Sad but
true – Ireland
has a large population of unwanted dogs and cats. Most of these homeless animals
end up being destroyed. The procedure is performed humanely, but it is tragic
nevertheless. You can help combat this terrible problem by spaying or neutering
your pet. The procedure not only helps
control the dog and cat population, but it can also improve your pet’s health
and increase its lifespan.
Did you
know that one cat can have an average of five kittens three times a year? Once the kittens reach maturity, they have
kittens of their own, and the cycle repeats itself endlessly. The results of
such unrestricted breeding are staggering -- a single cat can have 500,000
descendants in only 7 years! Likewise, one
dog, her puppies, and their puppies can produce more than 60,000 puppies in 6 years.
Both
spaying and neutering are surgical procedures that require a general
anaesthetic. The animal is in the
hospital just for the day. Spaying is
the removal of the reproductive organs in females, while neutering is the term for
males. Pets should be spayed or neutered
at 6 months of age -- before females have their first heat, and before males start
wandering after females in heat.
Spaying
female pets eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers, uterine
infections, and greatly decreases the risk of breast cancer. It also stops females from going into heat,
which occurs twice a year in dogs and three or more times a year in cats. When a female is in heat, unwanted male visitors
can become pests.
Neutering male
pets eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, and greatly reduces the risk of
prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Neutered cats will not spray to mark
their territory, and they become more affectionate and less likely to roam..
Unfortunately,
there are many old wives’ tales concerning spaying and neutering. One such
belief is that the procedure will cause your pet to grow fat and lazy. The truth is, any pet can become a couch potato
if over-fed and under-exercised. Another
false belief is that females should have at least one litter before spaying. In fact, spaying females before their first
heat avoids the life-threatening complications that can occur during pregnancy
or delivery. It also protects your pet’s health later in life. And contrary to popular belief, spaying and
neutering will not affect a dog’s instinct to protect its home and family.
Many people
think spaying or neutering is too expensive.
However, the cost is small when compared with the benefits. Having a litter of puppies, for example, can
be very costly, especially if the pups or mother suffer health problems. Treatment of later cancers or uterine
infections in the mother can be even more costly. All in all, the cost of
surgery is a small price to pay to improve the health of your pet and prevent
bringing more unwanted kittens and puppies into the world.