Good Reasons to Spay

When you welcome a new female puppy or kitten into your home, you must consider whether or not to spay them. Spaying is a veterinary procedure to remove your pet's ovaries from the uterus so they can no longer reproduce. Under normal circumstances, minimal hospitalization is required. The decision to spay a pet offers benefits that last a lifetime.

  1. Prevent Disease

    • Prevent uterine infections and breast cancer by spaying your pet.

      Spay your young pup or kitten to prevent uterine infections and breast cancer. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states breast cancer is deadly for dogs 50 percent of the time and 90 percent of the time for cats (2008). The ASPCA suggests spaying your pet before her first heat in order to reap these benefits.

    Fight Overpopulation

    • Prevent overpopulation.

      Prevent the overpopulation of dogs and cats in the community. Litters of puppies and kittens are not only expensive to care for, but they are a lot of work, too. Families that are not prepared for the responsibility often end up giving up the litters to local shelters or just letting them go free. As a result, millions of dogs and cats of all types end up being euthanized because there aren't enough homes to take them in. Preventing an unplanned pregnancy in your pet can stop this cycle.

    Stop Heat Cycles

    • Spayed pets don't go into heat.

      Skip the hassle of dealing with heat cycles. Female cats typically got into heat every three weeks for roughly four to five days at a time. They will cry and urinate much more frequently, all in an effort to attract a mate. Dogs' heat cycles are less frequent but last for weeks at a time. They may experience a change in personality, bleeding and increased urination.

    Spaying Is Cost Effective

    • Look for programs to help cover spaying costs.

      Check with your state or county to see if a low-cost spay program is available. Many agencies offer assistance to make surgery affordable and accessible for pet owners. Getting your pet spayed when it is young is much less expensive than caring for the litter it may produce otherwise.