Why It's A Good Idea To Spay Or Neuter Your New Pet
When you adopt a dog or cat from a shelter, the animal will probably be spayed or neutered already. When you take in a stray or adopt an animal from a friend, you'll need to have the procedure done yourself. Here is some information on why sterilization is a good idea and recommended by animal organizations.
Sterilizations Reduce Unwanted Pets
The main reason you want to have your pets sterilized is so you don't contribute to the number of unwanted pets in the world. The number of homeless pets that end up in shelters or fend for themselves on the street is staggering. Millions of animals are put to death each year because they have no homes.
Spaying And Neutering Reduces Health Problems
Reproductive hormones are responsible for a number of cancers of the reproductive tract in cats and dogs. By spaying and neutering the animals before they reach sexual maturity, these cancers can be avoided. This saves your pet from suffering, and it saves you from high vet bills.
Sterilization Eliminates Behavioral Problems
The drive to reproduce is strong in both cats and dogs when they aren't sterilized and this can lead to behavioral problems when your pet is cooped up inside and can't fulfill normal urges. This causes aggressive behavior, scent marking, crying, pacing, and other bothersome activities. Your pet is miserable and it can make you miserable too. Spaying and neutering removes this powerful drive to reproduce so your pet is more peaceful. However, it doesn't affect the ability to learn or be a good companion to you or other animals.
Spaying And Neutering Saves You Money
Although you might not want to spend money to have your pet sterilized, it will save you money in the long term. You can avoid vet bills associated with pregnancy and caring for a litter of kittens or puppies. Spaying and neutering aren't expensive procedures. You can even find low-cost clinics to do the surgeries at a discount. The price is kept low so pet owners can afford to sterilize their pets to control the unwanted animal problem.
As soon as you get a new pet, you should take the animal to the vet for an examination. Talk about when is the best time to spay or neuter the dog or cat. It's usually best to do it before the female has her first heat cycle, but older animals can be spayed and neutered too. The best time will depend on the health of the animal and the breed, but doing it when the pet is young is normally the best choice.