The benefits of spaying and neutering

Benefits for female pets

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy or other sterilization methods)

• Eliminates heat cycles and associated bleeding
• Prevents unwanted pregnancies and complications
• Eliminates risk of ovarian and uterine cancers
• Prevents pyometra (potentially fatal uterine infection), which roughly a quarter of unspayed dogs experience by age ten
• Reduces tendency to roam looking for mates
• Eliminates mood swings associated with heat cycles

Benefits for male pets

Neutering (castration, vasectomy, or other sterilization methods)

• Eliminates testicular cancer risk completely
• Greatly reduces benign prostate enlargement
• Decreases territorial marking and spraying
• Reduces roaming behavior and escape attempts
• Eliminates mounting behaviors
• Prevents perianal adenomas, benign tumors driven by testosterone

Myth 1

“My pet will get fat and lazy”

Partly true, and worth knowing in advance. Sterilized pets do have a higher risk of becoming overweight, because appetite tends to rise while energy needs drop. It isn't inevitable. Adjust portions at the time of the procedure, keep your pet active, and ask your vet how much food is right afterward.

Myth 2

“My pet's personality will change”

Your pet's fundamental personality remains the same. The procedure reduces hormone-driven behaviors like roaming, marking, and mounting while keeping all the loving traits you cherish.

Myth 3

“Female pets should have one litter first”

There's no known medical benefit to having a litter before spaying, and pregnancy and whelping carry real risks of their own. Intact females also remain at risk of pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection.

Myth 4

“The surgery is too risky”

Spay and neuter surgeries are among the most common veterinary procedures with very low complication rates. The health benefits far outweigh the minimal surgical risks.

Myth 5

“It's not natural”

While reproduction is natural, many natural behaviors like roaming, fighting, and territorial marking aren't suitable for pets living in human families. Spaying/neutering helps pets adapt to domestic life.

Myth 6

“My pet is too old”

Healthy pets can be safely spayed or neutered at almost any age. Older pets often benefit significantly from the procedure, especially in preventing certain cancers and infections.