Spay/Neuter Awareness Month

Just as Cupid readies to spread the Love Bug, February is nationally recognized as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. The purpose of the designation is to encourage you to have your pets sterilized before the spring and summer months when there is a rampant overproduction of puppies and kittens.

There are several health benefits for your pet, but more importantly, spaying and neutering helps control the issue of pet overpopulation.

“When does one plus one equal six?” Tulsa SPCA veterinarian Dr. Binu Thevatheril said. “Cats don’t add — they multiply.”

In the U.S., there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. Barely half of these animals are adopted. These are healthy, lovable pets who would have made great companions.

When you spay or neuter your pet, you’re ensuring that you aren’t contributing to that overwhelming burden of overpopulation.

• Your female pet will live a longer, happier life.
• Spaying prevents uterine infections and uterine cancer.
• Spaying nearly eliminates the risk of breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50% of dogs.
• Spayed female dogs live 23% longer than unspayed female dogs.
• For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an intact cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours neutered or spayed by 4 months of age before there’s even a problem.
• Your male pet will live a longer, happier life as well.
• Neutering prevents testicular cancer and problems with the prostate gland.
• Neutering greatly reduces their risk for perianal tumors (at or near the anus).
• Neutered male dogs live 18% longer than unneutered male dogs.

Tulsa SPCA veterinarian Dr. Binu Thevatheril delivers a patient to her owner after spay surgery on Thursday, Jan. 30. To make an appointment to get your pet spayed or neutered, call (918) 428-7722 ext. 1024 or email clinicmanager@tulsaspca.org. To learn more, visit tulsaspca.org/spayneuter.

Spaying or neutering your pet can prevent the urge to roam, helping protect your pet from risks like injuries from traffic and fights with other animals. Neutering prevents assertive behavior and reduces the likelihood of frequent urine-marking. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing of a female in heat.

Shelters like the Tulsa SPCA do our best to care for homeless pets, but you can do your part by spaying and neutering your pets, donating to support the Tulsa SPCA and spreading awareness about the importance of spaying and neutering as a solution to the pet overpopulation crisis.

“Spaying and neutering your pets improves their individual health while also helping solve the pet overpopulation crisis,” Tulsa SPCA veterinarian Dr. David Bailey said. “It’s a win-win.”

This February, you have 29 days to remember to have your pets – and your friends’ pets and your family’s pets! – spayed or neutered. Let’s use think of Leap Year as extra time to help keep Cupid’s arrow spreading kisses and snuggles instead of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.