NEUTERING AND SPAYING
There is no question that
overpopulation of Cats and Dogs in our society has become a huge problem. Thousands of Cats and Dogs end up in pounds
and shelters each year. Some are adopted
and some are saved by rescue groups and fostered until homes can be found. But the sad fact remains that there are many
who don’t escape “Death Row” and are euthanized simply because homes cannot be
found and rescue groups are at full capacity running to the brim.
Compulsory spaying or neutering
of all Cats and Dogs, would significantly reduce the number of animals ending
up in pounds and shelters and being euthanized each year.
NEUTERING
LAW IN SOME COUNTRIES
Different countries have
different laws on sterilizing pet animals.
Norway : It is against the law to neuter a dog or any
pet, as they believe it’s cruel.
Germany : It
is mandatory to spay/neuter.
Canada :
Focuses on dog and cat licensing.
USA : In many cities and towns, owners can be fined
or their pets are denied
access to dog parks if their dogs are not neutered. America also has
a dubious record of euthanizing 3 to 4 million shelter animals
every year.
India : Has the highest volume of spaying/neutering of
stray dogs, many major cities
have agreed to handle dog control without
killing them.
Italy :
Controls stray population through
trap-neuter-return programs.
UK : RSPCA announced plans to end euthanasia on
re-homable animals by 2017.
But a success depends on major changes in
the public behavior.
An organization “No KILL”,
operating in many countries is striving to reach every healthy and treatable shelter
dogs and cats to see they’re given a loving home.
WHAT
IS SPAYING AND NEUTERING
NEUTER: A gender term which is neither masculine nor female.
NEUTER - IN VETERINARY TERM: To
castrate or spay.
SPAY: In
female - spaying involves abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus.
NEUTER (CASTRATE):
In males - a relatively simple procedure that removes
NEUTER (CASTRATE):
In males - a relatively simple procedure that removes
the testicles. This takes away the reproductive ability
of the dog and also a lot of hormonal maleness.
Whether you've recently adopted a
pet or you’re considering it, one of the most important health decisions you’ll
make is to spay or neuter your cat or dog, which offers life-long health and
other benefits.
There are many myths and wrong
information doing the rounds that neutering is bad for your pet!
Check these top 10 reasons to
spay or neuter your pet and check the myths that follow.
BENEFITS
OF NEUTERING OR SPAYING YOUR PET
1. Your female pet will live a
longer and healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infection and breast
cancer, which is fatal in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats.
Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these
diseases.
2. Neutering provides major health
benefits for your male. Besides preventing
unwanted litters, neutering your male companion prevents testicular cancer, if
done before six months of age.
3. Your spayed female won’t go into
heat. While cycles can vary, female
felines usually go into heat four to five days every three weeks during
breeding seasons. In an effort to advertise
for mates, they’ll yowl and urinate more frequently, sometimes all over the
house.
4 Your male dog won’t want to roam
away from home. An intact male will do
just about anything to escape from the house, in search of mate. And once he’s free to roam, he risks injury
in traffic and fights with other males.
5 Your neutered male will be much
better behaved. Neutered cats and dogs
focus their attention on their human families.
On the other hand, unneutered dogs and cats may mark their territory by
spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Many aggression problems can be avoided by
early neutering.
6. Spaying or neutering will not
make your pet fat. Don’t use that old
excuse! Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the
extra weight, not neutering. Your pet
will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and
monitor food intake
7. It is highly cost-effective. The cost of your pets spay/neuter surgery is
a lot less than the cost of having and caring for a litter. It also beats the cost of treatment when your
unneutered Tom escapes and gets into fights with the neighborhood stray.
8 Spaying and neutering your pet is
good for the community. Stray animals
pose a real problem in many parts of the country. They can prey on wildlife, cause road
accidents, damage local fauna, frighten children. Spaying and neutering reduces the number of
animals on street.
9. Your pet doesn’t need to have a
litter for your children to learn about the miracle of birth. There are tons of books and videos available
to teach your children about birth in a more responsible way.
10. Spaying and neutering helps fight
pet over-population. Every year,
millions of cats and dogs of all ages and breeds are euthanized or suffer as
strays. These high numbers are the result of unplanned litters that could have
prevented by spaying or neutering.
RECOVERY
PROCESS POST-OPERATION:
Although your dog may experience
some discomfort after surgery, your vet can take various measures to control
pain.
