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1. YOUR FEMALE DOG
OR CAT WILL LIVE A LONGER, HEALTHIER LIFE.
Spaying - the removal of the ovaries and uterus - is a veterinary
procedure performed under general anesthesia that usually requires
minimal hospitalization. Spaying a female cat or dog helps prevent
pyometra (pus-filled uterus) and breast cancer. Treatment of
pyometra requires hospitalization, intravenous fluids and
antibiotics. Breast cancer can be fatal in about 50 percent of
female dogs and in 90 percent of female cats. Spaying your pet
before her first heat offers the best protection from these
diseases.
2. THERE ARE MAJOR
HEALTH BENEFITS FOR YOUR MALE ANIMAL COMPANION, TOO.
Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering your male dog or cat
- the surgical removal of the testicles - prevents testicular
cancer, if done before six months of age.
3. YOUR SPAYED
FEMALE WON'T GO INTO HEAT.
While cycles can vary greatly, female felines usually go into heat
four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. In an
effort to advertise for mates, they'll yowl and urinate more
frequently-sometimes all over the house. Unspayed female dogs
generally have a bloody discharge for about a week, and can conceive
for another week or so.
4. YOUR MALE DOG
WON'T NEED TO ROAM AWAY FROM HOME.
An intact male in search of a mate will do just about anything to
get one! That includes digging his way under the fence and making
like Houdini to escape from the house. And once he's free to roam,
he risks injury in traffic and fights with other males.
5. AND HE WILL BE
MUCH BETTER BEHAVED TO BOOT!
Neutered cats and dogs focus their attention on their human
families. On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their
territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house.
Indoors, male dogs may embarrass you by mounting on furniture and
human legs. And FYI, a neutered dog protects his home and family
just as well as unneutered dog, and many aggression problems can be
avoided by early neutering.
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6. SPAYING OR
NEUTERING WILL NOT MAKE YOUR PET FAT.
It's no use trying that old excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding
will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds - not neutering.
Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide
exercise and monitor food intake.
7. SPAYING OR
NEUTERING IS HIGHLY COST-EFFECTIVE.
The cost of your pet's spay or neuter surgery is a lot less than the
cost of caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment
when your unneutered tom escapes and gets into fights with
neighborhood strays or the cost of cleaning the carpet that your
unspayed female keeps mistaking for her litter box, or the cost of -
well, you get the idea!
8. IT'S GOOD FOR
THE COMMUNITY.
Stray animals pose real problems in many parts of the country. They
can prey on wildlife, cause vehicular accidents, damage the local
fauna and scare children.
9. YOUR PET DOESN'T
NEED TO HAVE A LITTER FOR YOUR CHILDREN TO WITNESS THE MIRACLE OF
BIRTH.
We've heard this one a lot. But you know what? Letting your pet
produce offspring that you have no intention of keeping teaches your
children irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal euthanized
in a shelter for lack of a home knows the truth behind this
dangerous myth. There are countless books and videos available to
teach your children about birth in a responsible manner.
10. IT PACKS A
POWERFUL PUNCH IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PET OVERPOPULATION.
Millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized
annually or suffer as strays. These high numbers are the result of
unwanted, unplanned litters that could have been prevented by
spaying or neutering.
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