Encouraging Low-Cost Spay/Neuter for Syracuse & Onondaga County
The Benefits of Spay/Neuter
Learn How Spay/Neuter Helps Your Pet, You & the Community
What happens during a spay or neuter procedure that makes it so good for cats & dogs?
We have a QUESTION...
I have the ANSWER...
During a spay or neuter, the vet removes our reproductive organs that produce the hormones that make us act in ways our owners don't like. We behave better when those organs are gone! PLUS, we can't get deadly diseases in parts we no longer have...so we live longer & healthier lives!
FIXING YOUR PET
The answer makes sense! Its called "fixing" because many behaviors, like aggression in males and howling in females, STOP ("are fixed") after spay/neuter surgery. Plus, diseases like uterine or testicular cancer can never happen in "parts" that your pet no longer has - so that problem is fixed too!
Why is spay/neuter surgery often called "fixing" your pet?
**A male cat or dog sterilization procedure is called "neuter" surgery (the male gets "neutered"). During his neuter surgery, his male reproductive organs are removed - this means he will never get a female pregnant. And without those reproductive organs, his body will no longer make the hormones that can cause many unwanted behaviors in male cats and dogs.
** A female cat or dog sterilization procedure is called "spay" surgery (the female gets "spayed"). During her spay surgery, her female reproductive organs are removed - this means she will never get pregnant. And once the reproductive organs are removed, her body will no longer make the hormones that can cause many unwanted behaviors in female cats and dogs.
They explain, "Spaying a female kitten when she is 3 to 6 months old—when her reproductive organs are nearing maturity but before her breast tissue develops—will virtually eliminate her risk for mammary cancer later in life." and “A female cat should be spayed prior to her first heat." Read Cornell's full articles here and here.
The reproductive hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs cause them to try to get out of their home, yards or get off-leash so that they can mate & get pregnant. Cats that normally stay inside all or most of the time may try to sneak out and female cats & dogs may both run off and wander (roam) much farther than they normally do. Your female cat or dog may then get disoriented and not be able to find its way back home or, worse, be hit by a car.
.
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including…restlessness.” The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article) “Spaying eliminates the…nervous pacing of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle causes her to have hormonal changes that] …cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain. Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
For female CATS & DOGS:“[Spaying]…can minimize the urge to roam…especially when females are ‘in heat’.” The Humane Society (see article)
Mammary tumors in cats & dogs are common & are often cancerous. To give your female cat or dog the best protection from mammary cancer, veterinary & animal welfare groups say you should have her spayed as early as possible. See below for what some of these groups say.
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Known as breast cancer in humans and mammary cancer in animals, these cancers are common... unspayed dogs can have as high as a 26 percent chance [1 out of 4] of developing mammary cancer and the disease represents the third most common cancer in cats." Cornell Baker Institute for Animal Health (see article)
.
For female CATS
The Cornell University Feline Health Center says:
"Removing a female cat’s reproductive organs … greatly reduc[es] the risk of mammary cancer." (see article)
.
"Spaying a female kitten when she is 3 to 6 months old—when her reproductive organs are nearing maturity but before her breast tissue develops—will virtually eliminate her risk for mammary cancer later in life. A female should be spayed prior to her first heat (emphasis added)." (see article)
.
For female DOGS
Cesar Millan's website, Ceasar's Way, says:
"Spaying...lowers the chances of mammary tumors later in life by up to 86 percent." (see article)
"Breast cancer is particularly dangerous, resulting in death for about 50% of canine cases. The most effective way to provide this protection is to ensure your dog is spayed before her first heat (emphasis added)." (see article)
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Spaying helps prevent...breast [mammary] tumors, which are...cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from [mammary cancer]." The ASPCA (see article)
.
