Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet - ASPCA

1.  Your female dog will live a longer, healthier life.

     Spaying is a veterinary procedure perfoemed under

     general anesthesia that may require minimal

     hospitalization.  Spaying a female dog helps prevent life

     threatening and common uterine infections and breast

     cancer.  Treatment of uterine infections requires

     hospitalization, intravenous fluids, and antibiotics. 

     Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50% of female

     dogs.  Spaying your pet offers the best protection

     from these diseases.

2.  There are major health benefits for your male animal

     companion, too.

     Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your

     male dog prevents testicular cancer and aids in

     preventing prostate disorders if done before six

     months of age.

3.  Your spayed female won't go into heat.

     Intact female dogs generally have a bloody

     discharge for about a week, and can conceive for

     another week or so.  During that time they can also

     suffer from hormonal behavioral changes, such as

     aggression.

4.  Your male dog won't need to roam away from home...

     An intact male in search of a mate will do just

     about anything to get one!  That includes digging his

     way under the fence and making like Houdini to escape

     from the house.  And once he is free to roam, he risks

     injury in traffic and fights with other males.

5.  ...and he will be much better behaved too!

     Neutered animals focus their attention on their

     human families.  On the other hand, unneutered

     dogs may mark their territory with strong smelling

     urine all over the house.  Indoors, male dogs may

     embarrass you by mounting on furniture and human

     lets when stimulated.  A neutered dog protects his

     home and family just as well as an unneutered dog--

     and many aggression problems can be avoided by early

     neutering.

6.  Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat.

     Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your

     pet to gain weight--not neutering.  Your pet will remain

     fit and trim as long as you continue to provide

     exercise and monitor food intake.

7.  Spaying or neutering is highly cost-effective.

     The cost of your pet's spay or neuter surgery is a

     lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. 

     It also beats the cost of treatment when your

     unneutered dog escapes and gets into fights with

     neighborhood strays...or the cost of cleaning the carpet

     that your unspayed female has soiled during her cycle.

8.  It's good for the community.

     Stray animals pose real problems in many parts of

     the country.  They can prey on wildlife, cause vehicular

     accidents, damage the local fauna, and scare children.

9.  Your pet doesn't need to have a litter for your children

     to witness the miracle of birth.

     We have heard this one a lot.  But you know what? 

     Letting your pet produce offspring you have no

     intention of keeping teaches your children

     irresponsibiliity.  Anyone who has seen an animal

     euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the

     truth behind this dangerous myth.  There are countless

     books and videos available to teach your children about

     birth in a responsible manner.

10.  It packs a powerful punch in the fight against pet

       overpopulation.

       Millions of pets of all ages and breeds are euthanized

       annually or suffer as strays.  These high numbers are

       the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could

       have been prevented by spaying or neutering.

Brought to you by the ASPCA.