Spay and Neuter Information

Four good reasons why you should spay or neuter your pet.

1. Spaying or neutering increases your pet's chances of a longer, healthier life. Spaying a female before her first heat cycle greatly reduces her chances of having breast cancer and eliminates any threats of uterine cancer or infection, which are common in unaltered females. Neutering a male prevents testicular tumors and may prevent prostate problems. It also decreases the chance of any peri-anal tumors or hernias, which are common in older unaltered males. Neutered cats are less likely to roam if neutered and therefore less likely to get abscesses which are caused by cat bites or become infected with diseases.                                        

2. An altered dog or cat makes a better pet. No family needs to deal with an unwanted pregnancy. Spaying prevents unwanted babies. Males neutered early on are usually less aggressive towards males and less distracted by females in heat, which they can smell miles away! Males that are altered are less likely to mark inside or outside your home. 

3. Spaying results in a cleaner female dog and home. Female dogs pass usually pass body fluid for 10 days, twice a year, as part of their heat cycle. Constant care will    need to be taken to keep carpets stain free while your female is in heat.       

4. You are helping to alleviate the dog and cat overpopulation problem. Every year millions of cats and dogs are euthanized at shelters and clinics all over the country due to the shortage of homes. Pet behavioral problems are the number one reason pets are given up. Many of the homeless animals though are results of unplanned breeding by free-roaming and unaltered animals. The more pets are altered the less cats and dogs have to be killed!

                                                                                                         

Effects of neutering /spaying on behavior

-Effect on sexual behavior: Sexual behavior usually disappears after altering you cat or dog. Animals that have experienced sexual behavior prior to sterilization however may persist in their sexual behavior because it becomes a learned behavior. Mounting for example is not a sexual behavior for altered pets, it's a sign of dominance within the pack.

-Effect on aggression: It's been shown that aggressive acts appear more often in unaltered males and females then in sterilized pets. Fighting is very likely within a group of unaltered males but should cease after being they're neutered. If your pet is not a pure-bred then you should sterilize it to avoid aggression related to sexual hormones.                                                                                                    

-Effect on general temperament: Contrary to popular believe spaying or neutering your pet does not effect your pets temperament or intelligence. You do not deprive your pet of any essential experiences by being responsible and altering your pet. Females are highly unlikely to improve in temperament after having a litter and males do not benefit from sexual activity either.

-Effect on inappropriate elimination: Altering your pet early may help in ending improper elimination in your home, which is done to mark it's territory. 

If you have questions regarding getting your pet spayed or neutered, please contact us at 520-885-3594 or email: pantano@pantanoac.com.