It goes without saying, that getting your pet spayed or neutered is an essential step towards keeping them healthy and extending their life. Often referred to as fixing or altering, spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of a female pet and neutering is the surgical removal of a male pet’s testicles. Furthermore, these medical procedures not only help control pet overpopulation, but they may also prevent medical as well as behavioral problems from developing, allowing your pet to lead a longer and healthier life. Besides, you can find a plethora of spay and neuter clinics offering affordable spay and neuter services. However, while spaying/neutering offers many benefits, it falls victim to many misconceptions.
Furthermore, there are a lot of myths that are associated with spaying and neutering. Listed below are five spay and neuter myths debunked.
Myth 1. Spay and neuter procedures are dangerous- Contrary to popular belief, both spay and neuter procedures are safe and routine. Furthermore, these procedures usually performed early in the day so the pets can return home by late afternoon. During the surgery, pets are fully anesthetized, so they feel no pain.
Myth 2. My pet is too old to be spayed or neutered- Even though it is optimal for pets to be spayed and neutered when they are young, your pet can undergo the procedure any time after 8 weeks of age if they are above the weight of 2 pounds. Not to mention, even pets who have given birth before, will benefit from being spayed or neutered.
Myth 3. Spaying/neutering is unhealthy for pets- Numerous studies have shown that pets that have been spayed or neutered are less likely to come down with a number of common health problems. Furthermore, neutering your male pet prevents testicular cancer and some prostate problems. Furthermore, spaying helps in preventing uterine infections as well as breast tumors, which are cancerous or malignant in about 90% of cats and 50% of dogs.
Myth 4. Pets gain weight after getting spayed or neutered- One of the common myths about spaying/neutering is that it causes weight gain. Furthermore, spaying and neutering have little to no impact on the weight of your pet and they will not gain weight after the procedure.
Myth 5. Spaying or neutering will change the pet’s personality- While the operation itself will probably cause your furry friend to spend a few days in recovery, meaning they won’t be nearly as hyper or active, it should have very little long term effects on the pet’s personality. But some unwanted behaviors may be reduced, such as roaming, fighting, mounting or urine spraying. So they are less likely to go missing or sustain injuries.
While these were some of the common myths about spaying and neutering, there are many others, such as spay or neuter surgery is expensive, indoor pets don’t need to be spayed or neutered among many others. Besides, you can find numerous spay and neuter clinics offering affordable spay and neuter services. Besides, not only will spaying or neutering your pets eliminate unwanted puppies or kittens in your own home, but will also help your pet live a longer and healthier life.
