Myths About Spaying Female Dogs and Cats

Common Misconceptions About Canine and Feline Spays

May 19, 2009

Rumors and myths about when and why to spay female dogs and cats are persistent and often confusing to pet owners. Read on to find out which are true and which are not.

When it comes to spaying a female dog or cat, there are a lot of misconceptions and rumors about the benefits of spaying, the risks of spaying, when to spay and when not to spay.

Myth #1: Spaying Makes a Dog or Cat Fat and Lazy

Many pets do become less active after being spayed and may gain weight if allowed. However, this is easily overcome by controlling the pet's diet and providing adequate interaction and exercise for the dog or cat.

Myth #2: Dogs and Cats Should have One Litter Before being Spayed

There is no health benefit to allowing a dog or cat to give birth before being spayed. To the contrary, dogs and cats which are spayed at a young age and before the first heat cycle have significantly lower risks of developing mammary cancers as they get older.

Another consideration in allowing a female dog or cat to give birth before spaying is the disposition of all of the puppies or kittens. Even if the pet owner is successful in finding homes for all of the puppies or kittens produced in the litter, numerous dogs and cats, as well as puppies and kittens, are euthanized yearly at animal shelters due to a lack of available homes. Adding to the pet overpopulation problem by purposely breeding a pet dog or cat is irresponsible and insensitive.

Myth #3: Dogs and Cats Should not be Spayed Until Six Months of Age

While this was the recommendation several years ago, it is no longer recommended to wait until a dog or cat is six months of age to spay. In fact, early spaying and neutering is being routinely performed at animal shelters throughout the United States as early as 6-8 weeks of age without ill effects.

Myth #4: Dogs and Cats Should be Allowed to Come Into Heat Before being Spayed

Spaying a dog or cat after the first heat cycle actually increases the risk of mammary cancers developing later in life. Spaying prior to the first heat cycle is the most current recommendation.

Myth #5: Watching a Pet Give Birth is a Healthy Experience for a Child

Many people feel that their children will benefit from watching the miracle of an animal giving birth. What these people fail to take into account is that whelping or queening carries some degree of risk for the female dog or cat. While a young child might benefit from watching a successful birthing which takes place without complication, that same child might be incredibly traumatized by watching a puppy or kitten be born deformed or dead. Worse yet, should complications arise that take the life of the female pet, the child would then lose a cherished companion.

Myth #6: A Female Pet will Become Aggressive After being Spayed

Female dogs and cats do not become aggressive because they have been spayed. Changes in temperament and disposition are rarely due to being spayed and when there are changes in temperament as a result of being spayed, these changes are much more likely to be positive changes.

Spaying a female dog or cat at an early age is not only beneficial for the pet, it is also the responsible thing to do as a pet owner.

The copyright of the article Myths About Spaying Female Dogs and Cats in Pet Care is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Myths About Spaying Female Dogs and Cats in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.