9 Myths About Spaying and Neutering

MYTH: My dog will get fat and lazy.

FACT: The only way your dog will get fat and lazy is if you do not provide enough exercise and feed him too much.

Is Your Pet Hungry or Does She Just Want More Food?

MYTH: It’s better for my dog to have one litter before I spay her.

FACT: Medical evidence has shown that a dog who is spayed before her first heat cycle is typically healthier than dogs spayed after the first heat cycle or after having a litter of puppies. Most animal shelters and adoption facilities, as well as many veterinarians, now sterilize dogs as young as eight weeks of age. You should consult your veterinarian about the appropriate time to spay or neuter your dog.

Why Spay or Neuter Your Pet

MYTH: Children should experience the miracle of birth.

FACT: The likelihood of a child actually seeing a dog give birth is slim. Most births occur at night and in a secluded area. The only lesson the child learns is that dogs can be created and discarded as humans see fit. The real miracle your child should experience is the knowledge that by preventing your dog from having babies, you are potentially saving the lives of hundreds of other dogs.

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Read more: Pet Health, Pets, myths about neutering, neutering, spaying

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melania P.

9:09AM PST on Feb 28, 2013

Shared!!! People don´t understand the huge importance of this! I have done it with all of my cats!

February 28
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Kathy P.

9:58AM PDT on Oct 18, 2012

ALWAYS spay and neuter! adopt a shelter dog! or a stray!

October 18
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Lika S.

4:16PM PDT on Oct 15, 2012

Excellent points. Adopt, don't breed.

October 15
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Debra G.

7:01AM PDT on Oct 8, 2012

Thanks

October 8
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Mari G.

7:31PM PDT on Oct 6, 2012

"Children need to see the miracle of birth". wtf...

October 6
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Shan D.

9:05AM PDT on Oct 2, 2012

"Someone forgot to tell my cat he was neutered. ten years on and he is still going crazy over our female (also neutered) cat. He huffs and puffs and chases her all over and attempts to mount her." - Tina F. -

Yep. Same with my last male cat - except it wasn't my spayed female cats he'd chase after - it was my dad's also-neutered MALE cat! So I learned that my darling baby boy was GAY! This caused some distress to my dad's cat who was evidently *not* gay... but at least they got lots of exercise running around!

He was one of the sweetest cats I was ever privileged to be owned by - I adopted him when he was a tiny baby, abandoned by somebody who tossed him over our back fence, and he considered me his mom

My other male cat I had neutered became a loving, cuddly marshmallow, and extremely devoted. He literally saved my life one winter night when the furnace went out. I was sick and could have frozen, but this wonderful cat stayed with me, sharing his body heat.

October 2
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Hali C.

12:09PM PDT on Oct 1, 2012

Also get your bunnies spayed - it lengthens their lives considerably. Unspayed female bunnies get uterine cancer :(

October 1
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Brenda V.

11:18AM PDT on Oct 1, 2012

Spaying and neutering should NOT be done to puppies and kittens. They now know that it reduces there life expectancy by several years and that male kittens are easier to bloke up if they should develope bladder stones. The shorten life is due to lack of hormones.

Angela B.

10:26AM PDT on Oct 1, 2012

Thanks for sharing

Carrie-Anne B.

6:18AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

thanks for sharing :)