Be Part of the SOLUTION!

Hey all, Dr. Mandi here again saying that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. There are an overwhelming amount of puppies and kittens, dogs and cats across this country without a roof over their heads. There are strays roaming the streets with no shelter or food and no place to call home. The solution to this sad state of affairs? Spay and neuter your pets. Owning a pet is, in my humble opinion, a privilege and comes with certain responsibilities. Spaying and neutering not only benefits you and your family, but your pet and your community.

How does it benefit you?
Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of serious health problems for your pet that can difficult and expensive to treat.

Spaying and neutering can make pets better companions for you and your family.

Neutering can make it less likely for dogs to mark their territory with strong, foul smelling urine not only outside but also inside of your home.

Spaying a dog (or cat) prevents her from having a heat cycle. Estrus (heat) lasts an average of 6-12 days, often twice a year in dogs. Dogs in heat may appear nervous, can be edgy and sometimes aggressive and can attract unwanted male dogs to your home.

Neutering can make pets less likely to roam, run away, get into fights with other dogs and get hit by a car.

Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than those that have not been spayed or neutered.

Neutering may make dogs less likely to bite.

How does it benefit your pet?
Spaying and neutering helps cats and dogs live longer, healthier lives.

Spaying females eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer, and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, especially when your pet is spayed before her first heat cycle.

Spaying can prevent various reproductive tract disorders, such as pyometra. Pyometra is an infection of the uterus that many times requires your pet to be spayed as an emergency procedure. Performing surgery when an animal has a pyometra can be risky and the condition itself can be deadly.

Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate problems like benign prostate disease.

How does it benefit your community?
An estimated 8-10 million animals are taken in by animal shelters each year.

An estimated 4-5 million animals are euthanized (put to sleep) in shelters each year.

Tax-payers spend millions of dollars each year to control the unwanted animal population.

Animal shelters are many times filled to capacity and overburdened with surplus animals.

Stray pets and homeless animals may get in to trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns and can spread disease that could potentially make humans ill. They can also frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their needs or misery.

MYTH: It is NOT "healthier" for your dog to have a litter or go through a heat cycle before they are spayed. The opposite is actually true. For each heat cycle your dog has, the chances of her developing breast cancer INCREASES significantly.

MYTH: Your dog is not "missing something" by not breeding or having a litter. They are not sexually motivated in the same way humans are. Guys...your dog does not miss his testicles.

So please people...spay and neuter. I know this sounds like a Bob Barker, Price is Right public announcement, but seriously it is important. As a veterinarian I see the effects of what NOT spaying and neutering can do to a family pet. I recently had to anesthetize a 15 year old dog to spay her due to a pyometra and cystic ovaries. It was a very difficult procedure for her and it took a very long time for her to recover from the anesthesia. I have had patients pass away from pyometra, testicular cancer and breast cancer. These are things that can be prevented. Also, remember that the older your pet is the more difficult the procedure is for them, so by spaying and neutering them at a young age you can save their lives.

That's all for now folks and remember..."People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."