In the U.S. as a whole, there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. To help with this growing problem the City of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Clark County are creating spay and neuter laws. These laws make it mandatory for all pets to be spayed or neutered unless certain exceptions apply.
You may have questions or concerns about spaying or neutering you pet. Talk to a Las Vegas area veterinarian to see how these spay and neuter laws will affect you.
Myth – “My pet will get fat and lazy if I spay/neuter it.”
Fact – Spaying/neutering an animal does not cause them to gain weight. It does cause their metabolism to slow down so they require less food. So, if you continue to feed your pet the same amount of food after spaying/neutering, it will gain weight.
Myth – “It is better to let her have one litter before she is spayed.”
Fact – A female dog spayed before her first heat will have a near zero chance of developing mammary cancer. After the first heat, this incidence climbs to 7% and after the second heat the risk is 25% (one in four!). But is it too late if a dog is already past her second heat? No, in fact spaying is important even in female dogs who already have obvious tumors. This is because many mammary tumors are stimulated by estrogens; removing the ovaries, the source of estrogens, will help retard tumor spread. Also, any female that is not spayed is at risk for a pyometra, which is a life-threatening infection of the uterus.
Myth – “I don’t want my male cat or dog to feel like less of a male”
Fact – Pets don’t have any concept of sexual identity or ego. Neutering will not change a pet’s basic personality. He doesn’t suffer any kind of emotional reaction or identity crisis when neutered.
Myth – “It is too expensive to get my pet spayed or neutered”
Fact – A spay or neuter surgery is a one-time cost- a relatively small cost when compared to all the benefits. It’s a bargain compared to the cost of having a litter and ensuring the health of the mother and litter; two months of pregnancy and another two months until the litter is weaned can add up to significant veterinary bills and food costs if complications develop. Most importantly, it’s a very small price to pay for the health of your pet and the prevention of the births of more unwanted pets.
Benefits to Spaying Females
- Eliminate the chance for unwanted pregnancies and helps alleviate the pet overpopulation issue.
- Increases your pet’s chance of living a longer, healthier life due to decreased chances of mammary and uterine tumors as well as a pyometra (infection of the uterus).
- Eliminates unwanted behaviors such as roaming, marking, and interest in males.
- Eliminates inconvenience of bleeding associated with her heat cycle.
Benefits to Neutering Males
- Eliminates chance for your pet to impregnate females and helps alleviate overpopulation issue.
- Increases your pet’s chance of living a longer, healthier life due to decreased chances of testicular tumors, prostate enlargement, and other types of tumors.
- May eliminate unwanted behaviors such as roaming, marking, aggression, and mounting.
For more information see this informative article in the Las Vegas Review Journal.
http://www.lvrj.com/news/pet-sterilization-law-goes-into-effect-in-las-vegas-89758652.html