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Did you know that a spayed or neutered (sterilized) animal is better behaved?
Males -- Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human families. On the other hand, unsterilized, unsupervised males roam in search of a mate, risking injury in traffic and in fights with other males. They mark territory by spraying strong-smelling urine on surfaces. Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting furniture and human legs when stimulated. Don't confuse aggressiveness with protectiveness; 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.
Females -- While their cycles vary greatly, most female cats exhibit the following signs when in heat. For four or five days, every three weeks, they yowl and urinate more frequently -- sometimes all over the house -- advertising for mates. Often, they attract unneutered males who spray urine around the females' home. Female dogs also attract males from great distances. Female dogs generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive for another week or so.
Did you know that a spayed or neutered animal will live a longer, healthier life?
Spaying a female (removing the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removing the testicles) are veterinary procedures performed with the same general anesthesia used in human medicine. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization.
Neutering a male cat or dog by 6 months of age prevents testicular cancer, prostate disease and hernias. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent pyometra (a pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer; having this done before the first heat offers the best protection from these diseases. Treatment of pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics and spaying. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of female dogs and 90 percent of female cats. With an older, seriously ill animal, anesthesia and surgery are complicated and costly.
Did you know that you can help prevent the suffering and death of millions of animals?
One cat or dog who has babies and whose babies have babies can be responsible for the birth of 50 to 200 kittens or puppies in one year! Almost everyone loves puppies and kittens, but some people lose interest when these animals grow up. As a result, millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized annually or suffer as strays. Rarely surviving for more than a few years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing or being hit by cars.
Myth: A female cat or dog should have a litter before she is spayed.
Fact: The sooner you spay your female, the better her health will be in the future.
As long as a kitten or puppy weighs more than two pounds and is 2 months old, he or she
can be neutered or spayed. Many veterinarians are practicing perfectly safe early
sterilization. The likelihood of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections increases
the longer a female goes unsprayed. In fact, a female spayed before sexual maturity (6 to
9 months of age) has one seventh the risk of an intact female of developing mammary
cancer.
Myth: Spaying or neutering (sterilization) will alter my pet's personality.
Fact: Any slight changes will be positive. Regardless of the age when spayed or
neutered, your pet will remain a caring, loving and protective companion. Neutering will
reduce the need to breed, and that has a calming effect on many animals. Both neutered
male canines and felines tend to stop roaming and fighting and lose the desire to mark
their territory with urine.
Myth: Companion animals will become fat and lazy if they are neutered.
Fact: Absolutely not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding make pets fat and lazy --
not neutering. Your pet will not gain weight if you provide exercise and monitor food
intake. Neutering is good for your pet, since sterilized pets tend to live an average of
two to three years longer than unsterilized pets.
Myth: Sterilization is a dangerous and painful surgery for my pet.
Fact: Spaying and neutering are the most common surgeries performed on animals.
With a minimal amount of home care, your pet will resume normal behavior in a couple of
days.
Myth: Children should witness the miracle of birth.
Fact: Countless books and videos are available to teach your children about birth
in a responsible manner. Letting your pet produce offspring you have no intention of
keeping is teaching your children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal
euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this dangerous myth.
Many states and counties have established low-cost spay/neuter programs that make the surgery affordable. For example, the Animal Population Control Program has been established in New York State. In addition, many cities offer reduced licensing fees for owners of spayed and neutered pets. To find a low-cost program near you, contact your local humane society or shelter, or Spay USA. To schedule a low-cost spay/neuter appointment at The ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, which is located at 424 East 92nd Street in Manhattan, please call (212) 876-7700, ext. 4200. To schedule an appointment to take advantage of The ASPCA's Care-A-Van, which provides spaying/neutering services in neighborhoods where affordable veterinary care is not available, please call (212) 876-7700, ext. 4303. If there is no spay/neuter program in your area and you would like to see one established, contact the ASPCA Government Affairs Department at government@aspca.org.
ASPCA
424 East 92nd Street
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700
