The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Spaying is the way to have a happy and healthy pet
World Spay Day 2017 is held on February 28 and promotes the benefits of having your pet spayed or neutered.
According to the Humane Society of the United States – the body behind the annual awareness day – it can be the single best decision you make for their long-term welfare.
Their stance is this – that spaying or neutering can reduce the number of homeless pets killed, improve your pet’s health and reduce unruly behaviour.
It also decreases the urges of an animal to roam and reduces the risk of certain types of cancers.
By having the procedure, you can also help reduce the overpopulation of homeless animals worldwide.
A spokeswoman for World Spay Day said: “Neutering can have really great benefits – both to your pet and to you.
“Plus you’ll be doing your bit to help the growing crisis of pets being abandoned, dumped or given away because there aren’t enough homes to go around.”
So what exactly is neutering, or spaying?
Basically, it means surgically preventing pets from reproducing.
All operations are carried out under general anaesthetic. Every surgical procedure has some risk but modern techniques are very safe.
Because it involves surgery, there will be some discomfort but dogs are given drugs to control this and most are up and about just a few hours after they’ve had their operation.
The cost of castration or spaying a pet can vary a lot (spaying a dog can cost anything from £100 to over £500 depending on the service and what needs doing) so it is best to check with your vet.
Several charities, including the Blue Cross, can help with this so contact your nearest one to find out more.
Female dogs can be spayed from around six months old and there’s no benefit to waiting until they’ve had their first season.
Some of the health advantages of spaying are actually reduced if you wait until your dog has had a season, although some larger breeds can develop other problems if they are neutered too early, so you should discuss this with your vet.
Male dogs can be neutered from six to seven months old, although the exact age varies depending on their breed, so speak to your vet – but don’t leave it too late otherwise the benefits start to reduce.
If you own a female dog it’s worth getting her spayed for several reasons.
It can prevent unwanted male attention, prevent pregnancy, stop the sometimes messy business of being in season, reduce the risk of uterus infections and cancer and stop siblings mating.