Risks and Benefits Español

Benefits

• Spaying/neutering reduces the number of unwanted kittens or puppies.
• Spayed/neutered animals can live longer, healthier lives.
• There is a lower risk of uterine infection and breast cancer for females and a lower risk of testicular cancer and enlarged prostate for males.
• Reduces mating behavior. Eliminates the heat cycles in females and reduces roaming, urine-marking and fighting in male cats.

Risks

• There is some risk with any surgery and the anesthesia.
• There might be post-surgical complications. However, sterilization is the most common veterinary surgical procedure. At low-cost spay/neuter clinics it is the only procedure they perform every day, so they have extensive experience in minimizing the risks.
• There is some risk that sterilized animals may become overweight.
• Animals may respond differently to changes in hormones associated with reproduction.