Every year thousands of stray and unwanted pets end up at the S.P.C.A and other animal welfare shelters across the country. Less than 25% of these animals are reclaimed by their owners or homed to new owners. The fate of the other 75%  is euthanasia because there are simply not enough good homes to accommodate them. Spaying females and neutering male pets goes a long way in alleviating this situation by preventing unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. 

Sterilisation remains the most effective and safest method of birth control for our pets. Hormone tablets and injections are still used but potential side effects include uterine infections, diabetes, adrenal gland disturbances and increased risk of cancer.

On the other hand, sterilisation has the following benefits:

• decreased risk of mammary cancer and no risk of  uterine and ovarian cancer in female pets.

• no risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduced risk of prostate cancer.

• eliminates the possibility of uterine infections which are common in the older unspayed female dog.

• prevents unwanted pregnancies.

• reduces aggression in male dogs and cats. Fighting in dogs can lead to severe injuries or death and cats develop bite wound abscesses or risk  picking up  feline AIDS from the cats they fight.

• urine marking of territory in male pets usually ceases after neutering especially in cats and they also tend to roam  less.

• no more problems associated with the heat period like strange male animals coming to visit, blood stains to clean up from the bitch on heat, roaming of the pet on heat, and cat choirs or howling dogs keeping you awake at night

Clients are often concerned that their pet will become fat and lazy after sterilisation. The metabolic rate may slow down after the operation due to hormonal changes and if kept on the same level of feeding, a weight gain will occur. Increasing weight may contribute to decreased activity levels and a vicious cycle may develop which could then lead to obesity. To prevent this occurring, owners need to make adjustments to the amounts they are feeding or they can increase levels of exercise after the animal has fully recovered from surgery.

Another concern is the danger of anaesthesia and though there is always a slight risk involved, current veterinary anaesthetic drugs and practices make the procedure extremely safe. The medical risks associated with fighting and roaming are far greater as well as the increased chances of cancer and life-threatening  infections.