February is Spay and Neuter Awareness month, and in honor of this month, we thought it was the perfect time to address some of the concerns pet parents might have when it comes to spaying and neutering their animal companions.
Puppy and kitten adoption has skyrocketed within the last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve seen our fair share of “pandemic” puppies and kittens who are now reaching the ideal age to be spayed and neutered. There are countless myths, misconceptions, and old wives’ tales surrounding animals and veterinary medicine, and many of these “tales” center around the notion of spaying and neutering. The most common myths we hear are addressed below!
Myth #1 - “My pet will gain weight once they are fixed.”
The Facts: Pets will gain more weight from overfeeding and lack of exercise than being fixed. One of the ways we humans show love is through food, and we practice that with our pets too. It can be difficult to have a set schedule that involves physical activity for ourselves, let alone our pets. Providing your pet with plenty of exercise as well as sticking with a feeding schedule as directed by your veterinarian will help your pet stay fit and trim after their surgery!
Myth #2 - “My male dog/cat will feel less of a man after he is neutered.”
The Facts: There is no scientific evidence that supports this idea and it’s simply an individual’s perception of masculinity. Your pet will not have any emotional trauma or suffer from an identity crisis after losing their “family jewels,” nor will their personality be drastically altered because of it. Certain behaviors such as marking and mounting may diminish because they are often influenced by hormones, but their personalities will remain the same.
Myth #3 - “My pet is too old for surgery.”
The Facts: In veterinary medicine, age is often just a number, not an ailment! There are risks with any surgery, big or small, and we make sure all the risks are weighed appropriately with the pet’s physical condition before proceeding with any procedure. Pre-surgical blood work is performed to make sure liver and kidneys are healthy to filter out anesthesia and that there aren’t any major underlying health conditions that may bring the risks of anesthesia up. While we do recommend spaying and neutering when the pets are young as recovery times are shorter, we can spay and neuter at any age as long as the pet is healthy overall.
Myth #4 - “It’s unhealthy to surgically alter my pet that way.”
The Facts: This couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, spaying and neutering your pet decreases the risk of many life-threatening conditions that may develop later in life. For males, the risk of testicular and prostate issues diminishes. For females, the risk of mammary tumors and pyometra, an infection in the uterus that is deadly if not treated, goes down significantly if spayed. It also decreases the tendency to roam in search of a mate for both males and females, and roaming can lead to many injuries including being hit by cars and altercations with wildlife.
Myth #5 - “It’s too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.”
The Facts: While medical costs in both human and veterinary medicine continue to rise, we know that elective surgical procedures such as a spay or neuter can be costly to many households. However, the cost of the spay or neuter procedure is far less than any life-threatening complications that may come up during labor and delivery, that may result in a C-section. There are also the costs associated with raising a litter (vaccinations, deworming, and health issues). The cost of the spay and neuter surgery is also significantly less than treatment for conditions developed due to staying intact.
We have found that spaying and neutering pets can be a tough subject with some folks. As professionals who try to keep the animal’s best interests in mind, we weigh the pros and cons. In most situations, we do recommend spaying and neutering in an effort to keep animal populations low as there are currently more pets in need of homes than homes available. Overpopulation of cats and dogs is an issue we face in the U.S. and, based on our experiences abroad, it’s a major issue worldwide too.
If you are having concerns about spaying and neutering your pet, reach out to your friendly neighborhood veterinary clinic and they would be happy to guide you!