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*Veterinarians serving Clayton, Garner, and surrounding areas since 1986* |
Besides preventing unwanted puppies and kittens, are there other reasons to have pets spayed or neutered? Are there any disadvantages or adverse effects? |
Preventing unwanted puppies and kittens is reason enough to have pets spayed or neutered, but there are some other compelling reasons related to your pet's medical health. Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term describing the surgery commonly referred to as a spay. This major abdominal surgery involves removing the bulk of the reproductive tract including the uterus and ovaries. This prevents development of certain diseases of the reproductive tract, such as cancer of the uterus and ovaries. Spaying prevents the development of a life-threatening infection of the reproductive tract called pyometra. Also, animals which are spayed early in life are much less likely to develop mammary cancer than intact animals. Unspayed dogs have a greater than one in four (26%) chance of developing mammary cancer. If an animal is spayed prior to its first heat, that percentage drops to less than one (0.5%) percent! This is perhaps the most compelling reason to have female animals spayed early. If mammary cancer is diagnosed in an intact animal, it is sometimes beneficial to spay the animal because estrogen produced by the ovary may enhance growth and spread of mammary tumors. Ovariohysterectomy is sometimes indicated in diabetic animals to decrease hormonal fluctuations which may alter effectiveness of insulin therapy. Orchiectomy is the medical term describing castration. Castration involves removal of the testes, and thus eliminates the possibility of testicular tumors later in life. Castration at an early age also decreases the likelihood of aggression toward other male dogs and decreases the urge to roam. Male dogs and cats are usually neutered at or before sexual maturity to avoid potential behavioral problems such as marking and spraying. Neutering also removes the source of hormones which result in enlargement of the prostate and some types of tumors. The medical disadvantages of having your pet spayed or neutered are few. Spayed and neutered pets are more likely to have difficulty maintaining a normal weight if fed a free-choice diet, but this can be easily controlled by feeding a calorie-restricted diet. Occasionally, older females which were spayed at an early age will show signs of urinary incontinence, which is usually responsive to medications. The medical benefits of spaying and neutering strongly outweigh the drawbacks. However, it is important to weigh the benefits and risks of any medical or surgical procedure, be it for your pet or yourself. If you have any further questions about spaying and neutering, contact your local veterinarian. |