Benefits of Spaying a Female Cat or Dog
Spayed Female Dogs and Cats are Healthier and Live Longer Lives
Apr 23, 2009
The primary reason for spaying a dog or cat is to remove the ability to produce kittens or puppies. However, spaying a female dog or cat does have health benefits for the pet as well.
What Happens when a Female Dog or Cat is Spayed?
Spaying a female dog or cat involves removing the reproductive tract. In some cases, both of the ovaries as well as the uterus is removed. In other cases, the ovaries are removed but the uterus is left in place. In either case, the female dog or cat will no longer produce the hormones which are responsible for producing the heat cycle.
What are the Benefits of Spaying a Female Dog or Cat?
Spaying a female dog or cat produces many health benefits.
- Dogs and cats which are spayed do not experience heat cycles. When a female dog comes into heat, she will bleed from her vagina or vulva and will attract large numbers of male dogs. When a female cat comes into heat, she will cry continually and will also attract male cats. In either case, there is inconvenience and sometimes frustration for the pet owner. Spayed female dogs and cats will not come into heat.
- Spaying a female dog or cat removes the possibility of unwanted litters of puppies or kittens.
- A spayed female dog or cat cannot experience dystocia or a difficult birth because it cannot become pregnant.
- When spayed at a young age, female dogs and cats experience a greatly reduced chance of mammary or breast tumors as they age.
- Spaying a female dog or cat removes the possibility of deadly uterine infections known as pyometras.
Will Spaying a Female Dog or Cat Change Her Temperament?
Spaying a female dog or cat will only change an animal's temperament for the better. Spaying will not result in a female dog or cat becoming more aggressive or hostile toward owners or other people. However, spaying sometimes does make a dog or cat become more affectionate toward its owners.
It should be noted that directly after the surgery, a female dog may experience enough discomfort resulting from the surgery to cause her to become irritable. This effect is temporary and can be controlled through the use of proper medications to reduce pain.
Will a Spayed Female Dog or Cat Get Lazy and Gain Weight?
Spayed female dogs and cats do have a tendency to gain weight if their food intake is not monitored. It is advisable to evaluate the body condition of a spayed dog or cat periodically to make certain that excessive weight gain is not occurring.
If a spayed dog or cat does begin to gain excess weight following surgery, the amount of food she needs to maintain her body weight at an ideal weight should be calculated. This amount of food should then be measured carefully and offered daily, taking care not to introduce extra calories to the diet through the use of treats or in-between meal snacks.
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