One of the most important responsibilities of owning a pet is making sure he or she is spayed or neutered. While some may try to argue its necessity, veterinarians encourage spaying and neutering not only for the benefit of stopping overpopulation (which is indeed critical), but it is recommended for the health and longevity of life for your pet as well.
Most often the health problems that may arise from leaving your pet in tact are not fully understood. These issues can be serious and even lethal if not treated immediately. Not spaying females will often, if not always, result in Pyometra, an infection in the uterus. This is a very serious and painful illness for the animal. As a result of this infection “pus” fills the uterus. Sometimes drainage will provide some relief, but often it remains sealed inside, and as a result becomes life threatening. Surgery to remove the uterus is required, resulting in a forced, painful, life threatening and expensive spay…and possibly even death.
In males the result is prostate disease. This, too, can become acute and life threatening. An intact male can have a testosterone build up causing swelling, infection, and a great deal of pain. It can then lead to more serious and fatal illnesses.
Spaying and neutering can also help with many behavioral problems. Often a more hyper dog will be calmed down, resulting in a more mature and obedient pet. While old myths and wise tales like to encourage that this changes the true personality of an animal, this is indeed false. What’s important to realize is that a stressor is taken away, not a personality factor. Dogs are not cheated out of their true personality. Instead they are given even more opportunity to show their true dispositions without added factors that can cloud them.
Overpopulation is indeed an important benefit with spaying and neutering as well. Literally THOUSANDS of animals are put to sleep weekly as a result of irresponsible owners not providing proper care, by allowing their animals to roam and mate with others, by thinking they want a dog but not the responsibility, and by backyard breeding and puppy mills. This is a serious problem that has plagued our nation. Sweet, loving animals that could make a child very happy are euthanized b/c they needed kennel space for another one. They have no choice, no escape and no hope. What makes it worse is that it’s not their fault. It’s ours.
PLEASE…..SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR PET. SAVE A PET’S LIFE AND ADOPT FROM A SHELTER OR RESCUE. ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.