Pet Health Tip #8- "Should I spay or neuter my pet?"

One of the most important decisions that you have to make for your pet, is whether or not you are going to have them spayed or neutered.  So, should you spay or neuter your pet?  YES!!!!!

There are multiple benefits to spaying or neutering you pet.  All of these benefits add up to one thing, your pet will live significantly longer.

So, here are a list of reasons to get your pet spayed or neutered:

For female dogs: Each time the dog goes through a heat cycle, their chance of developing breast cancer increases.  So, that means it is very important to have your female dog spayed prior to their first heat cycle (approx 6 months).  Another major benefit is that the older your female dog gets, the greater their chance for developing a uterine infection (pyometra).  Pyometras can be life threatening and the treatment is to have the dog spayed. The risk of surgery is MUCH greater, when you have an infection involved.  So, get your pet spayed BEFORE the pyometra develops.

For male dogs:  Intact male dogs are at MUCH higher risk of developing prostate cancer than neutered dogs.  Also, intact male dogs can develop testicular cancer.

So, as you can see, there are definite health benefits to having your pet spayed or neutered.  But, again, your bottom line is that they will live significantly longer.  We do not have them for very long as it is, so why wouldn't you want to extend that time?

Another point to consider, is how young to have the surgery done.  I am a BIG supporter of pediatric spays/neuters.  These surgeries are performed at 8-10 weeks of age.  As long as the pet is over 2 lbs, then they can under go the surgery.  Puppies that are spayed or neutered at this young age heal much faster than the bigger puppies.  I worked in an animal shelter and have performed thousands of these surgeries.  It is amazing how quickly these puppies heal.  The puppies are up and moving right after the anesthesia wears off and the incision is gone within a few days.