Spay & Neuter: Making A World Of Difference

Are you considering spaying or neutering your dog? Deciding whether to spay or neuter your dog is a challenging decision that many pet owners face. If you’re struggling to decide whether altering your pup is the best choice for you and your dog, you have come to the right place to find answers. Today, we’ll take a look at the benefits of spaying and neutering your dog, as well as when is the appropriate age for dogs to be altered.

All too often, dog owners are pressured to make decisions regarding their dog’s health based on the information given to them by the internet and other resources. While there is much conflicting advice on whether or not to sterilize your dog, we are here to help make your decision simple.

If you want to make the world a safer place for animals, you have come to the right place. Today, we’ll dive into the importance of spaying or neutering your dog and how you can educate other pet owners through Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, a spay/neuter awareness program celebrated every February.

Ready to make a difference in your pet’s life and for animals around the world? Read on to learn why it is important to spay or neuter your dog.

Why Is It Important to Spay or Neuter Your Dog?

There are many reasons dog owners may consider spaying or neutering their pets. Besides reducing overpopulation, altering your dog may benefit your pup’s wellbeing by eliminating behavioral problems and increasing canine health. Below, let’s take a closer look at why it is important to spay or neuter your dog.

Reduces Overpopulation

Every year, millions of dogs are surrendered to shelters, and several thousand are euthanized annually. If you want to decrease the number of pets surrendered to animal shelters and reduce overpopulation, you may consider spaying or neutering your pup.

The birth of unwanted litters is a common reason why many dogs end up in animal shelters each year. Because the average litter consists of five to six puppies, it is no wonder why shelters are overrun with homeless and abandoned dogs, as well as other animal species. If you want to do your part to help reduce overpopulation, it may be time to consider spaying or neutering your dog. By altering your pup, you can also reduce the breeding instinct your dog has and prevent him or her from escaping the property.

Medical Benefits

Certain diseases, such as cancers and tumors, can be controlled by spaying or neutering your dog at an appropriate age. As a result, your dog may live a longer life with fewer health complications.

Keep in mind that spaying or neutering your dog too early can have a negative impact on your dog’s health. Although sterilizing your dog at an early age will prevent overpopulation and decrease certain behavioral problems, it can also lead to major health issues. Hypothyroidism, weight gain, certain cancers, hip dysplasia, and dementia are just some of the many health issues dogs may face. Additionally, some dogs don’t react well to anesthesia and may have post-surgery issues. Before having your dog altered, consult your veterinarian to find out when is the appropriate time to spay or neuter your dog.

Behavioral Benefits

Many behavioral issues such as aggression and marking of territory can be eliminated by altering your pet. In addition to decreasing annoying behavioral problems, neutering your dog can eliminate your dog’s desire to roam and help him be more content at home. Similarly, spaying your female will eliminate her desire to look for a mate while also preventing male dogs from entering your yard.

When Should You Spay or Neuter Your Dog?

Once you’ve decided to have your dog altered, the next big question is when should you spay or neuter your dog? Because altering your dog too early can harm your dog’s health, it is important to understand when the best time is to spay or neuter your dog.

In general, small dog breeds should be altered at six to nine months of age. For larger dog breeds, it is recommended to wait until your dog is fully mature at nine to eighteen months of age. Because every dog is unique, be sure to consult your vet about when is the appropriate time to spay or neuter your dog.

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, a program celebrated each February, was started in 1995 by Doris Day Animal Ledue to educate dog owners of the dangers of pet overpopulation. What began as a small opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering has now been incorporated into the Humane Society in the United States, as well as other countries. Thousands of volunteers worldwide come together every February to offer information, dispel myths, and provide much-needed sterilization services for animals that otherwise might not receive them.

Another important date that also takes place in February is World Spay Day. Celebrated on the fourth Tuesday each February, World Spay Day offers education on the benefits of spaying and neutering and provides animal sterilization services in communities around the world.

How You Can Participate in Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

We believe in the importance of responsible pet ownership, and encourage you to participate in World Spay Day by planning an event, volunteering at an existing event, spaying or neutering your pets, or sponsoring the spaying or neutering of a pet in need. You can also become a corporate sponsor for an event or offer veterinary expertise at a participating medical center.

Spaying and neutering is a permanent and effective method of birth control for dogs, as well as other household pets. With over six hundred million homeless and unwanted dogs in the world and millions killed in shelters in just the US every year, spaying and neutering is an easy, low-cost way of reducing the over-population problem and preventing the needless death of these wonderful animals.

According to the Humane Society, World Spay Day events “have included low- and no-cost spay/neuter clinics providing life-saving veterinary services for low-income families, fundraisers to benefit spay/neuter programs, and educational efforts spreading the message about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.”

Along with HSUS, the Humane Society International, and the Doris Day Animal Foundation, other World Spay Day partners include the ASPCA, the House Rabbit Society, Humane Alliance, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, Petfinder, and PetSmart Charities.

Want to participate in Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and World Spay Day? Please join us to help this event continue to grow so that we may reduce the worldwide problem of pet overpopulation. Together, we can make this world a much happier, safer place for our beloved pets.