Information on Spaying and Neutering your pet. It makes all the difference in the world.

• Did you know?
• Good for you, your pet and the community
• What is spaying & neutering?
• Health benefits
• Why?
• Common excuses
• I care
• Announce it
• Spay & Neuter where?
• Low cost options

Did you know?

Each day 10,000 humans are born in the U.S. - and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. As long as these birth rates exist, there will never be enough homes for all the animals. As a result, every year 4 to 6 million animals are euthanized because there are no homes for them. What can you do to stop the suffering? Spay and neuter your pet!

In addition to saving lives, spaying and neutering can also drastically improve your pet's health and life expectancy. The idea that pets become fat or lazy when they are spayed or neutered is a myth. Sterilized pets lead healthier, longer lives. Spaying a female eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces the risk of both prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Neutering also will make your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost.

Good for You, Your Pet, and the Community

Prevent A Litter - It's Good for You. Spayed and neutered pets are better, more affectionate, companions. Neutered cats are less likely to spray and mark territory. Spaying a female dog or cat eliminates its heat cycle, which can last twenty-one days, twice a year, in dogs, and anywhere from three to fifteen days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat often cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals. Spayed and neutered pets are less likely to bite. Unaltered animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than those that have been spayed or neutered.

Prevent a Litter - It's Good for Your Pet. Spayed and neutered dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives. Spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer. Neutering male dogs and cats reduces the incidence of prostate cancer. Neutered animals are less likely to roam and fight.

Prevent A Litter - It's Good for the Community. Communities spend millions of dollars to control and eliminate unwanted animals. Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.

What is Spaying and Neutering?

Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes) of the female animal. Neutering (orchectomy or castration) is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes) of the male animal. The outer is left, only the testes are removed. Appearance depends upon the dog's age at the time of the surgery. Females and males should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age. Currently some clinics are performing surgeries on animals as young as 8 weeks of age. As this procedure becomes more common, perhaps it will be available in all areas. Older animals can be done as long as they are in good health. All sterilization surgery is performed under general anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian.

Female dogs and cats can be spayed when in heat or pregnant. This can usually be done up until a few days before delivery. These surgeries can take longer, and can therefore cost more. Spaying before having a first litter or heat cycle is usually a simpler procedure. The heat cycle for dogs is once or twice a year starting as early as 6 months of age. Duration is 3 weeks. Heat cycles in cats start as early as 6 months and occur every 3-4 weeks during spring through early fall. The gestation period for both dogs and cats is 63 days. Female cats can become pregnant again as soon as 10 days after giving birth (while still nursing the first litter).

Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

Spayed animals no longer feel the need to roam to look for a mate. The result is that they stay home and have less chance of being involved in traumatic accidents such as being hit by a car. They also have a much lower incidence of contracting contagious diseases, and get into fewer fights.

In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.

In Females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer (the rate goes down to almost zero if the spaying is done before the first heat cycle!). It eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature unspayed animals (pyometra). Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviors, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of all available males to your yard.

The simple fact is that spaying and neutering greatly increases the lifespan of your pet and increases quality of life as well!

Why?

1. Spaying or neutering increases your pet's chances for a longer, healthier life. Spaying your pet before her first estrous cycle (that is, before she reaches sexual maturity) greatly reduces her chances of developing breast cancer and completely eliminates the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unaltered females. Neutering your male dog or cat prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. Neutering also decreases the possibility of perianal tumors and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, unaltered dogs. Because neutered cats are less likely to roam, the threat of abscesses caused by bites and diseases transmitted by fighting are greatly reduced.
2. An altered dog or cat is a better pet for your family. Males neutered early in life are less aggressive toward other males and are not distracted by females in heat. Therefore, a neutered male will be less tempted to leave your property and cross that dangerous highway searching for a mate. Neutered males also are less likely to mark every one of your (or your neighbor's) expensive shrubs with his urine as well as inside the house. Spaying your female pet eliminates the problem of stray males camping in your yard and decreases her desire to roam and breed.
3. No family wants to cope with an unwanted pregnancy. Spaying prevents your pet from giving birth to unwanted puppies or kittens.
4. Spaying results in a cleaner female dog and home. Because female dogs pass bloody fluid for about ten days, twice a year, as a part of their estrous cycle, constant care must be taken to avoid carpet stains in homes with such animals. Spaying your dog eliminates this problem.
5. You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem. Each year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats are euthanized (killed) at shelters across the country. Although pet behavioral problems are the main reasons animals are given to shelters, many orphans are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, unaltered pets. The more pets spayed or neutered, the fewer dogs and cats will have to be destroyed. Delaware Humane Association does not euthanized; however, hundreds of dogs and cats are turned away each year because there is simply not enough room at the shelter to accommodate them.

