Experts: Why to Spay or Neuter

[DaxAriel's toy]

To dollface.... not from another chatroom.

This low-cost surgery offers you and your pet many, many advantages.

Peace of Mind


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, whereas 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 non-neutered 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 non-neutered 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.


Good Medicine


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 under general
anesthesia. Both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization.
Neutering a male cat or dog by six 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.


Responsible Care


Did you know that you can help prevent the suffering and death of millions
of animals?

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. Many of these
were the result of unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been
prevented by spaying or neutering. Rarely surviving for more than a few
years on their own, strays die painfully by starvation, disease, freezing
or being hit by cars.


Just the Facts, Please


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 two 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 unspayed. In fact, a female spayed before sexual maturity (six
to nine 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. Many cities also offer reduced licensing fees
for owners of spayed and neutered pets. To find a low-cost program near you,
call your local humane society, shelter or call toll-free (800) 248-SPAY. To
schedule a low-cost spay/neuter appointment in New York City at Bergh
Memorial Animal Hospital, please call (212) 876-7700, ext. 4200, Monday
through Friday from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. If there is no low-cost program in your
area, and you would like to see one established, contact The ASPCA
Government Affairs department at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4550.



Courtesy of

424 East 92nd St.
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700www.aspca.org

[sambucca/whiskey]

Thankyou for providibg the FACTS.

[DaxAriel's toy]

more....

From the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, Section of Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.

Practicing veterinarians in small-animal or mixed-animal practice in New York state were surveyed about their beliefs and practices regarding the age at which dogs and cats should be neutered and their attitudes toward early neutering (at 4 months of age or younger). The majority of veterinarians routinely recommended neutering for all client animals (70.6%) and supported the routine neutering of shelter animals before adoption (90.3%). More veterinarians in this study reported at least one perceived benefit (91.3%) for early neutering than reported at least one perceived risk (84.4%). Veterinarians with experience neutering early were less likely to believe that the procedure was associated with one or more risks.

[sambucca/whiskey]

keep the educating facts coming.

[DaxAriel's toy]

Dollface - PS your profile is missing some information that would be useful in judging your experience in these matters. Namely, your age & profession.

If you held a masters degree in vetarinary medicine, it would make a difference. As would 30 years running an ASPCA.