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Myths
and Facts About Spaying and Neutering
MYTH:
My pet will get fat and lazy.
FACT: The truth is that most pets get fat and lazy because their
owners feed them too much and don't give them enough exercise.
MYTH:
It's better to have one litter first.
FACT:
Medical evidence indicates just the opposite. In fact, the evidence
shows that females spayed before their first heat are typically
healthier. Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as
young as eight weeks of age. Check with your veterinarian about
the appropriate time for these procedures.
MYTH:
My children should experience the miracle of birth.
FACT:
Even if children are able to see a pet give birth—which
is unlikely, since it usually occurs at night and in seclusion—the
lesson they will really learn is that animals can be created
and discarded as it suits adults. Instead, it should be explained
to children that the real miracle is life and that preventing
the birth of some pets can save the lives of others.
MYTH:
But my pet is a purebred.
FACT:
So is at least one out of every four pets brought to animal
shelters around the country. There are just too many dogs and
cats—mixed breed and purebred.
MYTH:
I want my dog to be protective.
FACT:
Spaying or neutering does not affect a dog's natural instinct
to protect home and family. A dog's personality is formed more
by genetics and environment than by sex hormones.
MYTH:
I don't want my male dog or cat to feel like less of a male.
FACT:
Pets don't have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering
will not change a pet's basic personality. He doesn't suffer
any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
MYTH:
But my dog (or cat) is so special, I want a puppy (or kitten)
just like her.
FACT:
A dog or cat may be a great pet, but that doesn't mean her offspring
will be a carbon copy. Professional animal breeders who follow
generations of bloodlines can't guarantee they will get just
what they want out of a particular litter. A pet owner's chances
are even slimmer. In fact, an entire litter of puppies or kittens
might receive all of a pet's (and her mate's) worst characteristics.
MYTH:
It's too expensive to have my pet spayed or neutered.
FACT:
The cost of spaying or neutering depends on the sex, size, and
age of the pet, your veterinarian's fees, and a number of other
variables. But whatever the actual price, spay or neuter surgery
is a one-time cost—a relatively small cost when compared
to all the benefits. It's a bargain compared to the cost of
having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and litter;
two months of pregnancy and another two months until the litter
is weaned can add up to significant veterinary bills and food
costs if complications develop. Most importantly, it's a very
small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention
of the births of more unwanted pets.
MYTH:
I'll find good homes for all the puppies and kittens.
FACT:
You may find homes for all of your pet's litter. But each home
you find means one less home for the dogs and cats in shelters
who need good homes. Also, in less than one year's time, each
of your pet's offspring may have his or her own litter, adding
even more animals to the population. The problem of pet overpopulation
is created and perpetuated one litter at a time.
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