"If spayed before their first heat cycle, the risk of mammary cancer in female dogs and cats is virtually eliminated. If allowed to go through even just one heat cycle, the risk of developing mammary cancer later in life greatly increases (emphasis added)." The American Humane (see article)
The reproductive hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs cause them to try to get out of their home, yards or get off-leash so that they can mate & get pregnant. Cats that normally stay inside all or most of the time may try to sneak out and female cats & dogs may both run off and wander (roam) much farther than they normally do. Your female cat or dog may then get disoriented and not be able to find its way back home or, worse, be hit by a car.
.
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including…restlessness.” The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article) “Spaying eliminates the…nervous pacing of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle causes her to have hormonal changes that] …cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain. Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
For female CATS & DOGS:“[Spaying]…can minimize the urge to roam…especially when females are ‘in heat’.” The Humane Society (see article)
Cornell explains further, "Since spaying entails the removal of a female’s uterus…the procedure rules out the possibility of pyometra." (Read their article)
Some of the diseases that unpsayed female cats & dogs can get in their reproductive organs, such as cancer and pyometra, are very serious & potentially deadly. Spaying eliminates the possibility of these diseases since your cat or dog's reproductive organs are permanently removed during the spay surgery. You can read below what some veterinary and animal welfare organizations have said about this very important benefit!
.
For female CATS:
[Spaying] at an early age is likely to spare a cat from several lethal health problems later on in its life...
...since spaying entails the removal of a female’s uterus...the procedure rules out the possibility of pyometra, a potentially fatal collection of pus in that reproductive organ.
Other conditions that are prevented by removal of the female reproductive organs include:
* vaginal hyperplasia, a gross swelling of the vaginal wall that occurs during
the normal heat cycle
* uterine prolapse, the bulging of the uterus into the vagina
* a variety of infections, cysts, and cancers of the uters and ovaries."
The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article)
.
For female DOGS:
Cesar Millan's website, Ceasar's Way, says:
"[Spaying] reduces the risk of...a number of health problems that are difficult and expensive to treat. In females, it eliminates the possibility of developing:
* uterine cancer
* ovarian cancer
* false pregnancies and uterine infections that can be fatal." (see article)
Ceasar's website also says that in addition to eliminating disease in a female dog's reproductive organs, that spaying also, "...reduces...urinary tract infections in females." (see article)
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing:
* pyometra,
* uterine cancer,
* other cancers of the reproductive system [such as in the ovaries]".
The HSUS (see article)
There's no question that a cat or dog peeing where they shouldn't in the home is a very troubling behavior - and one that causes some people to give up their pets. Inappropriate urination can have a number of causes in cats & dogs. One of these causes is that the hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs drive them "urine mark" or "advertise with their scent" by peeing in places they normally wouldn't. Read what the experts say about this below!
.
For female CATS:“In an effort to advertise for mates, unspayed cats will…urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! AND “To avoid the start of urine spraying … [cats should be spayed before]…five months of age.” The ASPCA (see article) “For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an [un-spayed] cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours…spayed by 4 months of age before there's even a problem. [Spaying] solves 90 percent of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as… urinating more often (and in the house). [This] will also attract the attention of every unneutered male within smelling distance.” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
“Although it is most often associated with [un-neutered] male dogs, un-spayed female dogs [may urine-mark], too. Spaying…your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
BONUS! Clean-up Benefit! “Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle.” The American Humane (see article)
There's no question that a cat or dog peeing where they shouldn't in the home is a very troubling behavior - and one that causes some people to give up their pets. Inappropriate urination can have a number of causes in cats & dogs. One of these causes is that the hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs drive them "urine mark" or "advertise with their scent" by peeing in places they normally wouldn't. Read what the experts say about this below!
.
