Spaying or neutering is a simple, low-cost procedure that can improve the health and longevity of your pet, and decrease the overall cost of care.
For female dogs and cats, spaying provides many health benefits.
The greatest medical benefits are gained if the female never goes through a heat cycle —when the estrogen levels rise and the female is the most fertile and ready for mating. However, the benefits still outweigh the risks even if the pet has experienced multiple heat cycles or delivered a litter. The chances of developing malignant mammary gland tumors are significantly reduced if your dog or cat is spayed before her first heat cycle.
Spaying also eliminates uterine cancer, growths, or life-threatening infections that can 
develop in an intact female dog. Eliminating heat cycles also avoids the mess and unwanted behaviors which come with the twice-yearly cycles.
For male dogs and cats, neutering:
- Eliminates testicular cancer and prostate problems
- Improves behavior
- Reduces the desire to roam searching for a mate and unwanted sexual behaviors
- Prevents overpopulation and stray/unwanted animals in a community
Decreasing the financial burden of care
The cost of the procedure is less expensive than caring for a dog or cat suffering from an infection or cancer.
There’s a greater chance of abandonment or dropping the pet at a shelter when owners are overwhelmed by the time and cost associated with caring for a pregnant pet and newborn puppies and kittens. The financial burden is then placed on the rescues and shelters which may not be funded to care for so many animals, therefore resulting in mass euthanasia.
Spaying or neutering eliminate certain infections, diseases and unwanted behaviors, are a low-cost part of your pet’s overall healthcare, and reduce the overpopulation of pets in shelters and rescues. Call Doylestown Veterinary Hospital at 215-345-6000 today if you have questions about caring for your new pet or when to spay or neuter your pet.