Common Excuses

1. My pet will get fat and lazy. Neutering or spaying may diminish your pet's overall activity level, natural tendency to wander, and hormonal balances, which may influence appetite. Pets that become fat and lazy after being altered usually are overfed and do not get enough exercise.
2. We want another pet just like Rover and Fluffy. Breeding two purebred animals rarely results in offspring that are exactly like one of the parents. With mixed breeds, it is virtually impossible to have offspring that are exactly like one of the parents.
3. My pet's personality will change. Any change will be for the better. After being altered, your pet will be less aggressive toward other dogs or cats, have a better personality, and will be less likely to wander. Spraying (urine marking), which is often done by dogs and cats to mark their territory, diminishes or ceases after pets are altered.
4. We can sell puppies or kittens and make money. Even well-known breeders are fortunate if they break even on raising purebred litters. The cost of raising such a litter -- which includes stud fees, vaccinations and other health care costs, and feeding a quality food -- consumes most of the "profit." Well-known breeders raise breeds that they like. These breeders also try to improve the standard of the breeds they raise.
5. My children should witness our pet giving birth. Pets often have their litters in the middle of the night or in a place of their own choosing. Because pets need privacy when giving birth, any unnecessary intrusion can cause the mother to become seriously upset. These intrusions can result in an unwillingness to care for the offspring or in injury to the owners or to the pet
6. I am concerned about my pet undergoing anesthesia. Placing a pet under anesthesia is a very common concern of owners. Although there is always a slight risk involved, the anesthetics currently used by veterinarians are very safe. Many veterinarians use equipment that monitors heart and respiratory rates during surgery to ensure that their patients are doing well under anesthesia. Thus, the medical benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered far outweigh the slight risk involved with undergoing anesthesia. Consult your veterinarian if your are concerned about this aspect of the procedure.

I care

Please Spay or Neuter ALL of your Pets by Holly M. Burns.

When I told my dad that I was very concerned about the pet overpopulation problem, he said to me, "I thought we solved that problem." The sad truth of it is that no mater how much the importance of spaying-and-neutering-your-pets is stressed, we will never solve the pet overpopulation problem. Currently the numbers are staggering. According to the PaLC, for every person that is born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are also born. You do the numbers, there is no way we can find homes for them all.

Just one litter is too much, and litters always seem to slip by. One un-spayed female dog and one un-neutered male dog and their offspring can produce 4,372 puppies in 7 years. For cats it is even worse. One un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat and their offspring results in 420,000 kittens in 7 years. These statistics make me very sad, particularly when I see them first hand at the animal shelter. As lucky as shelter dogs and cats are to be getting full meals and not to be sleeping on the street, or in uncaring and unloving homes, I know they cannot be happy sleeping alone without the creature comforts of a family. And the saddest part is that not all of them will be adopted. There are just too many of them. And as hard as it is to have to put some of them humanely to sleep, what is the alternative? Let them roam the streets, and get hit by cars, or bullied by children, or starved to death?

How can people look into their pet's unconditional loving eyes, and say that its life, and all the lives of their pet buddies, are not worth the money or the time it takes to neuter them? What I like to stress in this essay isn't that I am trying to solve the pet overpopulation problem -- that is just a pipe dream -- but that I am trying to educate people of its existence, and the consequences that dogs and cats face when pets are not spayed or neutered. The best way that we can handle this overpopulation issue is in as many cases as possible, nip this problem in the bud. Have all of your dogs and cats spayed or neutered. That is why I created the Dog Hause Spay and Neuter Information page (http://www.doghause.com/spay.asp). The more people that realize the horrors of this problem and know how they can help minimize it, the better. The more animals that do not have to die needlessly, the better job we all are doing of spreading the word.

