Pet overpopulation is a very serious problem. In the United States, millions of dogs and cats enter shelters across the county each year and most of them are euthanized, simply because there are not enough homes for all of them. One way to reduce this sad problem is to spay and neuter your pets.

The reason why dogs and cats mate is not because they are emotionally in love with each other. Their reproductive organs produce sex hormones and their instinct to mate is driven by these hormones. Since they have no control over this instinctive behavior, it is their owners’ obligation to control breeding of their pets and spaying and neutering are the most effective ways to control unwanted and unplanned breeding.

So, what is exactly spaying and neutering? Spaying is surgically removing reproductive organs of female animals. Neutering is surgically removing testicles of male animals. Procedures are given under general anesthesia by licensed veterinarians and usually require minimal hospitalization. Procedures can be done as early as eight weeks of age, but the average age at which pets are spayed and neutered is four months.

In addition to reducing pet overpopulation, spaying and neutering reduces many health risks and unwanted behavior problems. Spaying decreases a chance of having breast cancer and eliminates the possibility of having ovarian or uterine cancers. Neutering decreases a chance of having prostate disease and eliminates the possibility of having testicular cancer. Thus, spayed and neutered pets live longer and have healthier lives.

Many behavior problems such as roaming, aggression and excessive mounting can be reduced simply by spaying and neutering. An altered dog does not have the urge to roam in search of a mate. Free roaming increases chances of getting hit by a car and engaging in fights with other dogs. Altered dogs are less territorial and show less signs of aggression.

Benefits of spaying and neutering are innumerous. If your dog is not spayed or neutered, why not call your veterinarian today and schedule a surgery?