February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month. Though February 2015 is quickly coming to an end, spay and neuter awareness is crucial any time of the year.
Spaying a female animal, removing the ovaries and uterus, and neutering a male, removing the testicles, are veterinary procedures done under general anesthesia According to the ASPCA, the sooner the better when it comes to getting these procedures done. Neutering a male cat or dog before the age of 6 months can prevent testicular cancer and prostate disease. Spaying a female dog or cat prevents breast cancer, which is particularly fatal in female cats, and pyometra, a condition where the uterus fills with puss.
In addition to preventing these health problems, early spaying and neutering serves the more obvious purpose of preventing unwanted breeding. Millions of unwanted litters of cats and dogs are euthanized or end up as strays, suffering that could have been prevented with spaying and neutering.
For more information about spaying and neutering, check out the link below:
https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-health/why-spay-or-neuter/
