Animal Care Center & Pet Resort

800 Pulaski Highway

Joppa, MD  21085

Phone 410-676-2525         Fax 410-676-5151

Why should I neuter my pet?

OVER 6 MILLION animals are euthanized in the United States every YEAR

Aggressive behavior tends to subside when a male dog is neutered.

No one will argue with you, puppies and kittens are adorable.  Most of us at the clinic get what we call "puppy fever" every once in a while.  It is this extreme want of a new little critter.  This want is what keeps most people from spaying their female pets, after all, everyone would want one of their cute little puppies or kittens right?  Perhaps you would have no trouble at all selling them in the already vast sea of animals up for adoption out there.  That does not mean that they will be properly cared for or spayed or neutered.  They may even end up in the local shelter.

56% of dogs are euthanized that enter animal shelters.  Approx 25% are adopted out.*

71% of cats are euthanized that enter animal shelters.  Approx. 24% are adopted out.

Health Matters

Neutering your dog will greatly reduce the risk of prostate cancer and have far fewer problems, including cysts & abscesses.  Not to mention that a neutered males can not develop testicular cancer.  

  That makes male dogs happy, healthy male dogs.

MYTHS:

He will get fat.  Neutering your pet may cause hormone changes that can cause them to gain some weight. Lack of exercise and a fatty diet are the main culprits of overweight males.

His personality will change.  The only change that will occur after surgery is that he will not have the need to reproduce occupying his time.  He will also be less likely to roam, fight or demonstrate aggressive behaviors.  Any other personality changes, such as calming down, mostly happen as they mature in age

When should we have him neutered?

We prefer to neuter at 6-8 months of age.

Part of the reason for this is that the adult teeth should have grown in at this point and all baby teeth should have fallen out.   When adult teeth grow in behind baby teeth they are called deciduous teeth.  They can cause a lot of dental headaches in the future for your pet.  Any baby teeth that have not come out by this time, we can pull while the pet is under anesthesia.

We ask that we have seen your pet within 4 months prior to any surgery.

*information from the Humane Society of the United States