The Importance of Spaying and Neutering
There are many reasons why you should spay/neuter your pet and it is an important decision all pet owners should be making. Not only is it beneficial for your personal animals, it is alsobeneficial for our unowned pet population; roughly six to eight million dogs and cats come through rescue centers and shelters around the United States each year, and only three to four million of those animals are adopted. The rest are typically euthanized.
The SPCA of Northern Nevada encourages spaying and neutering of dogs and cats to help with overpopulation and for health reasons. Spaying/neutering will not only prevent unwanted pregnancies, but will also give your pet a chance at a longer, healthier life.These surgeries are performed under general anesthesia and by a licensed veterinarian, with the assistance of a Licensed Veterinary Technician and trained veterinary staff. A spay is the surgical removal of a female’s uterus and ovaries, while a neuter removes the males testicles. The removal of these organs makes both the male and female incapable of creating babies.
The benefits of fixing dogs and cats outweigh any benefit of not having them fixed.Spaying a female before her first heat drastically reduces her chances of mammary, ovarian and uterine cancers, which are expensive to treat with poor prognosis.Having a spayed female also removes the possibility of opyometra, which is another expensive medical emergency. Neutering a male will help with many unwanted behavioral traits including potential aggressiveness (biting/fighting with other animals) later in life, marking inside the home, excessive running away and it almost eliminates wandering. Neutering a male also decreases the risk of prostate diseases.
The SPCA offers a weekly low-cost spay and neuter clinic that is available to help the northern Nevada community afford spay/neuter services and helps control pet overpopulation. The SPCA has performed over 20,000 spay and neuters over the years and has extensive experience with these types of surgeries. If you need financial assistance with the spaying/neutering or vaccinating of your animals, please contact us at 775-324-7773 x406.
The SPCA, Washoe County Regional Animal Servicesand Nevada Humane Society are some of the organizations that will help take in abandoned animals so they can find a new loving home. All animals that are adopted from the SPCA have been spayed or neutered and received all of their vaccinations and are microchipped. Our goal is to help control the number of canine and feline unwanted births each year and to make sure the animals are given proper care for a healthy and active life. The cost of owning a family pet can be expensive, so before you adopt, make sure you and your family can afford to make them part of your family.
Shelby Springer, Clinic Manager/Licensed Veterinary Technician for the SPCA of Northern Nevada