By the time you head home tonight from work, cook dinner for the family, and feed your cat or dog, around 1,000 kittens and puppies will have been born. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that eight million cats and dogs enter shelters each year. Half of the animals are adopted, while the rest must be euthanized. Spaying and neutering can stop this sad situation, as well as help your pet live a healthier, longer life.
Dr. Debra Sauberli, a clinical assistant professor and a board-certified theriogenologist (animal reproductive specialist) at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says "more than anything, I think spaying and neutering decreases the risk of animals getting injured from seeking out a mate." Each year, many animals are hit by cars or injured in fights when they are driven to scour the neighborhood for a partner.
Even if intact animals are not allowed to leave the yard, the health benefits of spaying and neutering are hard to beat. Females spayed at a young age have a decreased risk of breast cancer and uterine infections, i.e., a uterus and ovaries can't become infected or cancerous if you don't have them. Plus, you won't have to worry about cleaning up a mess around the house when your pet comes into heat. Neutered males will be less aggressive, have less of a drive to roam, and be less likely to have unwanted cat behaviors, such as spraying.
For more information about spaying or neutering your pet, contact your local veterinarian.
-University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
