Fact sheet: The benefits of spay/neuter
Dispel myths about spay/neuter and communicate the many benefits of these procedures
This fact sheet is also available in Spanish.
The decision to spay (for females) or neuter (for males) your dog or cat may be one of the most important actions you take to give them a long and healthy life. Spaying and neutering are routine procedures performed by licensed veterinarians and permanently prevent animals from reproducing. Millions of pets are spayed or neutered every year at veterinary hospitals and animal shelters around the country.
Longer life
Dogs and cats who are spayed or neutered live significantly longer than those who aren't sterilized. This impact is most profound in cats: One study showed that spayed cats lived 39% longer and neutered cats lived 62% longer than unaltered cats.
Healthier life
Spaying your female dog or cat will eliminate her chances of developing ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and pyometra (an infection of the uterus). When spayed before her first heat cycle, your dog's risk of mammary cancer (the most common cancer in female dogs) is nearly eliminated. For males, neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and some prostate disorders. Sterilization also reduces the risk of your pet contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
Better behavior
Spaying or neutering can reduce the chances of your pet developing unwanted behaviors such as urine marking and mounting. It can also reduce aggression and roaming, making your pet less likely to fight with other animals or to be hit by a car.
Cost savings
Spaying or neutering can save you substantial money over your pet's lifetime. Surgery to treat uterine infections, prostatitis or testicular/mammary cancer can cost thousands of dollars. When you adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue, they're often already spayed or neutered!
Life savings
As spaying and neutering have become more common, the number of animals euthanized in shelters has dropped dramatically, saving millions of lives each year.
There is a 62% increase in average lifespan for male cats who are neutered (39% increase for female cats who are spayed).
When to spay/neuter
Cats and dogs can be safely spayed or neutered as young as 6 weeks old, and sterilizing pets before they hit puberty increases m any of the health and behavior benefits. Sterilization before 5 months old prevents accidental litters, and the surgery is less complicated, resulting in a quicker recovery.
Current evidence supports early-age spay/neuter of cats and small dogs. The optimal time to spay/neuter large dogs is less clear, and recommendations for owned, large dogs who don't roam freely should consider professional guidelines, veterinary advice, owner preferences and the health of individual animal. Shelters should aim to sterilize dogs and cats before adoption or as soon as possible afterward.
Where to spay/neuter
Contact your veterinarian to schedule your pet?s spay/neuter appointment, and encourage your family and friends to talk to their veterinarian about spay/neuter as well. If cost is a barrier, there may be low-cost spay/neuter options provided through an animal shelter or nonprofit clinic in your area. You can also search on these websites:
What about rabbits?
Spaying your companion rabbit means they can live a longer life as well. Uterine cancer occurs at an extremely high rate in rabbits who aren't spayed, which is one reason that spayed rabbits live more than twice as long as unspayed ones! Neutered male rabbits are also healthier, easier to handle and less likely to spray urine.
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