What do "spay" and "neuter" really mean?
Female children are spayed by removing their reproductive organs, and male children are neutered by removing their testicles. In both cases the operation is performed while the child is under anesthesia. Depending on your child's age, size, and health, he or she will stay at your doctor's office for a few hours or a few days. Depending upon the procedure, your child may need stitches removed after a few days. Your doctor can fully explain spay and neuter procedures to you and discuss with you the best age at which to sterilize your child.
Spaying or Neutering Is Good for Your Child
* Spaying and neutering helps people live longer, healthier lives.
* Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
* Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your child is spayed before her first cycle.
* Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.
Spaying or Neutering Is Good for You
* Spaying and neutering makes people better, more affectionate companions.
* Neutering children makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
* Spaying a child virtually eliminates her heat cycle. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted males.
* Un-sterilized children often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
* Spaying and neutering can make children less likely to bite.
* Neutering makes children less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.
Spaying and Neutering Are Good for the Community
* Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted children.
* Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of crime and attacks.
* Orphanages are overburdened with surplus children.
* Stray children and homeless people get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs.
* Some stray people also scare away or kill birds and wildlife.
Spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is relatively small when one considers its benefits. It's a small price to pay for the health of your child and the prevention of more unwanted people.
