5 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Pet

by Expert Contributor Sarah Alexander, DVM, Lead Veterinarian, The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic

Here’s the Top 5 reasons why you should spay or neuter your pet dog or cat.

#5: Your male pet will be better behaved.

To find a mate, an unneutered dog will do almost anything, including digging under fences and attempting to slip out the door of your house. A loose dog can get hurt in traffic or in a fight with another animal. Unneutered dogs and cats tend to spray strong-smelling urine, to mark their territory, and dogs will sometimes mount furniture and people. Neutering can solve those problems, and may make your pet less aggressive and more attentive to you, his human friend.

#4: Your female pet won’t go into heat.

A female cat typically goes into heat four to five days every three weeks throughout breeding season. While in heat, they will try to attract a mate by yowling and urinating more frequently, sometimes outside the litter box. When a female dog goes into heat, she has a bloody discharge for about a week. She can conceive for up to two weeks thereafter, and can easily end up with an unwanted litter.

#3: It makes sense financially.

In older unspayed female dogs and cats, pyometra is a common life-threatening uterine infection. Treatment is surgery, which can cost thousands of dollars. Spaying eliminates the possibility of pyometra. The cost of your pet’s spay or neuter surgery is much less than the cost of caring for a litter of puppies or kittens. It’s also cheaper than vet bills, which may result if your dog or cat gets hurt while searching for a mate. Lastly, it’s less expensive than getting your furniture or carpets cleaned after your female pet goes into heat.

#2: Your pet will be happier and healthier.

Spaying a female dog or cat eliminates some serious potential health problems such as pyometra and uterine or ovarian cancer. Spaying before the first heat significantly reduces mammary cancer, which can be fatal in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent future prostate problems.

#1: Spaying or neutering your dog or cat helps reduce pet overpopulation.

Millions of animals (and thousands in the Greater Philadelphia area) are euthanized every year because they’re born into unwanted litters. For every puppy or kitten born, one is euthanized in a shelter. There are not enough homes for all. Spaying or neutering pets is the only thing that has statistically proven to lower the euthanasia rate.

Have a discussion with your veterinarian about the appropriate time to spay or neuter your pet.

Expert Contributor Sarah Alexander, DVM, Lead Veterinarian at The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic

Affordable, High-Quality Veterinary Care

484-540-8436

800 Chester Pike, Sharon Hill, PA 19079

The Mission of The Spayed Club Veterinary Clinic:

Eliminate unnecessary dog & cat euthanasia through affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter surgeries. The Spayed Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization.

Veterinary Examination for Dog or Cat: $35. See our website for a list of services and transparent pricing:

www.TheSpayedClubClinic.org