Spaying and neutering have many benefits for the altered animal in addition to reducing the numbers of unwanted pets. Altered pets generally live longer, have fewer health problems related to reproduction, are easier to train and live with, and have less desire to roam (and be hit by cars or lost).
Altered male dogs and cats are less likely to engage in frustrating urine marking behaviors, and tend to be less aggressive; the vast majority of serious dog bites are inflicted by unaltered male dogs. Altered females do not go into season (“heat”), saving lots of frustration for their owners. Unaltered pets have a higher incidence of preventable reproductive cancers, and the chances of these cancers occurring increases as the pet ages.
In addition to these benefits, having an altered pet means peace of mind for the responsible owner, who knows his or her pet will never contribute to the pet overpopulation crisis. If your pet was adopted from AHS, he or she has already been altered. If your pet did not come from us, we do perform spaying and neutering by appointment only in our Clinic.
