Reasons for Neutering / Spaying your animals
There are just too many cats and dogs and not enough homes for all of them.
For every animal who has a home, there is one who is a lonely frightened stray with very little chance of finding the safety and warmth of a home. We are destroying milllions of animals every year at a huge cost. Animal rescues are over loaded and fighting a constant battle to stop this endless destruction.
How can you help?
You can help by neutering your cat or dog.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neutering:
WHAT IS SPAYING?
It is a simple operation to remove the ovaries, making reproduction impossible.
A complete spay includes removal of the uterus and fallopian tubes as well.
The operation takes 15 to 30 minutes to perform, and recovery is complete in a few days.
AT WHAT AGE SHOULD I HAVE MY PET SPAYED?
As soon as possible after the age of six months, but not during the heat period.
Spaying is recommended 3 months after (ask your vets advice).
If your pet is in heat then keep them in during this time.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES TO SPAYING RATHER THAN BIRTH CONTROL?
There is less chance of mammary cancer and pyometra which is an infection of the uterus (Pyometra can kill in just a few days).
Less chance of false pregnacies and hormonal inbalance.
No messy heat periods.
No male dogs camping on your doorstep.
WHAT IS NEUTERING?
Neutering is an operation on the male animal to sterilize him.
The more common method is castration – removal of the testicles.
WHEN SHOULD THIS BE DONE ?
A male cat should be neutered after he is nearly fully grown.
Male dogs may be castrated after the age of six months. Ask your vet for advice.
HEALTH REASONS FOR NEUTERING ?
Prostate cancer is common in un-neutered males.
Neutering will drastically reduce the chance of this.
OTHER REASONS TO NEUTER?
Your male pet will be less likely to roam, fight with other males, urinate to scent mark in other people’s houses where there are dogs, hang onto visitors legs and hump them, and will be less dominant.
WILL MY PET GAIN WEIGHT AND BECOME LAZY ?
No! Your pet will only gain weight if you over feed and under exercise him/her.
WILL SPAYING MY PET HURT HER?
No. Giving birth is a lot more painful and she will have a heat every 6 months.
Can you imagine what it is like to give birth twice a year?
It will drain your pet’s health and energy. Frequent pregnancies cause prolapse of the uterus which is where the uterus falls out of the body. This is extremely painful and will result in a costly trip to the vet.
WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD TO HAVE MY PET NEUTERED?
Many organisations have schemes to help with this.
If you are on benefits the P.D.S.A can help, or you could put a little money away
each week to save for this.
BUT WE ALWAYS FIND GOOD HOMES FOR THEM.
Yes, but what happens to their offspring? Are the good homes as careful when finding a home for the next generation? So it goes on.
We have many unwanted pets that arrive in terrible condition.
Many have been beaten, kept in cages that they had outgrown and couldn’t walk about in, been burnt, crippled, hit by cars, and starved to the point of death. One was kept in a kitchen cupboard, another was thrown against a wall.
Two puppies were taken from boys who thought it was a good idea to use them as footballs. Some had been slashed with knives, we’ve had puppies that had been thrown in rivers to drown or left out in a box to die, mothers that had been tied up outside in the freezing winter months to have puppies.
There are many more horrific stories and all of these are the results of litters born to un-neutered pets. Also remember it only takes a few minutes for your male pet to impregnate someone elses female.
So please neuter your pet !