MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Oct. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spaying and neutering pets does more than just reduce the unwanted animal population, says Mississauga emergency vet Dr. G. "Guri" Sandhu. According to Dr. Sandhu, spaying and neutering also reduces the risk for certain cancers, including breast cancer in females and testicular cancer in males. Neutering male pets helps control unwanted behavior such as spraying urine to mark territory and aggression toward other humans and pets. HWY 403-Dundas Animal Hospital strongly recommends spaying or neutering all pets.
Spaying and neutering reduces the risk for certain cancers and behavioral problems, according to HWY 403-Dundas Animal Hospital in Mississauga, ON. The vet clinic is raising awareness about the benefits of spaying and neutering for animal wellness care.
"Many pet owners realize that spaying and neutering is important for controlling the unwanted animal population," said Mississauga veterinarian Dr. Sandhu. "What these individuals do not realize, however, is that spaying and neutering is also essential to reducing the risk for certain cancers and behavioral problems."
For example, Dr. Sandhu says that neutering males is one of the best ways to eliminate unwanted territorial and aggressive behaviors.
"Unneutered males have one goal in mind: finding another animal with which to mate," said Dr. Sandhu. "This means male pets will spray urine to mark territory, become aggressive towards other pets or humans that they consider a territorial threat, and constantly try to escape their yard. Neutering is the easiest way to eliminate these unwanted behaviors."
The animal hospital vet says that neutering also eliminates the risk for testicular cancer in male pets. Dr. Sandhu stressed that neutering males does not drastically change their personality; instead, it helps redirect a male's attention from finding a mate to focusing on the family.
"There is not a significant personality change in neutered pets. They do not become sluggish or overweight," said Dr. Sandhu, debunking a common spaying and neutering myth. "Pets gain weight or become lazy when they are overfed and not exercised. Neutering helps pets live an active, healthy life."
For females, spaying significantly reduces the risk for breast cancer, which is fatal for 50% of dogs and 90% of cats. Spaying also reduces the risk for uterine infections.
"Dogs and cats that give birth to litters are more likely to have a diminished quality of life," said Dr. Sandhu. "Spaying females before adulthood offers the greatest health benefits. However, spaying is beneficial at every age. Even if your female dog or cat has recently given birth to a litter, we can spay her as soon as her offspring are weaned."
Dr. Sandhu says that spaying and neutering surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed at the vet clinic. To learn more about the benefits of spaying and neutering for animal health, pet owners may contact Dr. Sandhu and the vet clinic team. The website is http://www.vetinmississauga.com/.