Spaying and Neutering Dogs and Cats Information from STOP the Overpopulation of Pets in Alaska

VetInfo.com answers to spaying and neutering questions regarding dogs.

Myths and Facts about Spaying and Neutering by the Humane Society of the U.S. (good source with lots of answers to common questions)

Spay/Neuter Q&A from the American Humane Association

Technical information from a veterinarian hospital that includes a good list of the advantages of spaying and neutering, including the following:

Prevents signs of estrus ("heat").

Prevents blood stains on the carpet from the "heat" cycle.

Decreases surplus of puppies and kittens.

Decreases the chance of developing breast tumors later in life. (e) Decreases the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life.

Anesthesia is a much less risk at the younger age.

Prevents breast development if done before breeding age.

Females that are not used for breeding should be spayed by that time to prevent disease conditions such as uterine infections and breast tumors later in life.

Decreases the desire to roam the neighborhood.

Decreases aggression - become more loving pets (more affectionate).

Decreases incidence of prostate cancer later in life.

Prevents odor of Tom Cat urine.

Prevents Tom Cat spraying and marking furniture and walls.

Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance; soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubs, frightening children or elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets. As a potential source of rabies and other diseases, they can become a public health hazard. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction of unwanted animals will cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

Spaying does NOT cause a pet to get fat or lazy. This comes from overfeeding and poor exercise.

Personalities are NOT altered by spaying. Personalities do NOT fully develop until two years of age. Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery. Personalities will ONLY get better!

Surgical risk is very slight due to modern anesthesia and techniques, but there is ALWAYS some SMALL risk when an anesthetic is used.

It is much easier on the pet to be spayed before going through a "heat" cycle, due to the smaller size of the reproductive tract.

Best age to spay or neuter pets is 6-8 months of age. (STOP note: many vets and humane societies are now recommending that the surgeries can be performed on MUCH younger pets, and should be to prevent contributing to the pet overpopulation problem!) For example, here is what the AHA has to say: " Both procedures can be performed as early as six weeks of age. American Humane is a strong proponet of 'early' neutering since this guarantees that the animals will not be able to breed and populate within a community."

Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia. Postsurgical pain is minimal. Most pets go home the same day surgery is performed.


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Additional Pages:		INFORMATION ON SPAYING AND NEUTERING STOP the Overpopulation of Pets, Inc. believes that spaying and neutering are the ONLY responsible thing to do when a pet overpopulation crisis is the cause of millions of healthy, adoptable pets being killed in U.S. animal controls and humane societies every year. There is no reason to breed your pets. If you can find homes for puppies and kittens, then PLEASE consider finding homes for a litter at your local animal control, or finding homes for the wonderful older pets who so often die there. Here are some links that provide answers to your questions about spaying and neutering. Many of these links are to veterinarians' sites. If you need additional information, please e-mail STOP. LINKS Why Spaying and Neutering is Good for Your Pet's Health (a veterinarian's web site article) VetInfo.com answers to spaying and neutering questions regarding dogs. Myths and Facts about Spaying and Neutering by the Humane Society of the U.S. (good source with lots of answers to common questions) Spay/Neuter Q&A from the American Humane Association Technical information from a veterinarian hospital that includes a good list of the advantages of spaying and neutering, including the following: All pets should be surgically/neutered for many reasons: 1. FEMALES (Spaying - Ovariohysterectomy) Prevents signs of estrus ("heat"). Prevents blood stains on the carpet from the "heat" cycle. Decreases surplus of puppies and kittens. Decreases the chance of developing breast tumors later in life. (e) Decreases the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life. Anesthesia is a much less risk at the younger age. Prevents breast development if done before breeding age. Females that are not used for breeding should be spayed by that time to prevent disease conditions such as uterine infections and breast tumors later in life. 2. MALES (Neutering) Decreases the desire to roam the neighborhood. Decreases aggression - become more loving pets (more affectionate). Decreases incidence of prostate cancer later in life. Prevents odor of Tom Cat urine. Prevents Tom Cat spraying and marking furniture and walls. 3. Your community will also benefit! Unwanted animals are becoming a very real concern. Stray animals can easily become a public nuisance; soiling parks and streets, ruining shrubs, frightening children or elderly people, creating noise and other disturbances, causing automobile accidents, and sometimes even killing livestock or other pets. As a potential source of rabies and other diseases, they can become a public health hazard. The capture, impoundment, and eventual destruction of unwanted animals will cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. 4. Facts about Spaying / Neutering: Spaying does NOT cause a pet to get fat or lazy. This comes from overfeeding and poor exercise. Personalities are NOT altered by spaying. Personalities do NOT fully develop until two years of age. Aggressiveness and viciousness are not the result of surgery. Personalities will ONLY get better! Surgical risk is very slight due to modern anesthesia and techniques, but there is ALWAYS some SMALL risk when an anesthetic is used. It is much easier on the pet to be spayed before going through a "heat" cycle, due to the smaller size of the reproductive tract. Best age to spay or neuter pets is 6-8 months of age. (STOP note: many vets and humane societies are now recommending that the surgeries can be performed on MUCH younger pets, and should be to prevent contributing to the pet overpopulation problem!) For example, here is what the AHA has to say: " Both procedures can be performed as early as six weeks of age. American Humane is a strong proponet of 'early' neutering since this guarantees that the animals will not be able to breed and populate within a community." Surgery is performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia. Postsurgical pain is minimal. Most pets go home the same day surgery is performed. PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT, HUMANE DECISION AND GET YOUR PETS SPAYED AND NEUTERED! MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE... AND MORE PETS MUST DIE.
		Spay/Neuter Assistance Program — Donate to STOP — Participating Vets — Information for Vets — Links to Alaska Animal Orgs & Animal Controls — Pet Loss — Pet-Related Humor — Thank You's — Lost & Found Pets (Tips) — Articles — Educational Materials — Newsletters — How to Volunteer — Cat Literature — Dog Literature — Allergies to Pets — Alaska Animal Control Statistics — Dog Cookie Recipies — Pet Facts — Pet Health Issues STOP the Overpopulation of Pets, Inc. MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 230776, Anchorage, AK 99523-0076 Message Phone: 907-868-7717 To save $ for precious spay/neuter funds, we do not have a separate phone line. E-mail: info@alaskastop.org Donate now - please help us save lives! Save a stray - spay today! A Prayer for Animals Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for animals who are suffering; for any that are hunted or lost or destroyed or frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death. We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals and so to share the blessings of the merciful. -Albert Schweitzer Site design and writing donated by: Wordsworth Writing, Editing & Document Formatting Services of Palmer, Alaska and