Myths and Facts About Spay/Neuter

A host of myths surround spaying and neutering. Unfortunately, they often discourage people from having the surgery performed on their animals. We must battle misconceptions with facts -- dogs' and cats' lives depend on it. Following are some of the myths with the correct information:

#1. Preventing animals from having litters is unnatural.

False. We've already interfered with nature by domesticating dogs and cats. In doing so we helped create their overpopulation. We must now take responsibility for solving it.

#2. It's better to allow a female to have one litter before spaying.

False. The best time to spay a female is before her first heat. Early spaying greatly reduces the incidence of mammary cancer.

#3. Behavior is adversely affected by surgery.

False. The only change in behavior is positive. Male cats tend to reduce territorial spraying, depending on their age at neutering. Neutered dogs and cats fight less, resulting in fewer battle scars, contagious diseases and abscesses. They also wander less, because they aren't as interested in pursuing females in heat.

#4. Animals become fat and lazy after spaying or neutering.

False. In most cases animals become fat and "lazy" only if their guardian overfeeds and under-exercises them.

#5. We don't need to neuter males because they don't have litters.

False. It takes two to tango. In fact, one unaltered male can be responsible for impregnating dozens of females.