Spay / Neuter - Benefits & Myths

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There are many medical and behavioral benefits in having your pet neutered or spayed .

Males - Neutering (Cats & Dogs)

Convenience to Owner

• Reduces aggression against other animals. It decreases fights, thus saving you expensive veterinary bills and aggravation.
• Usually stops tomcats from "spraying" foul-smelling urine in the house.
• Reduces the annoying and embarrassing urge of male dogs to "mount" children's and adults' legs.

Better Health for Your Pet

• Eliminates your pet's desire to seek out a female and reduces the risks involved with a free-roaming animal (car accidents, etc).
• Reduces the risk of prostate problems and testicular tumors later in life.

Helps Decrease the Overpopulation Problem.

• One male running loose for just a few hours can impregnate many females adding to the serious problem of unwanted puppies and kittens.

Eliminates Sexual Frustration.

• A male sensing a female in heat nearby may dig out or jump fences in the desire to mate.
• Lets your pet relax and enjoy being part of the family

MYTHS

• Neutering will take away the "guard dog" instincts. NOT TRUE Neutering a dog does not reduce its ability as either a guard or watch dog. They will still be as protective of their territory as they were before the surgery.
• Neutering makes pets fat. NOT TRUE. Neutering does not make your pet fat or lazy. Too much food and not enough exercise is the main cause of obesity.
• Neutering will hurt him. NOT TRUE. Neutering is a safe and relatively painless operation done by a registered veterinarian. Your pet will appreciate the freedom from sexual frustration.

Females - Spaying (Cats & Dogs)

Convenience to Owners

• Eliminates estrous or "heat" periods; no bloody discharges.
• Eliminates the scent that attracts annoying males.
• No need to confine your female while in heat.
• Eliminates the frantic pacing and crying by the female while in heat (cats are especially vocal at this time).

Better Health for Your Pet

• Eliminates all the problems and potential risks involved in pregnancy and birth.
• Eliminates the common problem of cancer of the uterus as the pet grows older.
• Decreases the possibility of mammary tumors.

Helps Decrease the Pet Overpopulation Problem

• By not bringing more unwanted puppies and kittens into the world.
• Rids you of the worry of what to do with unplanned litters of puppies and kittens.

Eliminates Sexual Frustration

• Decreases your pet's desire to roam in search of a mate.
• Decreasing the problems with a free-roaming animal.
• Lets your pet relax and enjoy being part of the family.

MYTHS

• She should have one litter first. NOT TRUE. It is actually better for her not to have a litter or a heat period before being spayed. They can be spayed after a certain age: Read This Infomation.
• Spaying will hurt her. NOT TRUE. Spaying is safe and relatively painless operation done by a registered veterinarian. Your pet will appreciate the freedom from sexual frustration or repeated parenthood.
• I will find good homes for the puppies or kittens. NOT TRUE. You may be able to place your puppies or kittens, but are they in "good" homes and "permanent" homes? And remember, each time you place one of your puppies or kittens, somewhere else an animal is being killed because there was no available home.
• Spaying will make your pet fat. NOT TRUE. Spaying will not make her fat and lazy. Too much food and not enough exercise is the main cause of obesity.

You Can Save Hundreds of Animals by Spaying or Neutering Just One. Please, Spay or Neuter Your Pet!

Support Low Cost Spay / Neuter Clinics

Support low cost spay and neuter with an animal friendly license plate available from the Texas DOT. From the $30 specialty plate fee, $22 goes to the Texas Department of Health to make grants to eligible organizations that sterilize animals owned by the general public at minimal or no cost.

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