GOLETA, Calif., April 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Airport Animal Hospital in Goleta, CA is working to educate pet owners about the benefits of spay and neuter surgery for pet wellness. According to the veterinary hospital, sterilizing methods for pets offer multiple health benefits, including a reduced risk for cancer, as well as improved behavior. The veterinarians also stressed that many public misconceptions about spaying and neutering are incorrect.
According to the ASPCA, some pet owners mistakenly believe that spaying or neutering a pet can alter the pet's personality or cause weight gain. Airport Animal Hospital veterinarians Dr. Stephen G. Lewis and Dr. William B. Wallace are working to correct these common misconceptions while raising awareness about the importance of sterilizing for responsible pet care.
"Deciding to spay or neuter a pet is one of the most important decisions that a pet owner can make," said Goleta veterinarian Dr. Stephen G. Lewis. "However, many pet owners believe common misconceptions about this procedure, including that pets will gain weight or become lazy. It's simply not true. In reality, spaying or neutering a pet offers many important health benefits."
According to Dr. Lewis and Dr. Wallace, spay and neuter operations can dramatically reduce the risk for cancer in pets. This includes a reduced risk for breast cancer and virtually no risk for uterine in female pets. Neuter operations virtually eliminate the risk for testicular cancer in male pets.
"Sterilizing pets also helps control unwanted behavior," said veterinarian Dr. Wallace. "For example, unneutered males are solely focused on a finding a mate. This leads to undesired spraying to mark territory and the constant risk that the male will escape in search of a mate. Neutered males still have their personality, but they are less prone to escaping or spraying. Instead, they focus their attention on the family."
In addition to health and behavioral benefits, sterilizing methods help reduce the unwanted animal population. "Many of the pets in animal shelters today are the offspring of beloved family pets," said Dr. Lewis. "These pets were given up when they outgrew the puppy or kitten stage, and pet owners could no longer care for them."
Dr. Lewis and Dr. Wallace stressed that there are a finite number of homes open to having a pet. "Even if the offspring of a pet are placed into homes, other shelter animals lose out on a chance for adoption," said Dr. Wallace. "Consequently, 3 to 4 million pets are euthanized in shelters every year."
Airport Animal Hospital supports spay and neuter operations as part of responsible pet ownership. For more information about this service and others at Airport Animal Hospital, visit their website at: http://www.animaldoc.com.