Spay and neuter procedures have become normalized in the shelter animal field in the past few decades, with caregivers attempting to prevent the amount of homeless animals in shelters at the source. By encouraging pet owners to spay and neuter their pets, the animals are less likely to procreate should they escape a yard or end up as a stray. Spay and neuter procedures are when an animal is sterilized surgically; either by removal of the testicles or through the removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus altogether. These are done under anesthesia and are considered to be a very common practice in the United States.
Let’s do some mythbusting:
MYTH: I worry that my dog’s personality will change.
TRUTH: Often associated with male dogs, plenty of pet owners express concern that their pet’s demeanor will shift after sterilization. Some dogs may experience a temporary shift in personality due to hormone imbalance just after the procedure, although the procedure will not necessarily result in less aggression and some dogs may experience fearful behavior as well.
MYTH: I worry that my pet will die while under anesthesia.
TRUTH: We love our pets, and the fear that they may leave us early is a very prevalent one. It’s understandable when pet owners are fearful of anesthesia, after reading concerning stories online or hearing of tragic experiences secondhand. Though it is a legitimate concern, death while under anesthesia is a very uncommon outcome. The American Veterinary Medicine Association notes that in pets of all ages “the risks are more closely related to the procedure being done and your pet’s general health than to the anesthesia itself.” Spay and neuter procedures are often minimally invasive, especially for male animals. Safety during operations can be increased through honest conversations with your veterinary provider and preventative care such as bloodwork.
MYTH: I don’t have time/money for the procedure.
TRUTH: Surgical procedures can be expensive for humans and animals, but non-profit organizations throughout the country are working to find ways to do spay and neuter surgeries at an affordable cost to make them more attainable for communities like ours. JHACC’s entire clinic services list is available here to view, with transparent costs based on the sex, species, and size of your animal. Call with any additional questions, and mention any need for financial assistance.
MYTH: What if I want to breed them in the future?
TRUTH: Your dog or cat may be a beautiful or well-behaved animal, but many owners are unequipped to breed their pets. A pregnant dog will need vaccinations, prenatal care, and possibly pregnancy-related emergency care. One golden retriever can have a litter of puppies that ranges from 4-12. Not only will all of those need to find homes once they are weaned and vaccinated, but they will need space to play, time to train, and puppy food to eat. The cost in time and energy is generally more than most people are prepared for. JHACC saw record-breaking litters of cats and dogs in 2024, and in 2023 the Shelter Animals Count Database reported that 6.5 million cats and dogs entered shelters in the United States
MYTH: My dog doesn’t leave my yard without a leash or go anywhere without my knowledge.
TRUTH: As much as we like to think of ourselves as responsible pet owners, accidents do happen. Animals who are intact are also considerably more motivated to escape yards or houses with the express purpose of finding a mate, so you will have to try even harder to keep your dog in a fence. Often in shelters we see dogs or cats that are intact and escaping the yard regularly while looking for a mate.
MYTH: Study (XYZ) says that sterilization makes my dog more susceptible to certain diseases/conditions.
TRUTH: In many cases, spay and neuter can actually prevent illnesses in pets. The studies often cited for this erroneous belief (primarily from UC Davis) were conducted primarily using veterinary records of Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds from a referral veterinary hospital, with the studies initially focused on the incidence of joint problems, cancers, and immune disorders. Although they report some increase in specific orthopedic, neoplastic, and immune conditions in sterilized dogs; many who cite them fail to note the biased research population, a lack of additional information regarding variables (such as diet, lifestyle, genetics, or preventative care), and the specificities related to the breeds featured in the study which may not apply to the wider population of dogs. In fact, female animals are significantly less at risk for mammary cancers when they have been spayed. Male and female animals that cannot reproduce are also shown to have less exposure to trauma and illness from being at risk outdoors or risking injury near roadways.
MYTH: I believe it’s inhumane to remove an animal’s reproductive parts/ability.
TRUTH: Although this concept is filled with care for your pet’s well-being, this belief is generally considered to be more about us than it is about them. It’s very common to consider our pet’s needs like we would a human’s, but the truth is that our dogs and cats just don’t put as much importance into their ability to reproduce. For humans, the idea of procreation is an emotionally charged issue. For our pets, it is simply hormonally driven.
MYTH: You should wait (XYZ) amount of time or until after one litter before spaying.
TRUTH: The longer you wait and the bigger your pet becomes, the more expensive, lengthy, and dangerous the procedure will be. Older dogs are significantly more at risk to complications during surgery. The idea that a pet needs to “have just one litter” beforehand has no medical findings, and can put your female pet at higher risk for uterine or mammary problems. Spaying also ensures that your animal sees a veterinarian at an earlier age, when they can examine them at the time of the procedure. Veterinary appointments early in life allow your vet to note and diagnose early any congenital abnormalities, hereditary diseases, and additional health risks your pet may have.
MYTH: Green spay tattoos are not necessary for my pet.
TRUTH: Although they are becoming more common, small green tattoos placed on sterilized animals are generally more present in animals sterilized by a shelter or by a spay and neuter clinic. These tattoos may not be used by all veterinarians, but should an animal end up in a shelter by accident they can be a non-invasive way for the veterinary team to determine if an animal has been sterilized. The tattoos are most commonly placed on the abdomen of all cats as well as female dogs, and male dogs are tattooed between the prepuce and scrotum (the typical incision location). In many cases these tattoos are no longer visible to the owners once the animal’s fur has regrown after surgery.
Journey Home Animal Care Center advocates for the spay and neuter of homeless animals and family pets, out of the hope that fewer unwanted litters will be born and forced to wait for their forever homes.
Here’s the facts:
- Spay and neuter is a great way to keep your pet closer to home
- These procedures keep shelters from overcrowding
- These surgeries are safe for pets, and promote their long-term health
DISCLAIMER: This post has been reviewed by any pertinent staff members of JHACC. Artificial Intelligence has in no way been used to create this content, and it is considered correct to the best of our knowledge as of the date of publication.
Sources:
https://humanepro.org/magazine/articles/deconstructing-spayneuter-debate
https://www.thevalleyvetclinic.com/services/spay-neuter
https://www.shelteranimalscount.org/stats
https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/average-litter-size/
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/when-your-pet-needs-anesthesia
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2021/10/29/should-you-let-your-dog-have-one-litter/
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/spaying-and-neutering
https://www.santacruzpet.com/do-male-dogs-change-after-being-neutered/
https://www.petmd.com/dog/behavior/dogs-neutering-affect-behavior
