Why Is It Important to Spay or Neuter Your Pet?

As exciting as bringing a new pet home can be, the process can be overwhelming. There are interviews to complete and papers to fill out. On top of this, you need to prepare your home for your new kitten or puppy. So, when it comes time to spay and neuter a pet, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to do one more thing, especially when it can seem painful to your pet. This is why many people hesitate to spay or neuter their pets.

But unpleasant as it seems, there’s more than one reason to go through this important step. If you have found yourself asking, “Why is it important to spay or neuter your pet?” we have the answers.

Avoid Unwanted Pet Litters

People are often hesitant to spay or neuter their animals because it can seem cruel to remove any opportunity for your pet to have kittens or puppies later.

However, litters can range from one to twelve, and most households can’t handle that many pets. Despite our best intentions, many of our pets’ kittens or puppies will end up in already overcrowded shelters, or worse. They could wind up on the streets. Ultimately, it’s often more humane to spay and neuter.

Protect Against Health Problems

Another argument some pet owners may bring up is the idea of putting their pets through unneeded discomfort. But one of the reasons spaying and neutering your pet is so important is that the operation, though small, can prevent worse health issues later.

For female pets, spaying can prevent cancerous breast tumors and uterine infections. For males, it prevents prostate issues and testicular cancer. In fact, one study found that the lifespan of spayed and neutered animals was longer than those that didn’t undergo the operations.

Manage Behaviors

Animals that people don’t spay or neuter tend to exhibit several behaviors that, although natural, can be challenging to live with as a pet owner. Here are some examples:

• “Marking territory” around the house
• Attempting to escape to find a mate
• Yowling in the middle of the night when in heat
• Displaying aggressive behaviors

Spaying and neutering usually help reduce or eliminate these behaviors, especially when done earlier. However, your pet’s personality won’t change significantly.

It’s the Law

Here in Los Angeles County—as in many areas across the country—the law states that pet owners must have all dogs and cats spayed or neutered at four months of age. Exceptions to this law include:

• Animals used for law enforcement
  
• Competition animals
  
• Service animals
  
• Animals that can’t undergo spaying or neutering without bodily harm
  
• Animals that people with breeding permits own

If your pet doesn’t fall under these categories, you can face a fine of up to 500 dollars.

Fortunately, the operation is relatively simple for both you and your pet. For your animals, recovery time is around 10 to 14 days. You just need to make an appointment with a spay and neuter clinic. We’ll ensure your animal receives the best care at the Animal Medical Center of the Antelope Valley. So, contact us today.