Here are tips for a safe and
comfortable recovery:
Provide your dog with a quiet
place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
Prevent your dog from running and
jumping for the first few days following surgery.
Discourage your dog from licking
the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with
treats, talking or patting or anything to take his mind away or by using an Elezabethan Collar.
Avoid bathing your dog for at
least ten days after surgery.
Check the incision site daily to
confirm proper healing.
If you notice any redness,
swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please
contact your vet. Also call your vet if your dog is lethargic, has a decreased
appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea following surgery.
MYTHS AND FACTS ON STERILIZATION:
Myth: It's better
to allow your female to have one litter before she is spayed:
Fact: Not true! There is no information to substantiate this
claim. In fact, the best time to spay your female dog or cat is before her
first heat. Here are the facts:
·
Spaying your female at a young age prevents uterine infections, such as
pyometra, which can be fatal. Infections of the uterus are a major cause of
illness in unspayed pets.
·
Spaying reduces the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer. This is a very
common cancer in unspayed females, and the most common cancer to spread to the
lungs.
·
Spaying can be done while your pet is pregnant. While this means aborting
the offspring, it is more humane than taking them to the pound later. Also, for
every litter you bring into the world, a litter at the pound dies.
·
Spaying eliminates unwanted males from harassing your pet.
Myth: Preventing
pets from having litters is unnatural:
Fact: We have already interfered with nature by domesticating
dogs and cats. We domesticated the dog 15,000 years ago and the cat 8,000 years
ago. In doing so, we helped create this problem. Now it's our responsibility to
solve it. It's also unnatural to be killing so many of them in our pounds and
shelters each year.
Myth: I want my
children to see the miracle of birth:
Fact: Frequently animals go off by themselves to give birth,
usually in the middle of the night. Teach your children instead about
humaneness and kindness to all living creatures by educating them about the
importance of spaying and neutering.
Myth become fat and lazy
after being spayed or neutered:
Fact: Fat animals are usually over fed and under exercised. Its
true there can be a tendency for a pet to put on some weight after the
operation. But what is not true is that the operation causes the condition. If
your pet shows signs of putting on a little weight, reduce the calories and
increase the walks or play sessions. That will keep the waistline trim.
Myth: A pet's
behavior changes dramatically after surgery:
Fact: The only changes in behavior you'll see are positive
ones! Here are the facts:
·
Male cats tend to reduce their territorial spraying depending upon the
age at which they are neutered. If neutered young enough, before they develop
the habit of spraying, they may never develop the behavior.
·
Neutered male cats and dogs fight less resulting in fewer battle scars,
contagious diseases, and abscesses. They also wander less since they aren't
interested in pursuing the female in heat. Therefore, their chances of being
hit by a car or getting lost are greatly reduced.
·
In fact, spayed and neutered animals live longer, happier, healthier
lives.
Myth: We don't need
to neuter males, because they aren't the ones having the litters:
Fact: This is most prevalent myth yet the most ridiculous.
Immaculate Conception doesn't explain canine and feline pregnancies. It takes
two to tango.
Myth: Neutering
male cats causes urethral obstructions:
Fact: Exhaustive studies have indicated that obstructions are not
affected by whether or not a cat is neutered. In fact, neutering diminishes the
likelihood of prostate and testicular cancers and perennial hernias later in
life. To prevent urethral obstructions, make sure your pet is eating the best
diet possible.
Myth: I can find
"good" homes for all the puppies or kittens that my female gives
birth to:
Fact: Finding truly good, lasting homes for kittens and
puppies is very difficult. Many pets are taken to the pound or otherwise
discarded once they start to grow. And, who is to ensure that your pet's
offspring won't mature, breed, and contribute to the existing problem? There is
no way you can guarantee these animals will be spayed or neutered. Also, for
every animal you bring into the world, one at the pound will die. Do yourself a
favor and avoid the agonizing job of trying to find homes for your pet's
litter. If you know of some good homes, send your friends to the pound. There
are many animals waiting there. And their time is running out.
Myth: My dog won't
be a good watchdog if I neuter him:
Fact: If he was a good watchdog before the surgery, he will be
a good watchdog after the surgery.
Myth: The operation
costs too much money:
Fact: There is A LOT of financial help available. Call your
local humane agency about the cost- effective ways you can get your pets spayed
and neutered. You'll be surprised how inexpensive it can be!
If your pet isn't spayed
or neutered, make an appointment today for surgery. The more altered animals
there are, the fewer homeless ones there will be.
