The Benefits of Spay and Neuter for Dogs and Cats

When you spay and neuter your pets you are doing your part in helping to decrease the huge number of unwanted puppies and kittens that end up in animal shelters each year. Fixing your pet also has many health and behavior benefits for male and female dogs and cats. Here is a run-down of the benefits of spay and neuter.

Female Spaying

• Stops heat cycles
• Reduces desire to roam
• Reduces or eliminates risk of mammary gland tumors and ovarian/uterine cancer (especially when done before first heat)

Male Neutering

• Reduces spraying and marking
• Reduces desire to roam
• Reduces or eliminates risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease
• Decreases aggression

Spay and Neuter by the Numbers

• Altering increases the lifespan of dogs an average of 1-3 years
• Altering cats increases their lifespan by 3-5 years
• 80% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered males looking for mates
• 90% of cats hit by cars are unaltered males or females
• For every human born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are born
• 55% of dogs and 47% of cats surrendered to shelters are unaltered