Spaying and Neutering: The Ultimate Act of Love

Studies show that the majority of pet owners in the United States choose to have their pets spayed or neutered, and at The Whole Pet Vet we couldn’t be happier about this statistic. Spaying or neutering your pet has many health benefits, and goes a long way toward reducing the homeless pet population.

Aside from cases of professional, humane breeding, having a pet spayed or neutered just makes sense. We’re excited to share with you the reasons why!

Why Spaying and Neutering Is so Important

There’s no doubt that the reasons for spaying and neutering our pets are compelling. Consider the following:

• Helping your community—Pet shelters are overcrowded, and each year approximately 2.7 million healthy, adoptable pets are euthanized. Making sure your pet will not reproduce is a humane and responsible decision, and has a direct, positive impact on the plight of homeless pets in your community.
• A healthier pet—Spayed or neutered pets have significantly less risk of developing cancers or infections of the uterus, ovaries, mammary glands, and prostate, and the risk of testicular cancer is virtually eliminated. Having a pet spayed or neutered has also been shown to influence longevity; altered pets live an average of 1-3 years longer than unaltered pets.
• Decreasing undesirable behavior—Unaltered pets often have the tendency to roam away from home in search of a mate. Spaying and neutering may reduce this tendency, along with other annoying behaviors, such as spraying or marking territory, aggression, and mounting.

When the Time Is Right

Many veterinarians and animal shelters routinely spay and neuter pets long before they reach sexual maturity, often as young as 8 weeks of age. At The Whole Pet Vet, we believe that the health benefits of waiting to sterilize a pet generally outweigh the risk of the pet reproducing. We suggest waiting until he or she has reached 6 months of age, and up to one year for neutering.

The individuality of each of our patients is important to us, and we believe in making recommendations based on each pet’s unique factors. Adjustments to the timing of your pet’s spay or neuter surgery can be made based on breed, size, and other factors. We will work with you to tailor your pet’s surgery (as well as other health and wellness needs) to maximize the benefits and reduce the risks.

We’re Here for You

If you haven’t spayed or neutered your pet, or have any questions or concerns about the procedure or risks involved, please give us a call. We encourage you to take this important step for your pet’s health, your community, and the lives of homeless pets everywhere.