It's World Spay and Neuter awareness month and on the last Tuesday of every February, we look to bring awareness to the importance of spaying and neutering your pet.
“Each year, more than 6 million dogs and cats wind up in animal shelters in the U.S. and approximately half of them must be euthanized because there aren’t enough good homes for them.” - PETA
Spaying and neutering your pet (especially as a first-time pet owner) can feel scary, but knowing the benefits can help you make an informed decision.
What is spaying and neutering?
In female pets (spaying), a veterinary professional will remove both ovaries and usually the uterus.
In male pets (castration), the vet will remove both testicles. This takes away the source of the male hormone - ‘testosterone’.
What are some of the benefits of spaying or neutering your pet?
Ana, a Veterinary Care Specialist at The Pet Vet, explains that there are many benefits to female neutering such as “prevention of unwanted pregnancies and uterine and ovarian cancers”.
In addition to this, Ana says it could also prevent:
- Pyometra (a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus)
- Progesterone induced Diabetes
- Mammary Gland Tumour and Phantom Pregnancy
- Mastitis
As well as unwanted pregnancies, there are also benefits to spaying and neutering your male pet.
We also spoke with Emma from The Pet Vet (a registered veterinary nurse) who shared with us a list of potential benefits of male castration.
These benefits include:
- Help with scent marking
- Help to avoid testicular and prostate cancer
- Behaviour issues
When can you spay or neuter your pet?
There isn’t enough evidence to suggest the right time to have your pet neutered.
Usually, a vet will wait until 6 months of age. However, this can entirely depend on the weight, age and breed of your pet.
Considering spaying and neutering your dog or cat is part of being a responsible pet owner and can also help prevent an overpopulation of strays.
In turn, this will also relieve pressure from overflowing rescue centres and unnecessary euthanasia.
There are many resources in both the UK and the US that can help.
In the UK, the RSPCA could offer low-cost vet care to those eligible.
In the US, PETA has resources to help find local spay & neuter services.
If you’re still unsure, we always recommend speaking to a veterinary care professional to discuss the right care for your pet.
Please note that spaying and neutering is not always a solution to behavioral issues and it’s important to seek appropriate consultation beforehand.