For female CATS:“In an effort to advertise for mates, unspayed cats will…urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! AND “To avoid the start of urine spraying … [cats should be spayed before]…five months of age.” The ASPCA (see article) “For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an [un-spayed] cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours…spayed by 4 months of age before there's even a problem. [Spaying] solves 90 percent of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as… urinating more often (and in the house). [This] will also attract the attention of every unneutered male within smelling distance.” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
“Although it is most often associated with [un-neutered] male dogs, un-spayed female dogs [may urine-mark], too. Spaying…your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
BONUS! Clean-up Benefit! “Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle.” The American Humane (see article)
As Cornell says, "Other conditions that are prevented by removal of the female reproductive organs include:
*vaginal hyperplasia, a gross swelling of the vaginal wall that occurs during the normal heat cycle
*uterine prolapse, the bulging of the uterus into the vagina;
*and a variety of infections, cysts, and cancers of the uterus and ovaries." (See the article)
The ASPCA says, "Your female cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent: [Click the down arrow to read more]
*uterine infections and
*breast tumors, which are…cancerous in about… 90 percent of cats.
*Spaying your cat before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases."
See the ASPCA's article here.
Though it sounds different if it’s a cat or dog doing the howling, they both can make howling (also called “yowling”) noises. In addition to howling, female cats & dogs may also bark, meow, cry or whine much more during their heat cycle (also called “in heat”). When female cats & dogs are in heat, their reproductive hormones drive them to howl or make other vocal sounds..
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including howling …” The Cornell Feline Health Center(see article) “In an effort to advertise for mates, [unspayed female cats will] yowl…more frequently…” The ASPCA (see article) “Spaying eliminates the constant crying...of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as howling…” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
Though it sounds different if it’s a cat or dog doing the howling, they both can make howling (also called “yowling”) noises. In addition to howling, female cats & dogs may also bark, meow, cry or whine much more during their heat cycle (also called “in heat”). When female cats & dogs are in heat, their reproductive hormones drive them to howl or make other vocal sounds..
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including howling …” The Cornell Feline Health Center(see article) “In an effort to advertise for mates, [unspayed female cats will] yowl…more frequently…” The ASPCA (see article) “Spaying eliminates the constant crying...of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as howling…” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
National animal welfare groups want you to know that spaying female cats & dogs helps them lead longer & healthier lives. That’s because spaying helps prevent, or even eliminate, the chances of your spayed female pet getting a number of diseases & conditions, plus the younger she is when spayed, the better her protection is from these health dangers.
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from [various] diseases." The ASPCA, a national animal welfare group (see article)
.
"The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for pet owners. It can be the single best decision you make for their long-term welfare. .. Medical evidence indicates that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier." The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a national animal welfare group (see article)
.
For female CATS:
"[Spaying] at an early age is likely to spare a cat from several lethal health problems later on in its life." The Cornell Feline Health Center in Ithaca, NY (see article)
.
For female DOGS:
"Your female pup will live longer - Spaying can help to prevent your female dog from having many serious health problems..." Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
Medical evidence indicates that female cats spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.
Unspayed female…cats have a far greater chance of developing pyometra [a very serious uterine infection that can be deadly], uterine cancer, and other cancers of the reproductive system.
For female DOGS:
Cesar Milan's website, "Cesar's Way", says:
“Aggression in female dogs during their heat is a common complaint.
Drastic hormone changes can adversely affect a female dog’s mood and canpredispose to acts of aggression even if she has never been aggressive before.
These hormone changes cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain during ovulation.
Un-spayed female dogs will sometimes compete for a male dog’s attention by fighting.
Do not leave children unsupervised with a dog in heat…” [emphasis added]
"...spaying [your female dog] will be helpful and might even eliminate the aggression entirely especially considering she has never been aggressive before.
Keep in mind [your un-spayed female dog] may learn undesirable behaviors and continue to exhibit aggression after her heat ends if she learns that this behavior can get her what she wants.
So…spay [female dogs] as soon as possible [emphasis added] because while heat related aggression is usually temporary it can lead to long term problems with aggression." (see article)
.
The Humane Society says:
“Studies also show that most dogs bites involve dogs who are [not fixed and these dogs are more likely to engage in]…mounting, and other dominance-related behaviors.” (see article)
The many physical health benefits of spaying your female cat or dog can mean you save a lot of money! This is yet another benefit of spaying cats and dogs that animal health & welfare organizations stress for pet owners. Here's what some of those organizations have to say:
.
