The following is for informational purposes only and does not replace the need for veterinarian care and advice. If you have any questions or concerns about the health of your pet, seek veterinary care.
February is Spay and Neuter month so let’s talk about the importance of these procedures, considerations for when to spay or neuter, and pros and cons of the surgery.
When talking about spaying and neutering, a lot of people do not realize that neutering can refer to a procedure on either males or females. It is most often used when talking about males but not always. Spaying, on the other hand, is specific to female animals. In this piece, I will use spay for females and neuter for males just to avoid confusion.
First let’s talk about why you should spay or neuter. There are many reasons and a lot of them involve the health and longer life of your beloved pets.
Lifespan: Studies have shown that animals that are spayed and neutered live longer. Neutered dogs live between 13-18% longer and spayed dogs live 23-26% longer.
When it comes to cats, neutered males live about 60% longer while spayed females live 39% longer. That is a lot more time to spend with our friends.
Cancer: Many studies have shown that intact female cats and dogs have a high chance of developing an infection of the uterus called pyometra, which can be fatal. They are also more likely to develop cancers of the mammary glands and reproductive system.
Neutering male animals eliminates the risk of developing testicular cancer and a disease of the prostate.
Unwanted Behaviors: When it comes to behaviors, spaying and neutering is not a miracle cure. Each pet has their own personality, training, and problems. However, it has been shown to help in some areas. The impact of spaying and neutering also depends on when the procedure takes place. A pet who is already displaying these behaviors might continue despite spaying and neutering. Behaviors that have been going on for a long time become habit and are much more difficult to correct. Discuss this with your vet for more information.
Intact dogs and cats, especially males, are more likely to marking their territory. Neutered dogs tend to mark less or not at all versus unaltered ones.
Cats have a strong urge to spray. Neutering can reduce most, if not all that behavior. Neutering before a cat begins spraying, around 5-6 months, increases the likelihood of success.
Neutering also reduces a male cat’s desire to roam, yowl, spray, and fight other males. Spayed female cats will not be as likely to roam or display in-heat behaviors like vocalizing, demanding attention, rolling around, and spraying.
The other reason to spay a female is more about convenience for the owners. Female pets in heat are, to put it simply, messy. They generally require some sort of diapering to keep blood off everything and may need to be cleaned frequently. For dogs, heat cycles begin around 6 months of age (although this can vary) and occur approximately every 6 months. Each cycle lasts 2-4 weeks. In cats, heat cycles begin between 4-6 months of age. Cats can go into heat multiple times a season and in warmer climates, that season is year-round. Each cycle lasts 2-3 weeks.
Last but not least, we need to mention puppies and kittens. While they are adorable and you may be tempted to want to let your pet have at least one litter, there are multiple reasons to not go down this road. Walk into any shelter, speak with any rescue community, and you will hear about all the unwanted dogs and cats. It is a nationwide epidemic and one we should not be contributing to. You may be able to find homes for your litter but that doesn’t mean they won’t end up in the shelter, be bred, or even used for awful purposes like dog fighting.
A pregnant pet requires a lot of veterinary care, and the costs can add up quickly, and that does not include all the care the babies will need. Not all pets make good parents, and this means the owner must step in and help raise them, including feeding every couple of hours.
Spaying and neutering prevents all of this. Having pets that are not spayed and neutered leaves room for accidents. No matter how much planning and prevention, animals who want to mate find a way. The safest way to avoid this is to spay and neuter.
We will now briefly discuss when to spay or neuter. There is a lot of discussion, controversy, and information on this subject. The best information will come from a discussion with your veterinarian. They are the ones who know your pets best and can answer all your questions. You can discuss the pros and cons of timing and figure out what works best for you and your pet.
For dogs, the current studies are showing that the size of your canine may determine when the best time is. Some larger dogs may benefit from staying intact longer while smaller ones may be able to be altered sooner.
Cats are more straightforward. Most organizations recommend spaying and neutering before or at 5 months old. There are some vets who do recommend waiting until the cat’s first heat however.
In general, spaying and neutering your cats and dogs is the right decision. It benefits them and you overall and can prevent so many problems. Speak with your vet to obtain the best, most up-to-date, and personalized information for your furry friend.