Five Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Your Pets

Here at the Arizona Humane Society, we’re big advocates of spaying and neutering your pets. In fact, we carried out 17,125 alterations for homeless and owned pets last fiscal year. Altering your pet prior to maturity (at 4–6 months old, or before a female’s first heat cycle) can come with a multitude of health, lifestyle and community benefits for you and your four-legged friend.

These are five of our favorites:

1. Increases a Pet’s Quality of Life: Spayed and neutered pets tend to live longer, healthier lives. By reducing the risk of certain diseases and behaviors that may result in accidents or injuries, these procedures can contribute to an overall improved quality of life for pets.
2. Prevents Serious Health Conditions: These procedures can reduce the risk of certain reproductive cancers and infections. For example, spaying female pets before their first heat cycle significantly reduces the risk of mammary gland tumors and uterine infections, while neutering male pets reduces the risk of testicular cancer and prostate problems.
3. Improves Behavior: Neutering makes your pet less likely to mark his territory or spray urine throughout the house. It also tends to decrease aggression and make your pet less likely to roam and engage in behaviors that may lead to injury or conflict with other animals.
4. Saves Money: By opting for one early alteration procedure for your pet, you could significantly reduce the likelihood of costly future visits to the vet. Accessing low-cost spay/neuter services, such as those offered at AHS’ Marge Wright Veterinary Clinic, enables you to mitigate potential medical emergencies for serious health conditions that may arise from not altering your pet.
5. Population Control: Spaying and neutering help control pet overpopulation, thereby decreasing the number of homeless pets we see brought in as strays. Additionally, millions of these animals are euthanized in shelters across the country due to overcapacity. Preventing unwanted litters through spaying and neutering is crucial in reducing this problem.

If you’re a new pet parent who needs to spay or neuter their four-legged friend, you can schedule an appointment at our Marge Wright Veterinary Clinic. Thanks for helping make it a great Spay/Neuter Awareness Month!