For both CATS & DOGS:
"Spaying/neutering your pets is...highly cost-effective. The cost of your [female cat or dog's spay surgery] is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter." The ASPCA (see article)
.
"...the cost of caring for a litter of puppies is much more [than the cost of spay surgery]" and so is handling the medical and behavior issues that you can prevent by having the procedure done...[Spaying your female cat or dog] saves you money." Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
The HSUS says that the possible costs, especially over the lifetime of a female cat or dog that isn't spayed, can be much higher than the cost of that pet's spay surgery. Their website explains:
"Caring for a pet with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run into the thousands of dollars—five to ten times as much as a routine spay surgery."
In addition, the HSUS points out that, "Serious fighting is more common between" unspayed female cats or between unspayed female dogs. Veterinary costs to treat injuries from such fights can be very high for owners of these unspayed cats and dogs."
The HSUS also notes that many municipalities, "...have spay/neuter laws that require...people with unaltered pets to pay higher license renewal fees." See article.
.
BONUS!! CLEAN-UP BENEFIT!! "Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle."The American Humane (see article)
For female DOGS:
Cesar Milan's website, "Cesar's Way", says:
“Aggression in female dogs during their heat is a common complaint.
Drastic hormone changes can adversely affect a female dog’s mood and can
predispose to acts of aggression even if she has never been aggressive before.
These hormone changes cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain during ovulation.
Un-spayed female dogs will sometimes compete for a male dog’s attention by fighting.
Do not leave children unsupervised with a dog in heat…” [emphasis added]
"...spaying [your female dog] will be helpful and might even eliminate the aggression entirely especially considering she has never been aggressive before.
Keep in mind [your un-spayed female dog] may learn undesirable behaviors and continue to exhibit aggression after her heat ends if she learns that this behavior can get her what she wants.
So…spay [female dogs] as soon as possible [emphasis added] because while heat related aggression is usually temporary it can lead to long term problems with aggression." (see article)
.
The Humane Society says:
“Studies also show that most dogs bites involve dogs who are [not fixed and these dogs are more likely to engage in]…mounting, and other dominance-related behaviors.” (see article)
The ASPCA says, "Your female cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent: [Click the down arrow to read more]
*uterine infections and
*breast tumors, which are…cancerous in about… 90 percent of cats.
*Spaying your cat before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases."
See the ASPCA's article here.
They explain, "Spaying a female kitten when she is 3 to 6 months old—when her reproductive organs are nearing maturity but before her breast tissue develops—will virtually eliminate her risk for mammary cancer later in life." and “A female cat should be spayed prior to her first heat." Read Cornell's full articles here and here.
The reproductive hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs cause them to try to get out of their home, yards or get off-leash so that they can mate & get pregnant. Cats that normally stay inside all or most of the time may try to sneak out and female cats & dogs may both run off and wander (roam) much farther than they normally do. Your female cat or dog may then get disoriented and not be able to find its way back home or, worse, be hit by a car.
.
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including…restlessness.” The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article) “Spaying eliminates the…nervous pacing of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle causes her to have hormonal changes that] …cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain. Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
For female CATS & DOGS:“[Spaying]…can minimize the urge to roam…especially when females are ‘in heat’.” The Humane Society (see article)
Mammary tumors in cats & dogs are common & are often cancerous. To give your female cat or dog the best protection from mammary cancer, veterinary & animal welfare groups say you should have her spayed as early as possible. See below for what some of these groups say.
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Known as breast cancer in humans and mammary cancer in animals, these cancers are common... unspayed dogs can have as high as a 26 percent chance [1 out of 4] of developing mammary cancer and the disease represents the third most common cancer in cats." Cornell Baker Institute for Animal Health (see article)
.
For female CATS
The Cornell University Feline Health Center says:
"Removing a female cat’s reproductive organs … greatly reduc[es] the risk of mammary cancer." (see article)
.
