Female Dog:

Spaying female dogs prior to their first heat cycle (heat cycles can start as young as 5-6 months of age) will reduce your dog’s chance of breast cancer by 22%. Spaying your dog will also prevent heat cycles from occurring. Heat cycles can occur every 6-8 months. This cycling can be very hard on your dog. Heat cycles can also lead to a life threatening condition called pyometra. Pyometra causes the uterus to fill with bacteria and pus. This is a life threatening emergency situation, but you can prevent it from occurring by spaying your pet. There are many misconceptions about dogs and having litters. Having a litter will not make your female dog a “better” pet. There are no behavioral differences that occur from spaying your dog before she has a litter and, as stated previously, your dog will enjoy a healthier life with a lower chance of cancer by spaying her before she goes into heat. Your dog will not gain weight due to her spay surgery. Obesity can be prevented by feeding your dog a healthy diet and providing an active lifestyle.
 

Male Dog:

Neutering male dogs prior to six months of age can help prevent many undesirable behaviors such as marking, roaming, and inappropriate sexual behavior. Your dog will have an extremely strong desire to mate if left intact. 75% of the dogs that are hit by cars are intact male dogs who likely ran away from their family’s home in search of a mate. Sadly, intact male dogs make up over 80% of the dogs that die after getting hit by a car. There are also many negative health conditions and cancers that are prevented by neutering – including testicular cancer, prostate enlargement, and perianal fistulas. Dogs do not have emotional attachments to their reproductive organs. Your dog will live a happier, healthier life because of your decision to neuter him.

 

Female Cat:

Continual heat cycles are very hard on female cats and may impact their health and well-being. Many cats will cycle in and out of heat (unless they get pregnant) for every one to three weeks, six to ten months out of the year. Cats’ behavior during their heat cycle is extremely undesirable to both you and your cat. They are very loud, agitated, and constantly rub or urine mark on furniture, people, walls, etc. In female cats, mammary cancer is detrimental and may be life-threatening. Ninety percent of breast cancers in cats are malignant – they spread quickly. The best way to prevent breast cancer is spaying before six months of age (90% reduction in risk for developing mammary cancer).
 

Male Cat:

Neutering male cats prior to six months of age can help prevent many undesirable behaviors such as marking, roaming, and fighting. If cats are not neutered when they are young and before these behaviors begin, it may be difficult to modify them later in life. However, it is always recommended that you neuter your male cat even if they are older than six months of age, in order to prevent health risks such as cancer and FIV contracted from fighting with other intact males. Intact male cat urine is also extremely strong-smelling and putrid. Neutering a male cat will stop the strong urine smell from being present.