NE CatnDog SpayNeuter Facts

There are many old wives' tales associated with pets, especially about whether or not to let your pet have a litter. Other myths about breeding pets stem from assuming that pets feel and act like humans--you wouldn't want to be neutered, so why do it to your beloved pet? However, the fact is that your pet is nothing like you. So to clear up some of these myths associated with spaying and neutering (surgery to remove the reproductive organs), here are the facts.

MYTH: It's wrong to deprive my pet of the natural right to reproduce and mate.

FACT: Humans already changed the lifestyles of dogs and cats when we domesticated them and made them depend upon us thousands of years ago. The fact is, domesticated pets breed at least twice as often as their wild ancestors, resulting in an huge pet population without enough humans to care for them.

MYTH: Neutering will change my pet's personality.

FACT: You will benefit from any personality changes that might result from neutering because your pet is apt to become calmer, more content, and more dependable. Neutering removes the undeniable urge to roam, right for a mate, and reproduce.

MYTH: Neutering will make my pet fat and lazy.

FACT: Your pet will only become overweight from too much food and to little exercise. It's possible that your pet's metabolism may naturally slow down a bit, but this means that less food may be necessary.

MYTH: My female should have at least one heat or one litter to help calm her down.

FACT: Going into heat or letting your pet give birth will not make her a better pet. Spaying your female will result in a healthier pet because she will never develop uterine infections, ovarian cancer or breast tumors (even more common in dogs than in women).

MYTH: If I neuter my male, he'll become submissive; he won't be one of the boys.

FACT: The only thing your male will lose is his ability to produce a litter, his chance of getting testicular cancer, his interest(hopefully) in marking everything, and his chances of being killed or lost while searching for a female in heat. He will definitely remain as territorial and protective as ever.

At the Northeast Cat and Dog Hospital, we recommend that both males and females be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age for their best health advantage.