"Spaying a female kitten when she is 3 to 6 months old—when her reproductive organs are nearing maturity but before her breast tissue develops—will virtually eliminate her risk for mammary cancer later in life. A female should be spayed prior to her first heat (emphasis added)." (see article)
.
For female DOGS
Cesar Millan's website, Ceasar's Way, says:
"Spaying...lowers the chances of mammary tumors later in life by up to 86 percent." (see article)
"Breast cancer is particularly dangerous, resulting in death for about 50% of canine cases. The most effective way to provide this protection is to ensure your dog is spayed before her first heat (emphasis added)." (see article)
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Spaying helps prevent...breast [mammary] tumors, which are...cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from [mammary cancer]." The ASPCA (see article)
.
"If spayed before their first heat cycle, the risk of mammary cancer in female dogs and cats is virtually eliminated. If allowed to go through even just one heat cycle, the risk of developing mammary cancer later in life greatly increases (emphasis added)." The American Humane (see article)
The reproductive hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs cause them to try to get out of their home, yards or get off-leash so that they can mate & get pregnant. Cats that normally stay inside all or most of the time may try to sneak out and female cats & dogs may both run off and wander (roam) much farther than they normally do. Your female cat or dog may then get disoriented and not be able to find its way back home or, worse, be hit by a car.
.
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including…restlessness.” The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article) “Spaying eliminates the…nervous pacing of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle causes her to have hormonal changes that] …cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain. Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
For female CATS & DOGS:“[Spaying]…can minimize the urge to roam…especially when females are ‘in heat’.” The Humane Society (see article)
Cornell explains further, "Since spaying entails the removal of a female’s uterus…the procedure rules out the possibility of pyometra." (Read their article)
Some of the diseases that unpsayed female cats & dogs can get in their reproductive organs, such as cancer and pyometra, are very serious & potentially deadly. Spaying eliminates the possibility of these diseases since your cat or dog's reproductive organs are permanently removed during the spay surgery. You can read below what some veterinary and animal welfare organizations have said about this very important benefit!
.
For female CATS:
[Spaying] at an early age is likely to spare a cat from several lethal health problems later on in its life...
...since spaying entails the removal of a female’s uterus...the procedure rules out the possibility of pyometra, a potentially fatal collection of pus in that reproductive organ.
Other conditions that are prevented by removal of the female reproductive organs include:
* vaginal hyperplasia, a gross swelling of the vaginal wall that occurs during
the normal heat cycle
* uterine prolapse, the bulging of the uterus into the vagina
* a variety of infections, cysts, and cancers of the uters and ovaries."
The Cornell Feline Health Center (see article)
.
For female DOGS:
Cesar Millan's website, Ceasar's Way, says:
"[Spaying] reduces the risk of...a number of health problems that are difficult and expensive to treat. In females, it eliminates the possibility of developing:
* uterine cancer
* ovarian cancer
* false pregnancies and uterine infections that can be fatal." (see article)
Ceasar's website also says that in addition to eliminating disease in a female dog's reproductive organs, that spaying also, "...reduces...urinary tract infections in females." (see article)
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing:
* pyometra,
* uterine cancer,
* other cancers of the reproductive system [such as in the ovaries]".
The HSUS (see article)
There's no question that a cat or dog peeing where they shouldn't in the home is a very troubling behavior - and one that causes some people to give up their pets. Inappropriate urination can have a number of causes in cats & dogs. One of these causes is that the hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs drive them "urine mark" or "advertise with their scent" by peeing in places they normally wouldn't. Read what the experts say about this below!
.
