Spaying is a general term used to describe the ovariohysterectomy of a female animal. Neutering is a general term used to describe the castration of a male animal. However, neutering is often used for both genders. The procedure is a surgery that is performed by a veterinarian, and the goal is to render the animal incapable of reproducing.

Neutering of male dogs and cats can prevent certain undesirable sexual behaviors, such as urine marking, humping, male aggression and the urge to roam. If you have more than one pet in your household, all the pets will generally get along better if they are neutered. Spaying or neutering will NOT make your pet fat. Rather, lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds. Overfeeding is a common culprit of weight gain, so being aware of how much you feed your animal is a key component to good pet health. Free-feeders, meaning the pets whose bowl is full all day long and your animal can snack at leisure, can be cause for overfeeding.

Spaying and neutering can reduce the incidence of some of the most common types of cancers, making it more likely for animals to live longer and healthier lives.

One of the long-term benefits of spaying and neutering is improved health for both cats and dogs. Spaying females prior to their first heat cycle nearly eliminate the risk of breast cancer and totally prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer. Neutering males prevent testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate gland and greatly reduces their risk for perianal tumors.

Pet owners should work with their veterinarians to determine the appropriate sterilization ages for individual cats and dogs. Veterinarians are encouraged to work with clients, especially those who are well known and likely to permit an unwanted pregnancy to occur prior to surgery. Short-term and long-term health risks for each animal should always be assessed. There is some research being done into the development and use of nonsurgical methods of sterilization, which could reduce costs and make it easier for more people to afford spaying and neutering.

There are approximately 3.7 million animals that get euthanized at shelters every year because there are not enough willing adopters. Having your pet spayed or neutered ensures that you will not be adding to this terrible issue of an overpopulation of dogs and cats.

Many states and counties have established low-cost spay/neuter programs that make surgery easily affordable and accessible. The cost of spaying and neutering a pet is less than the cost of raising puppies or kittens for one year.

If you’d like more information or would like to get your pet scheduled for spaying or neutering, please call us at 541-383-3833, we would be happy to help you with your beloved companion!