Is having your pets spayed or neutered a good idea?

Question

Lance---that's pretty funny.

krister--that's it? I asked this question especially so you could answer it. I thought a few more paragraphs were coming.

Answer 1

For us, yes. ( I have a suspicion if they could speak they wouldn't be to keen on the whole idea.)

Answer 2

Yes it is a must. When you spay or neuter your pet you cut down their risk of developing cancer and other health risks. Also it cuts down on the population of unwanted pets. Another great thing is it keeps them from running away. Even if your dog is tied up or inside, if mateing is invovled, he or she will find a way out. Don't get a pet unless you plan to spay or netuer them. You shouldn't have sex without protection and you shouldn't have a pet unless you plan to be responsible. Maybe you have a pure bread animal but if you google the breed name you will see that there are numerous rescue shelters that will give you a dog or cat for free, which is also pure bread, just because someone didn't like their pet or didn't reseach it well enough. My family has gotten dogs from rescue places before. The dog had a 10 hour drive to get here. One volunteer would drive 2 hours and then another volunteer would meet that one and take the dog from there and so on. So in answer to your question, there is no reason not to spay or neuter your pet.

Answer 3

Yes, it reduces the chance that your cat or dog will contract various illnesses (including some cancers, FIV & obviously conditions connected with pregnancy & giving birth), makes the pet more less likely to want to stray or fight & cuts down on the numbers of beautiful, healthy animals killed in shelters every year simply because there aren't enough homes for them all.
Other animals may also benefit from being spayed or neutered. Some ppl even have their companion rodents altered so that they can keep the genders together without a population explosion. Neutering also helps many male rodents who have aggression problems, from what I've read. A friend of mine rescues rabbits & has all of them spayed or neutered.

Answer 4

Yes, unless you plan to breed the animal, it is a great idea to have you pet neutered or spayed.

A good friend of mine almost lost her 13 year old poodle to an infection of the uterus. She had not been 'fixed' and developed this infection and went from being a normal happy dog at night to being incredibly ill the next morning. By 6PM that same day (less than 24 hours after first symptom), it was almost too late to save her. Fortunately for my friend, the dog was saved but at the cost of $2300.00. All this could have been avoided by a simple little surgery.

Answer 5

Yes... it is essential.. far too many kitties and dogs are wandering the streets, dying, or being euthanized because people won't.

My personal opinion is that if someone does NOT spey their cat, and allows them to get pregnant, and gives away the kittens, they should be forced to go to a shelter.. look 5 cats or kittens in the eye and say "I'm sorry you're going to be put to sleep this week.. see.. the person who might have adopted you, adopted my cat's kitten instead"

Maybe they should be forced to be in the room when the cats are euthanized.

It really is sad to me how many people are irresponsible pet owners.

It's healthier for the animals to be fixed. It is proven to prevent certain cancers in them.

and far too many male cats are being given away and end up euthanized because the people can't get them to stop spraying. THis could be prevented if they had been fixed by 6 months of age.

Answer 6

If you let your cat or dog reproduce in this day and age, you should not be allowed to have one as a part of your family.
Millions of adoptable animals are put down each year and the fact that people are more concerned having cuddly puppies and kittens just sickens me.

Leaving cats and dogs intact has many health consequences such as increased cancer rates and uncomfort due to enlarged prostate in male dogs. The behavioral problems can be an even greater risk.

Answer 7

I think it is a good idea due to the overpopulation of animals that there already are and that are being euthanized in our country every day in millions. Also if you have a female pet your pet would not have to go through any pain that goes with reproduction as well as you do not have to clean up the mess that is left after they have a litter of babies. If a male, you don't have to worry about them spraying as much, being as territorial, or wandering off and getting hit by a car following the scent of a female who is in heat.

Answer 8

We have the stray cats and dogs spayed or neutered that stay around our house.

We don't live way out in the country, but over the years we have had several cats and some dogs come up and stay at our house.

We don't want to be over run with animals so if they stay and they decide to make us part of their family we have them fixed.

My grandparents had a small poodle, she was bred once of twice and had puppies.

Later in life she had knots in her breast and it was probably due to having puppies.

Our cat that stays in doors we got as a stray kitten. I read that the earlier they are "fixed" the more like a kitten they will stay.

He's a 15 pound baby! He loves to be held and he thinks we are cats. or he thinks he is human.

I also kept him from developing the nasty habit of spraying to mark their area.

It makes them healthier happier pets.

Animals don't reproduce like people. It's not because they want to, it's because it is in their nature.

It is not a pleasurful experience for animals to reproduce, it's just instinct. There are enough unwanted pets. Having them "fixed" just stops that instinct for taking place.

It also keeps the male cats or dogs from fighting or at least reduces it. We have a male cat at my mom's house that stays inside because even though he's fixed he still got in fights and always got beat up!

We decided he must stay in. He's lost most of his ear on one side and has had many cuts.

Answer 9

Yes, for all the other reasons and it can significantly extend their life span. I haven't spayed or neutered either of my dogs but I will breed them in a couple of years; after that... who knows.

Answer 10

YES! YES!YES!
It improves the quality of their lives
It does not allow unwanted offspring into the world.Thousands of unwanted animals are put to death year year do not add to that.
SPAY & NEUTER all pets.

Answer 11

Yes for you and your pets.You keep the pet population down .It is a great way to help also in saving many animals from being put down.