For female CATS:“In an effort to advertise for mates, unspayed cats will…urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! AND “To avoid the start of urine spraying … [cats should be spayed before]…five months of age.” The ASPCA (see article) “For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an [un-spayed] cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours…spayed by 4 months of age before there's even a problem. [Spaying] solves 90 percent of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as… urinating more often (and in the house). [This] will also attract the attention of every unneutered male within smelling distance.” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
“Although it is most often associated with [un-neutered] male dogs, un-spayed female dogs [may urine-mark], too. Spaying…your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
BONUS! Clean-up Benefit! “Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle.” The American Humane (see article)
There's no question that a cat or dog peeing where they shouldn't in the home is a very troubling behavior - and one that causes some people to give up their pets. Inappropriate urination can have a number of causes in cats & dogs. One of these causes is that the hormones in un-spayed female cats & dogs drive them "urine mark" or "advertise with their scent" by peeing in places they normally wouldn't. Read what the experts say about this below!
.
For female CATS:“In an effort to advertise for mates, unspayed cats will…urinate more frequently—sometimes all over the house! AND “To avoid the start of urine spraying … [cats should be spayed before]…five months of age.” The ASPCA (see article) “For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an [un-spayed] cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours…spayed by 4 months of age before there's even a problem. [Spaying] solves 90 percent of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as… urinating more often (and in the house). [This] will also attract the attention of every unneutered male within smelling distance.” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
.
“Although it is most often associated with [un-neutered] male dogs, un-spayed female dogs [may urine-mark], too. Spaying…your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.” The Humane Society (see article)
.
BONUS! Clean-up Benefit! “Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle.” The American Humane (see article)
As Cornell says, "Other conditions that are prevented by removal of the female reproductive organs include:
*vaginal hyperplasia, a gross swelling of the vaginal wall that occurs during the normal heat cycle
*uterine prolapse, the bulging of the uterus into the vagina;
*and a variety of infections, cysts, and cancers of the uterus and ovaries." (See the article)
The ASPCA says, "Your female cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent: [Click the down arrow to read more]
*uterine infections and
*breast tumors, which are…cancerous in about… 90 percent of cats.
*Spaying your cat before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases."
See the ASPCA's article here.
Though it sounds different if it’s a cat or dog doing the howling, they both can make howling (also called “yowling”) noises. In addition to howling, female cats & dogs may also bark, meow, cry or whine much more during their heat cycle (also called “in heat”). When female cats & dogs are in heat, their reproductive hormones drive them to howl or make other vocal sounds..
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including howling …” The Cornell Feline Health Center(see article) “In an effort to advertise for mates, [unspayed female cats will] yowl…more frequently…” The ASPCA (see article) “Spaying eliminates the constant crying...of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as howling…” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
Though it sounds different if it’s a cat or dog doing the howling, they both can make howling (also called “yowling”) noises. In addition to howling, female cats & dogs may also bark, meow, cry or whine much more during their heat cycle (also called “in heat”). When female cats & dogs are in heat, their reproductive hormones drive them to howl or make other vocal sounds..
For female CATS:“…removing a female cat’s reproductive organs eliminates the behaviors associated with the heat cycle…including howling …” The Cornell Feline Health Center(see article) “In an effort to advertise for mates, [unspayed female cats will] yowl…more frequently…” The ASPCA (see article) “Spaying eliminates the constant crying...of a female cat in heat.” The American Humane (see article)
.
For female DOGS:“[An un-spayed female dog’s heat cycle]…can bring about a number of troublesome behaviors, such as howling…” Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
National animal welfare groups want you to know that spaying female cats & dogs helps them lead longer & healthier lives. That’s because spaying helps prevent, or even eliminate, the chances of your spayed female pet getting a number of diseases & conditions, plus the younger she is when spayed, the better her protection is from these health dangers.
.
For both female CATS & DOGS:
"Your female pet will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from [various] diseases." The ASPCA, a national animal welfare group (see article)
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"The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one for pet owners. It can be the single best decision you make for their long-term welfare. .. Medical evidence indicates that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier." The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a national animal welfare group (see article)
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For female CATS:
"[Spaying] at an early age is likely to spare a cat from several lethal health problems later on in its life." The Cornell Feline Health Center in Ithaca, NY (see article)
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For female DOGS:
"Your female pup will live longer - Spaying can help to prevent your female dog from having many serious health problems..." Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
Medical evidence indicates that female cats spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.
