Spay Day Saves Lives and Promotes Health

by A. Grano on February 18th, 2011 at 7:00 am

February 22, 2011 will mark the 17^th annual Spay Day, initiated by The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International to raise awareness for spaying (female) and neutering (male). Besides helping to save lives by controlling the population of feral and surplus companion animals, spaying and neutering can also provide health benefits for your pets.

According to SPAY/USA, for cats and dogs, spaying and neutering:

• Improves your pet’s chances for longevity and health, as a dog’s life span increases 1 to 3 years on average, and a cat’s life span increases 3 to 5 years
• Decreases an animal’s desire to roam, thus reducing the likelihood of being injured in a fight or auto accident, contracting diseases, or getting lost
• Lowers the risk of certain tumors and cancers, including mammary, prostate, uterine, ovarian and testicular
• Helps reduce aggressive or inappropriate behavior, including biting and overactive libido

It is generally considered safe for puppies and kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. Your veterinarian can provide more details as well as pre and post-operative instructions for you to follow. Recovery will require some extra attention, love and tender care, but your pet should only experience mild to moderate discomfort. Overall, most would agree the benefits outweigh the risks.

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