Please SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS

Spay and Neuter your Companion Animals

What is Spaying & Neutering?

Neutering is the surgical removal of certain reproductive organs--in the female, the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries; in the male, the testicles. Neuter surgery on female animals is sometimes called "spaying." The surgery prevents females from becoming pregnant and prevents males from impregnating females.

Animals are anesthetized during the surgery to spare them from pain. They typically go home within a day of the procedure. Neutering is a relatively safe and simple operation, and its potential for helping to save animals' lives is tremendous.

Jump directly to a list of low-cost clinics.

When

Neutering is generally done around the age of two-four months for females and males, before they even reach sexual maturity. If fact many veterinarians will perform neuter surgery on puppies and kittens as young as 8 weeks of age. This early surgery ensures that your pet will not contribute to pet overpopulation, and their young age helps them recuperate quickly from the procedure.

Where

Neuter surgery is a standard procedure done by nearly every general practice veterinarian. If you would like a referral to a veterinarian experienced in early neutering, call PAWS.

Benefits For Your Pet--And For You

Neutering lowers the odds of breast cancer and dangerous uterine infections in females and prostate problems in males. By reducing the animal's urge to roam, the surgery also decreases the chances that your pet will run away, become lost, or be hit by a car while roaming loose.

Neutering is not a cure for aggressiveness, but it will lessen the urge to fight for sexual dominance. It also diminishes the likelihood that an animal will spray, wail, mark territory, or make inappropriate sexual approaches toward people or objects. Animals who are spayed or neutered are three times less likely to bite. A benefit for everyone!

Un-neutered pets may be anxious because they have no outlet for their natural urges. Neutering eliminates this frustration and makes your companion less distracted, more easily trained, and a more contented member of your family.

A lifesaver - more reasons to alter your companion:

Neutering increases your pet's life expectancy and helps reduce the numbers of animals put to death in shelters. If you love animals and want to help them, neutering is the place to start.

"I don't want her to become fat." Remember, too much food and not enough exercise makes animals fat. Neutering doesn't.

"He's a purebred with papers." One-fourth of the dogs killed in shelters are purebreds. Purebreds and their pure- and mixed-breed offspring also suffer from overpopulation--and contribute to it.

"I already have homes lined up for all of them!" If each of the eight great homes ready to welcome your pet's offspring would instead adopt from a shelter, they--and you-- could save eight animals who would otherwise probably be put to death. For every terrific family wanting a companion, the perfect animal is already waiting--in an animal shelter.

Spay and Neuter Resources

Many clinics offer surgeries for healthy animals who are four months or older. Please speak to your veterinarian about the advantages of prepubescent surgery and when it is appropriate to have your companion altered.

Visit the PAWS list of low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

 

Sue: I agree 100%! So many PitBulls looking for homes in this country. If anyone wants to have a PitBull, here's a site to adopt one in the Western part in the U.S. You can also look in your area all over the U.S.

http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action ... &x=38&y=12

 

my baby is 7weeks old and is starting to hump his stuffed animal, isn't he too young for this? what age do you have them fixed?

 

Amen Sue!
oso It really depends on your vets preference. I have had dogs spayed or neutered as young as 12 weeks.

 

Humping in young puppies and even sometimes in older dogs is not always sexual. The WDJ had a really good article about it not too long ago.

My dog was spayed at 4 months old. Some vet will do it sooner and others won't do until at least 6 months of age. You'll have to see what age your vet recommends.

 

Oso - like nern said - not all humping (in fact most of it) is not sexual. It is a dominance thing. One of my females is constantly humping my male. It's quite a site. He's very laid back and doesn't care. She insists on reminding him of who is Alpha though. There may be other reasons for humping, but it is my understanding that this is the most common.

 

Actually, my girl Ginger humps my males all the time. She is spayed and i am told it is a dominance thing.