As we celebrate April’s Prevent a Litter Month, we’re using it as an opportunity to highlight some of the most common misconceptions we’re constantly combatting here when it comes to responsible animal care.

One of the most persistent beliefs we encounter is that spaying or neutering a pet is optional, a lifestyle choice rather than a necessity, and we see far too many pet owners treating it as such.

It’s frustrating to see, especially in regards to spay/ neuter, as there are some pervasive myths clouding the issue.

Here are some of the most common myths we see:

Myth #1: There’s no rush to spay or neuter

False. In fact, when it comes to spaying or neutering, the earlier the procedure is done, the better.

A female cat or dog should ideally be spayed before her first estrus cycle, at as young as eight weeks. This greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors, and an animal neutered before six months has an almost 100% chance of living ovarian cancer free.

One of our staffers here remembers bringing their young female chihuahua to a veterinarian to be spayed, some years ago. The doctor recommended they let the dog go into heat before spaying; a very common and frustrating practice that’s intended to let the dog mature before altering.

Sure enough, the dog later developed mammary tumors—something that could likely have been avoided had she been spayed before entering heat.

Today, there’s an increasing number of veterinarians are performing early-age spay/neuter procedures on animals as young as eight weeks old.

The veterinarians who do these early-aged procedures report that the animals tend to recuperate more quickly, part of the reason why the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights both endorse early-age spay/neuter

It’s also important to note that early neutering is just as essential for males, too; it greatly reduces the animal’s risk of developing prostate cancer down the road; and reduces their breeding instinct, making them less inclined to roam and more content staying home.

Myth #2: Males don’t need to be neutered

Despite unaltered males comprising half of the overpopulation equation, there are still commonly-held misconceptions about the necessity for males to be neutered. Males don’t need to be neutered since females have the litters. False.

It takes just one male to impregnant several females. A fertile female dog bears one litter of 4-6 puppies each year, and a fertile female cat can produce two litters of 4-6 kittens per year. Since the reproductive rates in cats are especially high, just one litter of kittens can produce 54 offspring in a single year.

Unaltered males can also be more aggressive, especially towards other males. In terms of dogs, mounting and barking behaviors aren’t unheard of, and can lead to some dangerous encounters at the dog park.

Unaltered males also have a heightened risk of developing prostate and testicular cancers, so this is a matter of the individual’s health, too.

Still, there are plenty of unwilling pet owners. Typically men are uptight about neutering their animal, viewing the basic medical procedure as some sort of an emasculation. They want their dog to keep their balls (sorry); it’s such an issue for some, that ‘Neuticals,’ a brand of wearable prosthetic dog testicles are available—a reminder that, for some, this decision isn’t about what the dog needs at all.

Myth #3: Spayed/ neutered pets will become lazy and overweight

This is one of the most common myths we encounter and also one of the laziest.

Skeptical pet owners are concerned that their pet’s behavior will change drastically once spayed or neutered. Oftentimes, they’re worried that the pet will become lazy and overweight.

It is true that the animal’s appetite may increase, but they become overweight from being provided with too much food and too little exercise.  

Blaming common procedures ignores the real issue: an inadequate lifestyle provided. An active and properly fed pet will usually be healthy regardless of their medical history.

The bottom line

The question of whether to spay or neuter isn’t a matter of lifestyle choices. It’s a basic responsibility pet owners have to their animals and the communities they call home.

Choosing to not spay or neuter means accepting health risks for a pet, contributing to pet homelessness and overpopulation, and promoting personal hang-ups over health advice.

Donate a Certificate this month

FoA has successfully facilitated the alteration of more than 2.8 million cats and dogs through our low-cost certificates. Spaying and neutering is the most effective means of preventing abandonment, homelessness, and routine killings of domestic animals.

To help us celebrate prevent a litter month, you can prevent a litter by underwriting the cost of a spay/ neuter certificate. The certificates will then be distributed to a needy individual or a shelter at FoA’s discretion.