Spaying or neutering your kitten or puppy can significantly reduce or eliminate several health and behavioral problems which can occur in older animals. Neutering a male kitten or puppy can reduce aggressiveness and territorial behavior which can be seen with the onset of puberty. It can also decrease the urge to spray or mark territory, which can affect even previously housebroken animals. Neutering your kitten will also decrease the odor of urine.

In addition to behavioral problems, neutering can eliminate or reduce the risk of several diseases. Testicular tumors and prostatic enlargement which are frequent problems in older, intact males are virtually eliminated by neutering. Neutering your dog also significantly reduces the risk of perianal gland tumors which are tumors of small skin glands located on the back, tail and around the rectum of your dog.

Spaying female dogs and cats also has health benefits. Mammary gland tumors are the most common tumor of female dogs and third most common tumor in cats. Fortunately the incidence of this type of cancer is greatly reduced by spaying. The incidence of mammary cancer in female dogs is decreased to .05% if they are spayed before the first heat cycle, and the incidence is also significantly decreased in female cats. However, if a female is spayed after 2 years of age, there are no protective benefits against mammary cancer.

In addition to the decreased cancer risk, spaying virtually eliminates the occurrence of pyometra, which is a potentially life threatening uterine infection. This can occur to dogs at any age.

Spaying or neutering your animal in addition to all the above listed benefits also prevents unwanted pregnancies. Thousands of homeless puppies and kittens are euthanized every year. Regardless of how well your dog is watched, the potential exists for them to become pregnant or to father more unneeded and unwanted offspring.

It is also important to realize that, although the decision to spay or neuter may be traumatic for you, your animal does not suffer emotionally, as a human would at the loss of their sexuality. Both surgeries are fairly uncomplicated procedures which are performed on a daily basis. Please ask us about these procedures.