Love Your Pet, Spay Your Pet
Myths Of Procedure Debunked http://www.local6.com/family/2019024/detail.html By Dr. Karen Halligan March 6, 2003 |
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LOS ANGELES -- Every year, tens of thousands of female dogs and cats die from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, uterine infections and difficult pregnancies. I can't tell you how many times devastated pet owners have said to me,
"Nobody ever told me the health risks of not spaying my pet." Most
people think that veterinarians recommend spaying and neutering solely
to help the pet overpopulation crisis. While this is certainly a major
reason to spay, there is numerous health benefits to doing it as well.
Spaying your cat or dog before they have their first heat cycle, which is usually at 6 to 7 months of age, will decrease their chances of developing breast cancer to almost zero. It also reduces the risk of your pet dying of uterine or ovarian cancer. Spaying eliminates the chance of your pet developing a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus called pyometra. It also eliminates the mood swings and undesirable behavior that female cats and dogs display during their heat cycle, such as messy "spotting," pacing, crying and trying to escape. Spaying greatly increases the life span of your pet, and owners of spayed pets have fewer vet bills. The procedure also helps decrease the number of animals that are euthanized at the shelters and pounds. The following are some myths and facts about spaying pets: Myth No. 1 - My kids need to experience the miracle of birth.
Myth No. 2 - My pet is a purebred and her personality is so
good that I want her to have puppies.
Myth No. 3 - I can find homes for all of the puppies
or kittens.
Myth No. 4 - Spaying will change their personality.
Myth No. 5 - My pet will get fat and lazy if I spay
her.
Myth No. 6 - It's better to allow your female pet to have
at least one litter before spaying.
Myth No. 7 - Preventing pets from having litters is unnatural,
and therefore it should not be done.
Being a responsible pet owner means giving them lots of love, attention, food, water, exercise -- and spaying them to ensure they live a long and healthy life! Content provided by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Los Angeles. For more information, visit http://spcala.com/.
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