| Myth: |
A
female cat or dog should have a litter before
she is spayed. |
| Fact: |
The
sooner you spay your female, the better her
health will be in the future. As long as a
kitten or puppy weighs more than 2 pounds
and is 2 months old, he or she can be neutered
or spayed. Many veterinarians are practicing
perfectly safe early sterilization. The likelihood
of developing mammary tumors or uterine infections
increases the longer a female goes unspayed.
In fact, female spayed before sexual maturity
(6-9 months of age) has one-seventh the risk
of an intact female of developing mammary
cancer. |
| Myth: |
Spaying
or neutering (sterilization) will alter my
pet's personality. |
| Fact: |
Any
slight change will be positive. Regardless
of the age when spayed or neutered, your pet
will remain a caring, loving and protective
companion. Neutering will reduce the need
to breed, and that has a calming effect on
many animals. Both neutered male canines and
felines tend to stop roaming and fighting
and lose the desire to mark their territory
with urine. |
| Myth: |
Companion
animals will become fat and lazy if they are
neutered. |
| Fact: |
Absolutely
not! Lack of exercise and overfeeding make
pets fat and lazy - not neutering. Your pet
will not gain weight if you provide exercise
and monitor food intake. Neutering is good
for your pet, since sterilized pets tend to
live an average of two to three years longer
than unsterilized pets. |
| Myth: |
Sterilization
is a dangerous and painful surgery for my
pet. |
| Fact: |
Spaying
and neutering are the most common surgeries
performed on animals. With a minimal amount
of home care, your pet will resume normal
behavior in a couple of days. |
| Myth: |
Children
should witness the miracle of birth. |
| Fact: |
Countless
books and videos are available to teach your
children about birth in a responsible manner.
Letting your pet produce offspring you have
no intention of keeping is teaching your children
irresponsibility. Anyone who has seen an animal
euthanized in a shelter for lack of a home
knows the truth behind this dangerous myth. |
