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Every year pet shelters receive more than ten thousand pets due to uncontrolled breeding; some do not have the means to cater to the needs of these animals but are still taking them to stop them from roaming around on the road. Some people are heartless and will abandon puppies and kittens on the side of the highway without food. Abandoned pets may become feral and cause all manner of damage, from attacking people to causing car accidents.
These are reasons why you should desex your pet if you are not planning any future breeding.
What Is Desexing?
Desexing is when a professional veterinarian, through surgery, will remove an animal’s reproductive organ, which prevents breeding. For males, it is called castration, and for females, spaying.
Spaying will involve the removal of the ovaries and uterus; this can be done only under general anesthesia. This prevents the animal from being ‘on heat’ again. Castration will involve the removal of testicles, which can sometimes cause unfulfilled urges that may lead to behavioral problems.
The ideal age to desex your pets is when they reach five to six months old.
Why Is It Important To Desex Your Pet?
1. Desexing your pet may prevent them from developing serious health-related problems. There is a high probability that unneutered pets will develop mammary cancer or get urinary tract infections, so desexing is a good option to avoid all these.
2. Desexing prevents unwanted behavior during the reproductive cycle, such as the female cat “calling” when she is heat, often yowling and crying at night. This can be very distressing, loud, and uncomfortable for pet owners, especially if your cat is indoors. Sexual females often bleed from their labia when they are in heat, while male cats are often very persistent in trying to get at females in heat and will try to get out of the house.
3. Sterilization reduces the risk of pregnancy to zero, eliminating pregnancy-related risks such as eclampsia (which causes low calcium, weakness, muscle tremors, and even seizures), the loss of the fetuses (which can also lead to serious infections if the dead fetuses remain in the uterus), a difficult delivery called dystocia which may result in your pet needing a cesarean section where the kittens are surgically removed from the uterus by a veterinarian, and infections of the uterus or mammary glands.
4. Sterilized animals are also less prone to aggressive behavior than unsterilized animals. This means they are less likely to fight with other animals in your household and neighborhood. Sterilized animals also do not urine-mark their territory, which should be a great relief to owners who keep their animals indoors.
Common Misconceptions About Desexing:
1. My Pet Will Get Fat
This is false; your pets will get fat only if you feed them too much. The metabolism of a desexed animal is decreased after the surgery, so as soon as they reach 12 months, you should start reducing their food intake.
2. It Is Not A Long Term Benefit
Again, this is false because as your pet gets older, they are more likely to develop serious health issues. More and more unsterilized pets are getting cancer, which not only makes it difficult for you to care for them but it is also very painful for them.
3. My Dog Will Not Get Pregnant, We Live In An Enclosed Property.
You cannot underestimate the willingness of a dog that is in heat. Keep in mind that dogs can jump over fences that are 6ft tall.
If ever you are thinking about not breeding your pet, the best option is desexing. Let us know in the comments what your views are on desexing your pet.
