The Pros and Cons of Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and neutering, the removal of pet’s reproductive organs, has been a controversy for decades. Veterinarians, animal shelters, and animal welfare organizations most often encourage this process and there are many reasons for and against spaying and neutering.

PROS:

It helps reduce dog and cat overpopulation.

Whenever there is a surplus of dogs and cats, euthanasia becomes the final option. There are millions in the United States. Cats are 45 times more prolific and dogs 15 times. They need our help to reduce their numbers to a manageable amount without having to euthanize them.

Sterilization will increase your cat or dog’s life span. 

Spaying or neutering your pet adds years: one to three for dogs, three to five for cats. The surgically altered dogs and cats have a very low risk for many cancers, including prostate, ovarian, testicular and mammary cancers.

Your cat/dog will be a better pet.

The hormones that convinced pets to roam in search of mates will have run dry, so they are also less at risk of getting the diseases that intact dogs and cats could get while they roam. There’s more. Surveys show that approximately 85% of dogs hit by cars are unaltered, and cats spread Feline Immunodeficiency Syndrome by bites, and unaltered cats are much more aggressive than altered cats.

CONS:

No Pregnancies

Spaying will sterilize your dog or cat. She will no longer be able to have puppies or kittens. While many believe that to be a good thing, for some families, it’s discouraging because they want puppies or kittens.

Invasive Surgery

Spaying is a major surgery, and as such, there are risks involved. The veterinarian surgically enters the abdomen; it is considered "major surgery". However, since this surgery is a routinely performed one, it is usually safe. There are inherent risks with any anesthesia or surgical procedure. Talking to a vet and raising concerns is a good way to proceed.

Higher risks for other health issues:

Hypothyroidism, orthopedic disorders, and urinary tract infections have been shown, in certain studies, to have a higher rate of occurrence in pets who have been spayed or neutered before their first heat. 

Even though most veterinarians do encourage spaying and neutering cats and dogs, it may not be the best option for every pet. Talk to your pet's vet before deciding you want your pet spayed or neutered.

http://www.earthrated.com/blog/the-spay-and-neuter-controversy/

http://www.spayusa.org/benefits.php

http://www.woodbridgeanimalhospital.com/Dog-Wellness/pros-and-cons-of-spaying-and-neutering-in-dogs.html

http://vetmedicine.about.com/cs/dogdiseasess/a/spaying.htm