully give you that answer, and some insight regarding common problems associated with intact pets.
Prevent Pet Overpopulation
It has been estimated that over 4 million unwanted pets are relinquished to shelters each year; many of these animals are euthanized (put-down) to make room for more incoming pets. There are approximately 5,000 shelters in the United States and most, if not all, are at capacity or approaching capacity. Obviously, from these numbers, it is clear that pet overpopulation is a real problem in the United States. By being a responsible pet owner and having your pet spayed or neutered, you can help prevent pet overpopulation and needless loss of life for unwanted pets. For more information on pet shelters and adopting a pet, read our earlier blog entry about it here.
Healthier Pet
Breast cancer (a.k.a. - mammary gland adenocarcinoma, or mammary tumors – similar to human breast cancer) is the most common type of cancer affecting female dogs that have not been spayed. It is the third most common tumor of female cats. This cancer is not only very unsightly but can be malignant (spread to other organs) and cause considerable pain and discomfort and even death to the pet. One common, and often heard, myth is that pet owners should allow their pet to go through at least one heat cycle before spaying. This would put your pet at risk for breast cancer; the risk of breast cancer is almost eliminated in dogs that are spayed before their first heat cycle. If she is spayed before her first heat cycle, the risk of developing mammary tumors is less than 1%. It is 8% for the dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat. It is believed that the elimination or reduction of estrogen and/or progesterone causes the lowering of incidence of the cancer in dogs that have been spayed. In addition to cancer, other problems your pet won’t have to face after being spayed are: the risk of uterine infection, c-section, mastitis, or other complications associated with pregnancy, whelping, or raising a litter.
Testicular tumors are one of the most common cancers of intact (un-neutered) male dogs. Dogs that have one or both testicles that are not descended (a problem called cryptorchidism) are 13 times more likely to have testicular tumors. Testicular tumors may metastasize to the abdomen, lung, thymus and brain.
Prevent Pet Overpopulation
It has been estimated that over 4 million unwanted pets are relinquished to shelters each year; many of these animals are euthanized (put-down) to make room for more incoming pets. There are approximately 5,000 shelters in the United States and most, if not all, are at capacity or approaching capacity. Obviously, from these numbers, it is clear that pet overpopulation is a real problem in the United States. By being a responsible pet owner and having your pet spayed or neutered, you can help prevent pet overpopulation and needless loss of life for unwanted pets. For more information on pet shelters and adopting a pet, read our earlier blog entry about it here.
Healthier PetBreast cancer (a.k.a. - mammary gland adenocarcinoma, or mammary tumors – similar to human breast cancer) is the most common type of cancer affecting female dogs that have not been spayed. It is the third most common tumor of female cats. This cancer is not only very unsightly but can be malignant (spread to other organs) and cause considerable pain and discomfort and even death to the pet. One common, and often heard, myth is that pet owners should allow their pet to go through at least one heat cycle before spaying. This would put your pet at risk for breast cancer; the risk of breast cancer is almost eliminated in dogs that are spayed before their first heat cycle. If she is spayed before her first heat cycle, the risk of developing mammary tumors is less than 1%. It is 8% for the dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat. It is believed that the elimination or reduction of estrogen and/or progesterone causes the lowering of incidence of the cancer in dogs that have been spayed. In addition to cancer, other problems your pet won’t have to face after being spayed are: the risk of uterine infection, c-section, mastitis, or other complications associated with pregnancy, whelping, or raising a litter.
Testicular tumors are one of the most common cancers of intact (un-neutered) male dogs. Dogs that have one or both testicles that are not descended (a problem called cryptorchidism) are 13 times more likely to have testicular tumors. Testicular tumors may metastasize to the abdomen, lung, thymus and brain.
The prostate gland in the male dog can have multiple problems: non-cancerous enlargement, obstruction, cysts, bacterial infection, abscess, and cancer. The influence of testosterone (produced by the testicles) is the inciting factor behind these problems. Prostate cancer is by far the worst of these, and is much more aggressive than human prostate cancer, spreading very aggressively to other organs quite rapidly, often leading to death. By neutering your male dog at or before 6 months of age, you can prevent most, if not all, of these problems from occurring.
Behavior
Spraying, marking, roaming, and fighting are common behavioral problems that are all associated with reproductive hormones. By spaying or neutering your pet before he or she reaches sexual maturity (6 months for most pets), you will virtually eliminate these unwanted behaviors and have an all-around better pet.
Much attention has been paid to dog attacks and aggressive behavior in dogs. There are many variables that go into the aggressive behavior of pets. However, reproductive hormones are the foundation for much of the aggressive behavior seen in pets. Eighty-five percent of dog-bites are from intact (not spayed or neutered) dogs. By simply spaying or neutering your pet at an early age, you can prevent most aggressive behavior from developing.
Surgery
Some pet owners are anxious about having any surgery performed on their pet. Obviously, this anxiety is understandable. However, it should be known that spaying/neutering your pet as a puppy or kitten is a much simpler procedure. The complication rate is lower and the recovery rate is faster and easier while your pet is young. As veterinarians, we perform thousands of spay/neuter procedures each year. It, quite possibly, could be the most common procedure performed by most veterinarians; as such, you can rest assured that your veterinarian is
adept at the procedure.
Behavior
Spraying, marking, roaming, and fighting are common behavioral problems that are all associated with reproductive hormones. By spaying or neutering your pet before he or she reaches sexual maturity (6 months for most pets), you will virtually eliminate these unwanted behaviors and have an all-around better pet.
Much attention has been paid to dog attacks and aggressive behavior in dogs. There are many variables that go into the aggressive behavior of pets. However, reproductive hormones are the foundation for much of the aggressive behavior seen in pets. Eighty-five percent of dog-bites are from intact (not spayed or neutered) dogs. By simply spaying or neutering your pet at an early age, you can prevent most aggressive behavior from developing.
Surgery
Some pet owners are anxious about having any surgery performed on their pet. Obviously, this anxiety is understandable. However, it should be known that spaying/neutering your pet as a puppy or kitten is a much simpler procedure. The complication rate is lower and the recovery rate is faster and easier while your pet is young. As veterinarians, we perform thousands of spay/neuter procedures each year. It, quite possibly, could be the most common procedure performed by most veterinarians; as such, you can rest assured that your veterinarian is
adept at the procedure.
No comments:
Post a Comment