Dispelling Common Myths About Spaying and Neutering Pets
Consider, if you will, a few of the more common myths about spaying and neutering pets that keep too many pet owners from getting Fluffy and Fido fixed. These, for instance...
Despite the hordes of unwanted pets, despite the millions of dogs and cats put to sleep each year, some pet owners would rather believe the myths about spaying and neutering pets than to bite the bullet and do the right thing. Some people don't even think it is the right thing, because they've never really thought about it.
Sure, it's sad to realize that Tigger will never be a daddy, but is that sadder than ten kittens starving to death? Is it sadder than euthanizing his feral offspring because no one wants them? We don't think so, and we hope you'll feel the same after reading the truth about these myths.
Myth 1: If I get my pet spayed or neutered, he or she will get fat and lazy.
As if most dogs and cats didn't already lie around the house all day anyway...
In any case, this myth about spaying and neutering pets might be true if you overfeed your pet and don't exercise him enough, but that's hardly the fault of the procedure, now is it?
Instead of worrying about how your Babykins is gaining weight, take action. Adjust his diet accordingly, cut down on the treats (no matter how often he uses the sad eyes trick), and start exercising him more. Admittedly, this will be easier to achieve with a dog than a cat, but you can even do that if you're determined.
Myth 2: But my baby is a purebred Chihuahua/Persian/Great Dane/Siamese/St. Bernard/whatever. I can't have him/her fixed!
This might be a good argument if Fifi or Fluffy is the prize dam or sire for a registered puppy farm or cattery, but this myth about spaying and neutering pets falls flat when you see the actual shelter statistic. As it turns out, one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters, whether dog or cat, is purebred.
In other words, their breeding didn't mean diddly-squat when someone decided to dump them at the feet of the state. The sad truth is that due to poor breeding management, there are simply too many dogs and cats that no one wants -- mutt or purebred.
Myth 3: My female cat or dog will live a healthier life if she has one litter first.
Pure malarkey, though this myth about spaying and neutering pets used to be valid -- until someone actually did a scientific study to check it out. It turns out that female dogs and cats spayed before their first heats are generally healthier than those who've been mothers.
This makes sense, when you consider it. With all other things being equal, how could a female that's gone through the rigors of pregnancy and childbirth be healthier than one that hasn't? These days, vets are willing to spay puppies and kittens as young as eight weeks old, though most prefer to wait until they're a little older.
Myth 4: But...but...if I have my male dog or cat fixed, he'll feel like less of a man.
While it's true that you might feel this way if you got fixed, it's not going to happen to a dog or cat. No matter how we try to humanize them, our pets are animals. As far as we can tell, they have no concept of sexual identity and ego, so neutering isn't going to shatter them emotionally.
This may be the worst of the common myths about spaying and neutering pets, and we really need to get over it.
