Health Benefits of Spaying and Neutering

By having your pet spayed or neutered, you will be helping to prevent the birth of unwanted animals. But did you know…spayed or neutered cats and dogs live longer, healthier lives on average than those who aren’t?

Female cats and dogs who are spayed not only avoid the health risks of pregnancy and giving birth, but they avoid serious and potentially life-threatening uterine infections as well. Spayed female animals also demonstrate a marked reduction in the risk of mammary cancer, which can be quite severe and even fatal in our pets.

Neutering male cats and dogs eliminates their risks of testicular cancer, and also reduces their chances of developing enlarged prostates later in life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia can be uncomfortable for the pet, cause difficulty when he is defecating or urinating, and may even contribute to prostatic cysts and abscesses.

Spaying or neutering will remove the stress of the heat cycle from female pets and lower the reactivity of males to females in heat, leaving you a calmer, more content pet. And while spaying or neutering doesn’t change who your pet is, it can reduce or even eliminate undesirable behaviors such as roaming, fighting, or urine marking.

There’s a popular misconception that spayed or neutered pets become overweight, but pets gain weight for the same reasons people do: overeating and not getting enough exercise. It’s true that a neutered pet might not need as much energy, but a pet who is kept active and eats a healthy diet in moderation will stay in shape.

Spaying or neutering your pet helps keep homeless animals out of the shelters and streets, and it helps keep them healthy and happy as well. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your veterinarian with any questions, and remember the SF SPCA offers spay/neuter services through our facility at 201 Alabama Street. You can reach the spay/neuter scheduling office through the online booking portal (follow the tabs for veterinary care and spay/neuter service) or by calling (415) 554-3084.

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