Being a pet parent means making many choices about their health and wellbeing that will set them up for a long, happy life with your family. One of the most important decisions you’ll make for your dog or cat is a reproductive health plan.
What Is Spaying or Neutering?
- Spaying: A surgical procedure in which a female pet’s uterus and ovaries are completely removed under general anesthesia.
- Neutering: A surgical procedure in which a male pet’s testicles are removed under general anesthesia, while the scrotal sac is left intact. Sometimes one or both of the testicles cannot be found in the scrotum. This condition is called “cryptorchidism”. In these cases, additional surgery will be necessary to locate the missing testicle(s).
These procedures prevent unwanted litters, but their benefits extend far beyond population control.
Health Benefits
- For females: Eliminates the risk of pyometra, a common and life-threatening uterine infection; removes the chance of ovarian or uterine cancers; and significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors if performed before the first heat cycle.
- For males: Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces prostate problems. Neutering can also help curb hormone-driven behaviors such as roaming, urine marking, and some forms of aggression.
Behavioral & Safety Benefits
Unneutered pets are more likely to roam in search of a mate, exposing them to traffic, predators, and fights with other animals. Neutered male cats, for example, are less likely to spread serious infections like FIV and FeLV, which are often transmitted through bite wounds.
Long-Term Cost Savings
While surgery is a one-time expense, it often prevents thousands in emergency or chronic care costs. Treating a pyometra, for example, requires life-saving emergency surgery that is both risky and expensive. Preventive spay/neuter avoids these scenarios.
Community Benefits
Please be aware that your community already has many surrendered or abandoned pets filling shelters. Accidental pregnancies result in more unwanted births and add more pressure to an already overloaded system. Pets in shelters wait for many months or years for someone to adopt them. Some shelters have to resort to euthanasia due to lack of capacity problems. The punchline is – We already have many pets in the world. Please plan ahead for spaying and neutering to avoid adding more!
Timing Matters, But It’s Individual
Think of 5 months of age as the target. You want to be planning before your pet approaches the age of sexual maturity.
You may have heard that pets should be spayed or neutered by a certain age. In reality, the best timing depends on your pet’s breed, age, and lifestyle. Regardless of when you plan to spay or neuter, having the conversation with your veterinarian around the 5 month mark allows you to make a plan and to be prepared for their changing bodies.
Cats can often be safely spayed or neutered within the first few months of life. On the other hand, large and giant dog breeds may benefit from waiting until growth is complete. Opting for this may mean your family will have to manage heat cycles or sexual behaviour in the meantime. Some breeds may benefit from forgoing the procedure altogether, although doing so comes with its own risks.
Importantly, if you have multiple intact animals living in the same household, that will also speed up the recommended timeline. Yes, even brothers and sisters will mate with each other!
The bottom line: Always discuss your pet’s individual case with your veterinarian. They’ll weigh your pet’s health, risk factors, and developmental stage before recommending the safest time for surgery.
Spaying or neutering isn’t just about preventing puppies or kittens… It’s also about giving your pet a healthier, safer, and often longer life.
