Why Spaying & Neutering is important
By Spaying & Neutering your pet(s) you’ll help control the crisis of homeless pets on the island of Kaua’i. Millions of healthy animals are euthanized in the United States every year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. Help the Kauai Humane Society prevent the island of Kaua’i from becoming a part of this statistic.
Medical Benefits:
Help you’r pets live a longer, healthier life. Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors. These tumors are malignant or cancerous in about 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Spaying your pet before her first heat cycle will offer the best prevention for these diseases.
Neutering your male pet(s) prevent testicular cancer and some prostate problems allowing them to thrive for longer
Behavioral Benefits:
Your spayed female won’t go in to heat. While cycles can vary, female cats usually go in to heat four to five days every 3 weeks during breeding season. In an effort to advertise more mates, they’ll become more vocal usually in the form of yowling, urinate more frequently - sometimes all over the house or even in your garden outside!
Your male dog may be less likely to run off or take himself for walks. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways to escape from the house or yard. Once he has the freedom to roam, he is at risk of injury by means of a dog fight, getting struck by a vehicle or not being able to make his way back home.
A neutered male of both species may be better behaved. Intact dogs and cats are more likely to mark their territory by spraying a strong pungent urine scent around the house or property. Your dog may be less inclined to mount other dogs people and inanimate objects after he has been neutered. In a lot of cases, neutering your male helps to prevent aggression issues if neutered before adolescents.
Financial Benefits:
Spaying & Neutering your pets is also a great way to prevent paying for the care of a litter. The cost for your pets Spay / Neuter Surgery is far less than the cost of supplies, vaccines, food, and energy that goes in to raising many at a time.
Myths & Misconceptions about Spay / Neuter
Spaying / Neutering will NOT cause your pet to become obese or overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds. Your pet has the ability to remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide the appropriate amount of exercise and monitor their food intake.
Spaying / Neutering your pet is NOT a quick fix for behavior issues. Although Neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a high level of testosterone, there is no guarantee that your dogs behavior will change after they are altered. Although the surgery will reduce the levels of testosterone, it does not eliminate it completely. Behaviors that have been learned or that have become bad habits need more than one on one obedience training.
When is the best time to Spay / Neuter your pet?
For dogs: The traditional age for neutering is around 6 months of age. Although, puppies as young as eight weeks old can be altered as long as they are healthy. Dogs can be Spayed / Neutered as adults as well. Keep in mind that there is a slightly higher risk in senior dogs, dogs that are overweight or obese, or dogs that have health problems.
For Cats: It is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be Spayed / Neutered. Surgeries for kittens often occur once the kitten has exceeded 2 pounds in body weight. It is recommended to Spay / Neuter your cat(s) before 5 months of age to help prevent spraying behaviors and pregnancy.