Spay / Neuter Services
Spay / Neuter Facts
It's estimated that one million homeless dogs and cats will end up in Texas animal shelters this year. Nationwide, more than four million companion animals are euthanized annually; many are puppies and kittens less than six months old.
Every litter of puppies or kittens born contributes to the overwhelming statistics of animal overpopulation. At the SPCA of Texas, we emphasize that prevention-spaying or neutering your pet--is the best way to help curb the problem of pet overpopulation.
Spaying and neutering are two of the most common surgical procedures performed on cats and dogs. For females, spaying, the removal of the ovaries, also called an ovariohysterectomy, has many benefits, including:
- Elimination of the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.
- Elimination of unwanted pregnancies.
- Less than one percent chance of development of breast cancer if spayed before the first heat cycle.
- Eight percent chance of the development of breast cancer if spayed after one heat cycle.
- Prevention of hormonal changes that may interfere with medication if your pet has diabetes or epilepsy.
Neutering your male pet (castration), involves removing the testicles and spermatic cord. This, too, has many benefits, including:
- Elimination of the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common tumor in male dogs.
- Eliminates unwanted litters.
- Greatly reduced risk of prostate cancer and prostatitis.
- Reduced risk of perianal tumors.
- Reduced urge to roam and fight.
- Elimination and reduction of spraying or marking if neutered prior to six months or before the onset of these behaviors.
- Elimination of the risk and spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
A host of myths contribute to the public's misconception about spaying and neutering. All of these are false, and here's why:
- Preventing animals from having litters is unnatural. Because we've domesticated dogs and cats, we've created the problem of overpopulation. We must now take steps to solve the problem.
- It's better to allow a female to have one litter before spaying. The best time to spay a female is before her first heat. This also greatly reduces the threat of breast cancer.
- Behavior and personality are altered after surgery. Changes in behavior are positive. These include reduction of territorial spraying, less fighting, and less urge to roam.
- Animals become fat and lazy after surgery. In most cases, animals become fat and lazy because they're overfed and inactive.
- Males don't need to be neutered because they don't have litters. One unaltered male can be responsible for impregnating many females.
Our staff can answer your questions about spaying or neutering your pet, or any other procedure your pet may undergo at our clinic. Call 214.742.7722 to schedule your appointment for this very important procedure.