Benefits of Spaying & Neutering You Pet
Dr. Dayton with our of our Community Clinic patients
As a veterinarian, I am always excited to talk about the many benefits of spaying and neutering dogs and cats. One of the most compelling reasons is the significant reduction in cancer risk. For female pets, spaying eliminates the risk of uterine cancer and if spayed before the first heat cycle mammary cancer is almost 100% prevented. Sadly, mammary cancers are common in unspayed females and in cats they are 80% metastatic . In male pets, neutering prevents testicular cancer and can also reduce the incidence of prostate issues. By choosing to spay or neuter, pet owners are not only preventing painful and costly health problems but are also ensuring their pets live longer, healthier lives.
Behavioral changes are another key benefit of altering your pet. Neutering male dogs and cats often leads to a noticeable reduction in behaviors like aggression, and marking territory. These behaviors are driven by hormones, and neutering helps to calm them down, making for a more well-behaved, content pet. Similarly, spaying female dogs can reduce behaviors associated with being in heat, such as restlessness, loud vocalizations, and frequent attempts to escape. With these issues minimized, pets become easier to manage and better companions overall.
Of course, one of the most important reasons to spay or neuter your pet is to help control the overpopulation problem. Every year, millions of unwanted animals end up in shelters, many of which are euthanized due to lack of space and resources. By spaying or neutering your pet, you're doing your part to prevent more unwanted litters and help reduce the strain on rescue organizations like Angles of Assisi. This simple procedure can have a profound impact on the health of the entire pet community by ensuring that fewer animals are born without homes.
Overall, spaying and neutering are essential parts of responsible pet ownership. At Angels we spayed and neutered 15,654 pets in 2024. It is inspiring to work at an organization that is able to make this kind of impact on the pets and community of Roanoke and the surrounding region. It is also a gift to be able to offer these services at a lower cost that is attainable to many families who would not be otherwise able to afford vet care.
BrookeDayton DVM
Angels of Assisi