Unspayed female…cats have a far greater chance of developing pyometra [a very serious uterine infection that can be deadly], uterine cancer, and other cancers of the reproductive system.
For female DOGS:
Cesar Milan's website, "Cesar's Way", says:
“Aggression in female dogs during their heat is a common complaint.
Drastic hormone changes can adversely affect a female dog’s mood and canpredispose to acts of aggression even if she has never been aggressive before.
These hormone changes cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain during ovulation.
Un-spayed female dogs will sometimes compete for a male dog’s attention by fighting.
Do not leave children unsupervised with a dog in heat…” [emphasis added]
"...spaying [your female dog] will be helpful and might even eliminate the aggression entirely especially considering she has never been aggressive before.
Keep in mind [your un-spayed female dog] may learn undesirable behaviors and continue to exhibit aggression after her heat ends if she learns that this behavior can get her what she wants.
So…spay [female dogs] as soon as possible [emphasis added] because while heat related aggression is usually temporary it can lead to long term problems with aggression." (see article)
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The Humane Society says:
“Studies also show that most dogs bites involve dogs who are [not fixed and these dogs are more likely to engage in]…mounting, and other dominance-related behaviors.” (see article)
The many physical health benefits of spaying your female cat or dog can mean you save a lot of money! This is yet another benefit of spaying cats and dogs that animal health & welfare organizations stress for pet owners. Here's what some of those organizations have to say:
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For both CATS & DOGS:
"Spaying/neutering your pets is...highly cost-effective. The cost of your [female cat or dog's spay surgery] is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter." The ASPCA (see article)
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"...the cost of caring for a litter of puppies is much more [than the cost of spay surgery]" and so is handling the medical and behavior issues that you can prevent by having the procedure done...[Spaying your female cat or dog] saves you money." Cesar Milan/Cesar's Way (see article)
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The HSUS says that the possible costs, especially over the lifetime of a female cat or dog that isn't spayed, can be much higher than the cost of that pet's spay surgery. Their website explains:
"Caring for a pet with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run into the thousands of dollars—five to ten times as much as a routine spay surgery."
In addition, the HSUS points out that, "Serious fighting is more common between" unspayed female cats or between unspayed female dogs. Veterinary costs to treat injuries from such fights can be very high for owners of these unspayed cats and dogs."
The HSUS also notes that many municipalities, "...have spay/neuter laws that require...people with unaltered pets to pay higher license renewal fees." See article.
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BONUS!! CLEAN-UP BENEFIT!! "Spaying a female dog also eliminates the messiness associated with the heat cycle."The American Humane (see article)
For female DOGS:
Cesar Milan's website, "Cesar's Way", says:
“Aggression in female dogs during their heat is a common complaint.
Drastic hormone changes can adversely affect a female dog’s mood and can
predispose to acts of aggression even if she has never been aggressive before.
These hormone changes cause irritability, nervousness and can even cause pain during ovulation.
Un-spayed female dogs will sometimes compete for a male dog’s attention by fighting.
Do not leave children unsupervised with a dog in heat…” [emphasis added]
"...spaying [your female dog] will be helpful and might even eliminate the aggression entirely especially considering she has never been aggressive before.
Keep in mind [your un-spayed female dog] may learn undesirable behaviors and continue to exhibit aggression after her heat ends if she learns that this behavior can get her what she wants.
So…spay [female dogs] as soon as possible [emphasis added] because while heat related aggression is usually temporary it can lead to long term problems with aggression." (see article)
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The Humane Society says:
“Studies also show that most dogs bites involve dogs who are [not fixed and these dogs are more likely to engage in]…mounting, and other dominance-related behaviors.” (see article)
The ASPCA says, "Your female cat will live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent: [Click the down arrow to read more]
*uterine infections and
*breast tumors, which are…cancerous in about… 90 percent of cats.
*Spaying your cat before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases."
See the ASPCA's article here.