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Spay is the term applied to our female pets and neuter
applies to male pets. These procedures serve to
remove the sexual organs from our pets in order to curb
the cat and dog population.
However, there are many other benefits to your dog
and cat that having them spayed and neutered have to
offer. These benefits all center around their heath
and well being.
Contrary to popular belief, spaying and neutering your
cat or dog, does not alter their behavior or personality.
The sexual drive and territorial behaviors associated
with being intact however, will change and become less
noticeable.
Female cats - when left intact, tend to come
into "heat" once every 3-4 weeks, which can
last for up to a week at a time. The cat (or dog) going
through their heat cycle is ready to breed. During
these heat cycles, the cat is extremely affectionate,
and vocal. This behavior can be somewhat disturbing
to the owner.
Some female cats will try to leave the house in order
to find a mate. Annoyance alone is reason enough
to have the female cat spayed. However, cats not
spayed whether they have been used for breeding or not,
tend to run a higher risk for infection in the uterus
as they get older. This is a life threatening
condition, and treatment involves removing the uterus
and ovaries surgically (spaying the cat). If left
untreated, these animals usually die.
Male cats - left intact, are difficult to keep
indoors. These cats want to roam, and mate as
often as they can. They also tend to be quite
territorial, and will fight other males in their territory.
Spread of diseases such as
feline leukemia, feline
immunodeficiency
virus
(FIV or feline AIDS), wound abscesses, and motor
vehicle accidents are common in the roaming male cat.
Inside, more often than not, the intact male cat will
tend to urine mark his territory by "spraying"
various objects in the house. Again, this becomes
an issue of annoyance.
Female dogs - usually come into heat twice a
year at approximately 6 month intervals, although this
can vary. The cycle lasts typically for two-three
weeks, and breeding is best timed midway through the
cycle. Female dogs will also have the urge to
roam while in heat in search of a male dog.
As they get older, the intact female dog will
not go into a menopausal state as in human females,
however the secretion of the female hormones does change
with age. This change in hormone secretion can
lead to an infection in the uterus. Surgical removal
of the ovaries and uterus is often times necessary to
correct the condition. Left alone, this problem
can lead to a serious health condition and death.
An increase in thirst and urination can be the first
clues of a uterine infection, with or without a discharge
from the vulva. This is considered a medical emergency
if the uterus is infected, and medical attention should
be sought immediately. Also, if the female dog
is spayed before her first heat cycle (which occurs
typically between 7-9 months of age), the chances of
her developing breast tumors as an older dog is minimized
considerably.
In some cases following the spay, the female dog may
develop urinary incontinence. Although not common,
this can happen when the estrogen hormone is removed
from circulation. See Urinary
Incontinence.
Male dogs - will come into puberty around 7-9
months of age, and can then breed successfully.
When an intact male dog detects a female in heat, the
urge to roam and find her is quite strong. Intact
male dogs also tend to be territorial, and will fight
other males in their territory. Some of this behavior
is personality, and some relates to being intact and
exhibiting testosterone related behavior. Therefore,
neutering a male dog, does not necessarily remove his
aggression, especially if it is already a part of his
personality.
As the intact male dog ages, medical problems can arise.
Prostate disease, such as infection or tumors can develop.
Tumors of the testicles can also develop with age.
Associated tumors around the rectal area are testosterone
induced, and can occur in the intact male dog.
Neutering the dog is necessary to correct these conditions,
yet if not detected early enough, some of these conditions
may not be correctable.
As always, prevention is the best cure, so if breeding
is not chosen for your pet, then spaying or neutering
will help prevent many diseases and behavior problems
from happening to your pet.
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