Question 3: When is the best time to spay (neuter) my pet?

Answer: Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) of female dogs and cats is best done at about six months of age, before the first heat cycle.  Spaying will probably lengthen the life of your pet, since she will not develop pyometritis, a potentially life-threatening uterine infection not uncommon in unspayed, middle-aged or older dogs and cats.  Treatment for pyometritis requires surgery at a time when she is quite ill.  The spayed pet is also less likely to develop mammary (breast) tumors, which often develop as she gets older, especially if she has several litters.  Neutering (orchectomy) or castration of a male dog or cat is an operation which may be performed by the veterinarian at six months of age or older.  After he has the operation your pet will make an even better pet.  He will express his vitality in play often quitting some of his male behavior traits found to be embarrassing or unwanted.  A neutered pet is less likely to roam thereby decreasing his chance of being hurt or killed and less apt to damage a neighbor’s personal property.  Neutering will also eliminate the possibility of your pet’s developing testicular cancer and benign prostatic enlargement (dogs only) in their older years.  A neutered cat will not undergo anxiety and stress, accompanied by aggressiveness and howling when in the presence of a female cat in heat.  He will stay home more with less desire to roam.  If neutering is done when the cat is young, he may not acquire the bad habit of spraying or urine marking.