{"id":141,"date":"2016-02-22T06:00:29","date_gmt":"2016-02-22T06:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/?p=141"},"modified":"2016-09-04T19:50:07","modified_gmt":"2016-09-04T19:50:07","slug":"spay-neuter-your-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happypetsinfo.com\/blog\/spay-neuter-your-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Spay \/ Neuter Your Pet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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The decision to\u00a0spay or neuter your pet is an important one for all pet owners. It can be the single best decision you make for your pet\u2019s long-term health and welfare.\u00a0 Getting your pet spayed or neutered can reduce the number of homeless pets killed, improve your pet\u2019s health, reduce unruly behavior, and save on the cost of pet care.<\/p>\n

Spaying a female (removal of the ovaries and uterus) or neutering a male (removal of testicles) are procedures done under general anesthesia, and both surgeries usually require minimal hospitalization.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0\u00a0Myths Debunked<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Getting your pets spayed\/neutered will not change their fundamental personality, as in their protective instinct.<\/p>\n

Having a male dog or cat neutered will not make him feel like \u201cless of a male\u201d.\u00a0 Neutering will not change a pet\u2019s basic personality, and he doesn\u2019t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.<\/p>\n

Pets do not get fat and lazy after being spayed or neutered.\u00a0 The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their owners feed them too much and don’t give them enough exercise.<\/p>\n

It is not expensive to have your pet spayed or neutered.\u00a0 Many low-cost options exist for spay\/neuter services.\u00a0 Many states have at least one spay\/neuter clinic within driving distance that offer reasonable rates for the procedure. The cost of your pet\u2019s spay or neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. Please see the widget at the end of this article to locate a low-cost spay\/neuter program in your area.<\/p>\n

**One of the many advantages of adopting a shelter or rescue dog or cat is that the spay or neuter procedures are already done and the cost of those procedures is included in your adoption fee. Please visit your\u00a0local shelter or rescue\u00a0organization to check out all of the wonderful animals that are waiting for their forever homes!<\/p>\n

Medical Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spaying female pets helps prevent uterine infections and there is a reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing pyrometra (a fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer, and other cancers of the reproductive system. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.<\/p>\n

Neutering a male pet prevents testicular cancer and it reduces the risk of enlarged prostate, prostate cysts and prostate infections. Enlarged prostate occurs in more than 80 percent of unneutered male dogs over the age of five. .<\/p>\n

Behavioral Benefits<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Spayed female pets will not go into heat and will not attract unneutered males.\u00a0 Neutered males will not mark territory as much and are not as likely to roam away from home. \u00a0Other behavioral problems that may be lessened are aggression, barking, mounting, and other dominance-related behavior.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Right Thing To Do<\/strong><\/h5>\n

By spaying or neutering your pet, you are helping to control the pet homelessness crisis which results in millions\u00a0 of healthy cats and dogs being euthanized in shelters annually, simply because there aren\u2019t enough homes for all of them.\u00a0 Spaying and neutering are the only permanent, 100 percent effective methods of birth control for pets.<\/p>\n

When To Spay Or Neuter<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Puppies and kittens as young as eight weeks old can be spayed or neutered as long as they are healthy. Medical evidence indicates that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.<\/p>\n

Many animal shelters perform sterilization procedures on puppies and kittens prior to adoption<\/p>\n

It is possible to spay or neuter an adult pet, but there may be a longer recovery time or more of a chance of post-operative complications.<\/p>\n

Before And After The Procedure<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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Spay And Neuter For Healthy Pets<\/p><\/div>\n

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Your veterinary clinic will give you pre and post-op procedure instructions that you should follow carefully.\u00a0 The general rules for successful recoveries are to keep your pet from running and jumping for a period of time and preventing him or her from licking the incision site.\u00a0 Daily checking of the incision site daily to confirm proper healing is very important.<\/p>\n

With common sense and your loving care, your pet will recover quickly from the spay or neuter procedure.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Spaying And Neutering Are Good For Rabbits, Too!<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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Spay\/Neuter Rabbits, Too!<\/p><\/div>\n

Rabbits reproduce faster than dogs or cats and frequently end up in shelters, where they are often euthanized. Neutering male rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior such as lunging, mounting, spraying, and boxing. And just as with dogs and cats, spayed female rabbits are less likely to get ovarian, mammary, and uterine cancers, which can be prevalent in mature females.<\/p>\n

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