| spay/neuter |
| The Facts Of Life Important Reasons To Spay Or Neuter Your Pet Spaying your female pet (ovariohysterectomy): Removal of the ovaries and uterus. Ideal age is 4 to 6 months. If spayed before her first heat cycle, your pet has a less than 1 percent chance of developing breast cancer * If spayed after one heat cycle, your pet has an 8 percent chance of developing breast cancer * If spayed after two heat cycles, the risk increases to 26 percent * After two years, no protective benefit exists * Pets with diabetes or epilepsy should be spayed to prevent hormonal changes that may interfere with medication. * Eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. * Eliminates unwanted pregnancies. Neutering your male pet (castration): Removal of the testicles and spermatic cord. Ideal age is 4 to 6 months Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common tumor in male dogs * Greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis * Reduces the risk of perianal tumors * Reduces roaming and fighting * Eliminates or reduces spraying or marking in the males neutered before 6 months of age or before the onset of these behaviors * Eliminates the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases * Eliminates unwanted litters. Unfortunate Reality: More than 4 million pets are euthanized in the U.S. animal shelters each year simply because they have no home. Many are puppies and kittens less than 6 months old. Help stop this needless loss of life. Spay or neuter your pets. |
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| spay/neuter |
| Common Myths Spaying or Neutering your pet does not: *cause laziness or hyperactivity *reduces its instinct to protect your family and home *cause immature behaviors *postpone or delay normal behavioral maturity *alter its personality in any manner |