Pet Spay and Neuter in Orlando, FL

Spaying is a general term used to describe the ovariohysterectomy of a female animal. Neutering is a general term used to describe the castration of a male animal. However, neutering is often used in reference to both genders.

The decision to spay or neuter your pet is an important one. It can be the single best decision you make for his/her long-term welfare.

Getting your pet spayed or neutered at Downtown Pet Hospital can:

• Reduce the number of homeless pets killed in Orlando, FL.
• Improve your pet's health
• Reduce unruly behavior
• Save on the cost of pet care

Neutering Prevents Homeless Pets

In every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. In the U.S., there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. Barely half of these animals are adopted. Tragically, the rest are euthanized. These are healthy, sweet pets who would have made great companions.

Your Pet’s Health & Longevity

The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than the lifespan of those not. A University of Georgia study, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 13.8% longer and that of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer.

Another veterinary study, conducted by Banfield Pet Hospitals on a database of 2.2 million dogs and 460,000 cats reflected similar findings, concluding that neutered male dogs lived 18% longer and spayed female dogs lived 23% longer. Spayed female cats in the study lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer.

The reduced lifespan of unaltered pets can, in part, be attributed to an increased urge to roam. Such roaming can expose them to fights with other animals, resulting in injuries and infections, trauma from vehicle strikes and other accidental mishaps.

Another contributor to the increased longevity of altered pets is their reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Intact female cats and dogs have a greater chance of developing pyometra (a potentially fatal uterine infection) and uterine, mammary gland and other cancers of the reproductive system. Neutering male pets eliminates their risk of testicular cancer and eliminates the possibility of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia which can affect the ability to defecate.

A handful of studies may appear to challenge the health benefits of widespread spaying/neutering of companion pets by raising concerns that these surgeries may predispose some altered dogs to certain orthopedic conditions and cancers. As a result, they have caused some pet owners to question altering their pets at an early age or altering them at all. However, on closer examination, the results of these studies pertain specifically to male dogs of certain giant breeds (dogs typically weighing 90-100 pounds or more) and their conclusions should not be generalized to other breeds of dogs, or to other species, including cats.

Studies on this subject are mostly retrospective in nature, meaning they are looking at existing research data. Therefore, while they evaluate for associations between a cause and an outcome, they cannot definitely establish causality.

Weight gain after spay/neuter can occur in both dogs and cats because of decreased metabolism and maturation. It is important to monitor a pet's weight following surgery and adjust their diet appropriately with the help of a veterinarian to prevent weight gain.

Neutering Curbs Unwanted Behavior

Intact dogs are more prone to urine-marking than neutered dogs. Although urine-marking is usually associated with male dogs, females may do it too. Spaying or neutering your dog should reduce urine-marking and may even stop it altogether.

For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in those not altered, so the simplest solution is to alter before the problem arises. Neutering solves 90% of all marking issues, even in cats who have been doing it for a while. It can also minimize howling, the urge to roam and fighting with other males. In both cats and dogs, the longer you wait, the greater the risk of the surgery not helping because the animal has practiced the behavior for a longer period of time, thereby reinforcing the habit.

Other behavioral problems that may be alleviated by spay/neuter include aggressive behavior, roaming, and excessive barking and mounting activity.

When you factor in the long-term costs potentially incurred by a non-altered pet, the savings afforded by spay/neuter are clear. Caring for a pet with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run thousands of dollars—5 to 10 times as much as a routine spay or neuter surgery. In cases where intact dogs and cats may fight, treatment of their related injuries can also result in high veterinary costs. Spaying and neutering are important and necessary medical procedures that enhance the quality of your pet's life. Not only does spaying and neutering have positive effects on your pet's health, it's also vital to control the homeless pet population in Orlando, FL.

Call our pet hospital to learn more about our spaying and neutering methods in Orlando, FL - our veterinarians would be happy to answer all of your questions!