713 North Elizabeth ~ Kokomo, IN ~ 46901 

(765) 452-6224

 

SPAYING and NEUTERING FACTS vs. FICTION

Not all people agree on the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats.  There are those that believe that spaying and neutering is cruel, painful, and unfair to their pet.  There are others who agree that it is a simple procedure which will not only lower their pet's risk of getting certain cancers, but will also help reduce the addition of more pets to the pet overpopulation.  There are some that feel that allowing their pet to produce the first litter will make their pet a better pet or will provide their children with the opportunity to "experience birth".  While others feel that spaying and neutering makes their pet less likely to wander off in search of the opposite sex, become overly aggressive, or exhibit dominating behaviors toward their owner.  The beliefs and attitudes of whether you should or shouldn't spay or neuter your pet are varied.  Yet, if you are the owner of a dog or cat, you will be responsible for making that decision. 

Below are several of the misconceptions about spaying and neutering.  Factual information was provided by Jefferson Road Animal Hospital.

 

Spaying  and neutering will cause pets to get  fat and lazy.

FICTION.  

The FACT is....Body weight is determined by the intake of calories balanced by the amount of exercise.  Spaying and neutering has no effect on weight gain

 

It is better to let them have a litter before getting them spayed.   

FICTION.  

The FACT is....There are no advantages, medical or behavioral, to allowing a female to have puppies.  Actually, most of the long term benefits (such as the prevention of breast cancer) is only obtained if spayed before the first heat cycle

 

Pets that are not spayed or neutered are more protective.  

FICTION.  

The FACT is....While territorial and inter-dog aggression is reduced by neutering, a dog's tendency to protect it's owner is unaffected.

 

Only females need to be spayed since they are the ones that have the babies.  

FICTION.  

The FACT is...It obviously takes both male and female to produce a litter of pups and kittens which adds to the pet overpopulation.  There are also many benefits to having males neutered such as reducing it's chance of testicular cancer, reducing aggression, and lessening its tendency to roam and wander in search of females

 

Only mutts should be spayed or neutered.

FICTION.  

The FACT is....Maintaining quality in purebred dogs and cats dictates the breeding of only the best physical specimens of that breed.  Sterilization of the rest prevents careless breeding in addition to the health benefits that can be obtained.

 

Pets that are spayed or neutered are less likely to get certain types of cancers.

FACT.  

It is true....Because the reproductive organs are removed during spaying and neutering, a pet's chance of contracting certain cancers (such as testicular cancer and ovarian cancer) is greatly reduced.  In fact, in female dogs, if they are spayed before their first heat cycle, you can essentially eliminate their chances of getting breast cancer and pyometra which can result in death if untreated.

 

Spaying and neutering is too painful and too expensive. 

FICTION.  

The FACT is....These procedures when performed on young healthy dogs and cats results in little or no discomfort.  As to cost, spaying and neutering surgeries are some of the best bargains going.  Spaying and neutering surgery is generally well below the cost of other types of surgeries.   In fact, the cost of having your pet spayed or neutered could actually cost less than if you allowed your pet to have a litter.  Consider how much food it takes to feed several puppies and kittens until you can find them a home.  Think about the cost if you plan to provide each one in the litter with their first shots.   And if your female should have a problem during delivery and need emergency hospital care, think about the veterinarian bill. Spaying and neutering generally costs less than what most people spend on one year's worth of food for their pet.  Spaying and neutering is also a once in a lifetime cost thereby eliminating all of the above expenses associated with having multiple litters of puppies or kittens.

 

Spayed females are less likely to attract stray males to my property.

FACT.  

It is true....When a female is in "heat", or estrus,  they secrete pheromones- substances which can be detected by males up to a mile away!  Spayed females do not have a heat cycle.  Therefore... no heat - no pheromones!

 

Anesthesia and surgery is too dangerous.

FICTION.  

The FACT is....Newer, modern anesthetics and procedures have made spaying and neutering very safe.  Although there is no type of surgery that is 100% risk free, one needs to compare the benefits of spaying and neutering to the possible health risks of not doing it.

 

Older pets can not be spayed or neutered.

