Health Benefits Of Spaying And Neutering Your Pet
If you are a dog or cat owner, people around you may seem to have no end of opinions on how to own an animal responsibly. While this may get old, some outside opinions may actually be beneficial to heed. One public opinion that many animal owners get is that they should spay or neuter their animal. This may seem barbaric to some, but before you stop reading you should know that there are actually some health benefits for animals that can be traced back to this operation.
To spay and neuter animals is basically to remove their reproductive organs. In female animals the term is 'spaying', which is where their ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes are removed. Male animals are 'neutered' when their testicles are removed. As previously mentioned, this surgery may actually have some health benefits for the animals that receive it. These benefits include but are not limited to:
Decreased Risk of Cancer
You may be surprised to find out that cancer in animals is quite common. Cats specifically are especially likely to get cancer, with a supposed 50% getting malignant tumors if they live over 10 years. The most common types of cancer in animals are similar to cancer in humans: breast, ovarian, testicular, uterine, and prostate to name a few. Reading through this list, you are may realize why spayed and neutered animals have a decreased risk of cancer: for the most part, they don't have those organs! The early removal of reproductive organs can actually keep your pet healthier in the long run. Spayed and neutered animals have a longer life expectancy.
Decreased Aggression
It is amazing what a healthy dose of testosterone can do to a male dog. They can become erratic and aggressive, which could eventually lead to biting someone. However, neutering a dog decreases the amount of testosterone pulsing through their veins and can greatly calm the animal in the long run. Neutered dogs tend to be substantially less aggressive.
Less Likely to Roam
One of the main reasons that animals are likely to run away or roam in the streets is to find a reproductive partner. Roaming animals can lead to fights or car accidents and is quite dangerous. Spaying or neutering pets removes this instinctual need for reproduction, and allows them to feel perfectly content at home.
Do your animal a favor: Spay or neuter them. Then enjoy a long and happy lifetime with them. Talk to a veterinarian for more help.