All pets not intended for breeding should be surgically neutered for many important reasons. In addition to improved health and behavior resulting from this surgery, you will be doing your part to reduce the unwanted pet population. Millions of unwanted animals are put down each year because good homes are limited and most animals simply cannot be adopted out.
The benefits of spaying females (an ovariohysterectomy) include preventing signs of estrus (heat), decreasing the chance of breast cancer, eliminating cystic ovaries and uterine infections, and preventing unwanted pregnancies.
The benefits of castrating males (an orchiectomy) include decreasing incidence of prostate cancer, eliminating testicular disease, decreasing the degree of aggression and desire to roam, decreasing the odor of tom cat urine, and preventing spraying, marking, and other undesirable sexual behavior (if done early enough).
Some myths on spays and castrations should be corrected. Your pet will not get fat or lazy because of this surgery. Diet, amount of exercise, and heredity have much more influence on the weight and attitude of your pet. In fact, it is much easier on your pet to be spayed before going through a heat cycle because the reproductive tract will be smaller. Even more importantly, studies have shown that there is a better chance of preventing breast cancer if the spay is done before the first heat cycle.
Surgery is recommended when your pet is about 6 months of age when surgical risk is minimal for a young, healthy animal, but it can be done at any age. Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia. Most pets go home the same or next day with minimal post-surgical pain.
Neutering your pet is a caring and humane decision, not only for the health of your pet, but for the sake of the unwanted puppies and kittens that may result from a failure to do so.
The writers are Dr. Steven B. Holzman, Dr. William R. Haagenson and Dr. Kathleen Tapley. They are associated with the Nassau-Suffolk Veterinary Hospital of Farmingdale.