FICTION.  

The FACT is....With newer, modern anesthetics age is not really a determining  factor in surgery.  Your veterinarian will more than likely want to do some blood work to rule out any type of kidney, liver, or other organ diseases before giving an anesthetic.  Assuming all things are normal, there are no universal risks.

 

 

JUST WHAT IS  PYOMETRA?

Normal Uterus       Uterus with pyometra

PYOMETRA The word 'pyometra' comes from the latin "pyo" meaning pus and "metra" meaning uterus.  Pyometra is an abscessed, pus-filled infected uterus.  Toxins and bacteria leak across the uterine walls and into the bloodstream causing life-threatening toxic effects.  Without treatment, death is inevitable. WHAT CAUSES PYOMETRA? With each heat cycle in females, the uterine lining engorges in preparation for pregnancy.  In some cases, engorgement of some tissues becomes a lush breeding ground for infection, bacteria and ultimately pus-filled. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS? Usually, the female has finished a heat cycle in the previous 1-2 months.  She has a poor appetite and may be vomiting or drinking excessive amounts of water.  In the case of "open pyometra", the cervix is open and there is a smelly discharge.  However, in "closed pyometra" where the cervix is closed, there is no discharge.  These patients tend to get sicker since the toxic bacteria and discharge is retained internally and consequently making it more difficult to diagnose. CAN IT BE TREATED? If pyometra is diagnosed, the normal treatment is to surgically remove the uterus and ovaries.  This is a very challenging surgery if the patient is toxic.  It is crucial that the infected uterine contents not spill and that no excess hemorrhage occurs.  Antibiotics may be administered before, during, and after the surgery.  In addition, patients are often put on pain relievers after the operation.  Typically, a few days of hospitalization are needed after the surgery has been performed. It is critical that the ovaries be completely removed to prevent any future hormonal influence which will result in continued heat cycles and therefore run the risk of pyometra recuring. This surgery amounts to the same end result of a routine spay surgery.  However, because this particular surgery is very challenging and due to the toxic, life threatening situation - there is nothing routine about a "pyometra spay surgery."  For these reasons, the 'pyometra spay' typically costs five to ten times as much as a routine spay surgery on healthy females. IS SURGERY THE ONLY TREATMENT? In the late 1980's an alternative method of treatment became available for patients with "open pyometra".  In this treatment, special hormones are given as injections which cause the uterus to expel the pus.  A week or two of hospitalization is necessary.  This treatment is not an alternative for "closed pyometra".   The risks with this type of treatment is that pyometra can recur.  If that happens and the disease is treated again, there is the possibility of uterine rupture.  This would cause peritonitis and escalates the life-threatening nature of the disease. I LOVE MY PET!  CAN I PREVENT IT FROM GETTING PYOMETRA? YES!  Having your female pet spayed is the way to completely prevent her from getting pyometra.  Spaying not only eliminates her chances of developing this life-threatening disease but also reduces the risk of her contracting several other deadly cancers which are related to the reproductive organs.  Making the choice to have your female spayed is a healthy and responsible decision.   The cost of a normal spay surgery is far below the cost of treating pyometra or a pyometra spay surgery.   Although there are no types of surgeries that are completely 100% risk free, regular spay surgeries are safe and contain very limited risk as compared with the risk involved to a pet that develops pyometra.   AND NOW A NOTE ABOUT NEUTERING MALES Male dogs and cats are not risk-free of also contracting their own deadly diseases.  Neutering males will greatly reduce their chances of developing life threatening conditions and also reduce unwanted hormone-driven behaviors such as wandering off, marking territory,  and aggressiveness.  (according to statistics, un-neutered male dogs account for the majority of dog bites and attacks)   Please, for the health and safety of your pet,  seriously consider having your male pet neutered. DON'T WORRY... HE'LL NEVER MISS THEM!

 

 

 

 

  Have a question or would like to have more information about the benefits of spaying and neutering?

   Please send us an e-mail or call 452-6224

 

This site is created and maintained by the Kokomo Humane Society.

We gratefully acknowledge the donation of  Web Hosting Service by