Launched in 1995, World Spay Day is an annual campaign to encourage people to save animal lives by spaying companion pets and feral cats. World Spay Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Tuesday in February, which falls on February 22 this year. In addition to reducing the pet overpopulation problem, spaying your pet provides many health benefits. Here are three reasons why spaying your female cat or dog is essential.

#1: Spaying your pet greatly reduces their risk of developing mammary cancer

By spaying your pet before their first heat cycle, you can significantly reduce their mammary cancer risk. Cats spayed before six months of age have a seven-times reduced cancer risk. A dog’s risk for developing a cancerous mammary tumor is 0.5% if spayed before their first heat, 8% after their first heat, and 26% after their second heat. 

If a pet is spayed later in life, they can still develop mammary cancer after sterilization. 50% of these mammary tumors are benign in dogs, and 50% are malignant. However, more than 85% of mammary tumors in cats are malignant, and most are aggressive. 

#2: Spaying your pet keeps her safe from a potentially complicated pregnancy and delivery

Pregnancy and labor can be hard on a female pet, especially if they experienced an accidental pregnancy with a much larger male. Puppies can grow too large to be safely delivered naturally, and even kittens can become stuck during birth, requiring an emergency Cesarean section to save the lives of the mother and babies. After delivery, a pet can develop complications, such as hypocalcemia or uterine infection, life-threatening conditions.

#3: Spaying your pet prevents unwanted behaviors during her heat cycle

If you’ve seen a female cat in heat, you likely understand why cat owners want to spay their pets before their first heat cycle. Excessive yowling and howling, aggressive or irritable behavior, and bloody vaginal discharge can occur during a pet’s heat cycle, but spaying can eliminate these issues.

Contact our team for advice if you want to schedule your pet’s spay surgery or have questions about the procedure.