Do you have a dog or cat? Are you thinking of getting one? Do you feel like spaying or neutering may just be an expensive and unnecessary surgery you’re considering skipping?

Many pet owners and soon-to-be pet owners in North Hollywood struggle with the decision to spay or neuter or to leave their pets intact. If you’re trying to make this decision yourself, you’re not alone. However, it’s important to understand that spay and neuter are extremely crucial for a variety of reasons, and that you’re doing the best thing for your pet when you decide to spay or neuter.

In this article, we’ll give you a quick list of some of the most important reasons to spay or neuter. This way, you’ll be better informed and ready to make the right decision for your animals.

Neutering reduces cancer risks in male pets

When your male pet is left intact, he has a significant risk of developing testicular cancer at some point in his life. However, when he is neutered, the testicles are removed and he can therefore no long develop this type of cancer at all.

Additionally, when male pets are neutered, they enjoy a reduced risk of prostate cancer as well. Although the risk isn’t completely eliminated, it’s much less likely. Neutering your pet is a great way to improve his overall health and give him a much better chance at a long, healthy, happy life free from cancer.

 

Neutering improves territorial behavior in male pets

Male pets become territorial at an early age. They may defend their territory by growling, biting, or fighting, and they very commonly mark their territory by urinating all around it. This may happen both indoors and outdoors, and it occurs in both dogs and cats. Intact males are more likely to urinate in the house than neutered males.

When your pet is neutered, you reduce his chances of urinating where he shouldn’t and being defensive of his territory. You may still see both of these behaviors in your pet, however, so understand that you might need to address them in other ways as well.

 

Neutering improves aggressive behavior in male pets

Some male pets are aggressive because they are left intact. In these instances, it is possible to reduce or remove the aggressive behavior by having the animal neutered. Neutered male animals are much less likely to become aggressive or lash out at other animals or humans in most cases.

Keep in mind, however, that this is not always true. Some animals have behavioral and aggression issues unrelated to neutering. Your pet may calm down a lot after he’s neutered, but you should be prepared to seek other ways of managing his aggression if he doesn’t.

 

Neutering keeps male pets at home

Intact male pets are prone to wandering. When they want to mate, they will do anything to find their way out of the house or yard and go roaming. It can be difficult to keep them inside, and this may be very dangerous for them as well as for other pets in the area.

When you have your male pet neutered, he will no longer want to roam. He will be content to stay in his yard or house and enjoy his life in other ways. He will not run the risk of getting into fights over female animals and will be much healthier and safer.

 

Spaying reduces cancer risks in female pets

When female pets are spayed, they almost always receive an ovariohysterectomy. This means their entire reproductive system is removed, including the uterus and the ovaries. Therefore, they can no longer develop cancer of the uterus or cancer of the ovaries at all.

Some vets only remove the ovaries. When this happens, your female pet can no longer develop ovarian cancer. She also enjoys a reduced risk of uterine cancer. Additionally, spayed female pets have a reduced risk of breast cancer and other problems related to breast tissue, such as mastitis.

 

Spaying makes it impossible for your pet to get pregnant

When your pet is spayed, she can’t become pregnant. She will not have puppies or kittens, and you won’t have to worry about taking her to the veterinarian and racking up vet bills to care for her during and after pregnancy. You also won’t have to worry about providing vaccinations and vet care to her babies or finding homes for them afterward, either.

Most importantly, you and your pet will not be contributing to the pet population problem. Since she won’t be able to have babies, your household will not be responsible for any unplanned or unwanted cats or dogs that might end up on the streets or in shelters.

 

Spaying improves behavior in female pets

Female pets will not go into heat anymore when they have been spayed. Some female pets may have one more heat after their spay, depending on timing, but should not experience heat anymore after this. Their behavior should improve in most instances, and they are likely to become calmer and friendlier after being spayed.

Keep in mind that, just like male pets, spaying isn’t the perfect solution to behavior problems in female pets either. It may help, but it’s not always going to solve every problem.

 

Spaying prevents intact strays from coming into your yard

When your female pet is spayed, she won’t attract male strays who are still intact anymore. You won’t have stray dogs or cats finding their way into your yard and potentially hurting your pets because they won’t have any reasons to do so.

 

Now that you’ve learned more about spaying and neutering, we hope you’ll choose this procedure for all of your pets. Spay and neuter are extremely important for animals in North Hollywood. As a pet owner, it’s important to try to make the most responsible decisions for your animals as well as the other animals in your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Keep this in mind as you move forward.