Announce it

Some people think that neutering their pet may hurt them. Actually, neutering helps prevent some harmful medical problems for animals and decreases their chances of getting cancer. Neutering also deters high-risk behavior such as roaming, getting into fights, and mating. So, neutering your pet doesn't hurt – it helps.

Don't use your cats and dogs to teach your children about the birds and the bees. Between 8-12 million companion animals are killed each year in America due to lack of homes. Don't let your pet have even one litter. Spay or neuter today.

Many cat lovers feel it is kinder for Kitty to be allowed outdoors. Statistics show that 90% of the millions of cats killed on our roads each year are unsterilized. Fertile cats tend to get into fights and wander more. So, please, if you must let Kitty go out, make sure he or she is fixed!

Why did Spot cross the road? He loved the ladies. Unfortunately, his latest girlfriend lived on the far side of the highway. Spot never made it to the other side. About 80% of dogs hit by vehicles each year are un-neutered males. Fixing your pet decreases the urge to wander and increases his chances of living a longer, healthier life. Get your pet fixed.

For every person that is born, 15 dogs and 45 cats are also born. You do the numbers … There aren't enough homes for them all. You can solve the problem. Spay or neuter today.

Only 1 in 9 cats and dogs born in the U.S. will find a home. The rest will be destroyed because nobody wants them. Could you choose which animal will live? It's a choice no one should have to make. But your local animal shelter makes this decision every day. You can help stop the killing. Spay or neuter your pet.

1 + 1 is 420,000. How's that? One female cat and one male cat and their offspring results in 420,000 kittens in 7 years. The solution to the problem of pet overpopulation is for you to spay or neuter your cat.

1 + 1 is 4,372. How's that? One female dog and one male dog and their offspring can produce 4,372 puppies in 7 years. The solution to the problem of pet overpopulation is for you to spay or neuter your dog.

Spay and Neuter Where

Most people ask their regular veterinarian to spay or neuter their pets. If you have trouble affording the procedures, try these steps:

1. Call your local animal shelter. It may operate a clinic or know of a local clinic that offers subsidized services. It may also offer vouchers to have your pet spayed or neutered at a lower cost by local cooperating private veterinarians. You can find the name and number of your local shelter in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under "animal shelter," "humane society," or "animal control," or by calling Information.
2. Call SPAY/USA. SPAY/USA is a national spay/neuter referral network that may be able to direct you to subsidized spay/neuter clinics in your area. SPAY/USA can be reached at 1-800-248-SPAY (1-800-248-7729) or you can visit their website.
3. Call your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may be able to work out special financing options for you. Remember that, even if you pay full price for the procedures, spaying or neutering is a one-time cost with a lifetime of benefits. Spaying or neutering your pet not only helps curb pet overpopulation but also reduces your pet's risk of succumbing to many health problems. It remains one of the best bargains in animal health care.
4. Visit the Pets 911 web site. Pets 911 is an online resource for pet guardians and those looking to adopt a pet. Their online database can provide you with information on veterinarians, special clinics, and other spay/neuter resources in your area.

Low Cost Spay And Neutering options for you:

http://www.spayusa.org/ or 1-800-248-SPAY
SPAY/USA is a national referral service for the public regarding low cost spay/neuter programs. By calling their toll-free number, 1-800-248-SPAY, you will receive information about the nearest low-cost program and will be sent a certificate as proof you have gone through the SPAY/USA network. We have over 900 programs and clinics nationwide with about 7,500 top-notch veterinarians in the network as of mid-1998.

Feline Rescue. USA programs that provide low cost or free spay/neuter for pet cats and dogs, as well as strays and ferals are listed by state and in states which have many resources listed by county and by area code. There are also some US nationwide programs. Some programs work only with pets of people with low incomes, while others do not consider income at all but serve only pet cats -- or only feral (untamed) cat. Some other programs serve all kinds of people and cats. If that information was provided to us it is noted below the listing.

Happypets.org. Low cost or free spay/neuter programs in every state but North Dakota, South Dakota or Wyoming

1-800-321-PETS. Call the Friends of Animals spay/neuter hotline, and they will send you a list of participating veterinarians in your area -and an order form for your low cost spay/neuter certificate.

http://www.doghause.com

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