|
In previous months, we have discusses the topic of spaying & neutering several times now, but you can never address this topic enough so we are discussing it again for Adopt a Dog Month. By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough loving homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying and neutering your animals which we will be discussing later on in this article. Having a litter of puppies may seem like a fun thing to do. Some even believe that it helps their female dog, in some way, to develop more completely or become a better pet. Neither is true Becoming pregnant and having a litter of puppies in no way alters the maturity level of the dog, either physically or mentally. In most cases, people find out that it is hard to find good homes for all of the dog, even if they are advertised "Free to a Good Home." In addition, not all pregnancies go smoothly. Difficult labor, puppies mortality, and potential health problems in the mother, such as uterine and mammary gland infections, can take all the fun out of the experience. I have included below several of the health benefits of spaying your female dog. - If done before 2.5 years of age, greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, the most common malignant tumors in female dogs - Nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra, which otherwise would affect about 23% of intact female dogs. Pyometras are a life threatening condition where the uterus fills with pus & can quickly become fatal if the animal does not receive emergency medical attention - Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas - Removes the very small risk (≤0.5%) from uterine, cervical, and ovarian tumors - Reduces roaming activity seeking a mate during heat cycle The ASPCA does offer low cost clinics. I have included their website below. You can also check with your local shelters who may also have spay & neuter clinics throughout the year where they offer services at a discounted price. Photo is a link for ASPCA low cost clinic page If you still decide that you are going to keep your dog intact (male or female), I strongly encourage you to read our handouts on breeding, pregnancy, & partition. Please click on the picture below for direct link to our resource page. Please contact our clinic directly to schedule an spay or neuter for your dog |
Archives
December 2018
Kasey Kent
|
RSS Feed