Today, February 28th, 2017, marks World Spay Day, a pet health holiday organized by the Humane Society.
The holiday was first founded by Doris Day Animal League in 1995 to bring awareness to spaying or neutering your pet to prevent the homeless animal crisis from getting worse.
World Spay Day is recognized by 70 countries and educates pet parents around the world on accessible spay/neuter programs to save the lives of feral animals, household pets, and shelter animals alike. \’Fixing\’ your pet is the responsible thing to do. Over 7.6 million animals entering shelters and 2.7 animals are euthanized animals every year. Spaying or neutering your animal can help stop these sad numbers in their tracks.
This is why Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique are strong supporters and celebrants of World Spay Day. Contribute to your pet\’s health by actively playing your part in the dialogue to make this world better for our pets.
Ways to Take part: Share your Pet Health Story
Use social media websites like Facebook or Twitter to share your pet health story and use the hashtag #worldspayday to database the story. Â
Write to your local politicians asking them to officially legislate pet health awareness by proclaiming February 28th as World Spay Day in your local community.
Collaborate with your local Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique to host an event. The event can have a raffle, bake sale, or \’spay-ghetti\’ dinner with proceeds going to humane organizations.
Medical Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
Pets live longer and healthier lives after being spayed or neutered. Most veterinarians advise spaying/neutering as imperative for optimal pet health!
Most pet experts and veterinarians agree that the optimal time for a dog to be spayed or neutered is around 6 to 9 months old. Dogs can be \’fixed\’ later in life but risks do go up for senior or obese dogs.
For cats, veterinarians advise \’fixing\’ as young as 8-weeks-old. Cats begin urinary spraying early and in an effort to avoid pregnancies most humane organizations will have a cat spayed and sterilized before adoption. For the best pet health practice, parents should schedule spaying before a cat reaches five-months-old. Also, cats can be spayed while in heat.
Spaying has been proven to prevent uterine infections and breast tumors. These infections and tumors can become cancerous or malignant in about 50 percent of dogs and 90 percent of cats.
Neutering a male dog helps prevent testicular cancer and common prostate irregularities. On top of this, \’fixed\’ pets are less likely to roam curbing their chances of coming into contact with a diseased feral animal. Â Early spaying and neutering are always advised for ideal pet health.
Behavioral Benefits of Spaying and Neutering
Females will not go into heat. Anyone who has had a pet in heat knows this is not fun. Female felines typically go through heat for four to five days every three weeks during breeding season. During this time cats have increased urination and ‘yowl’ in an instinctive attempt to advertise for mates.
Male dogs are less likely to roam or bolt from the house. Stories of dogs crashing through windows or burrowing under doors in escape attempts are usually testosterone driven. Once a male dog has been neutered, testosterone secretion is inhibited making the overwhelming need to mate not an issue.
Male dogs are also less likely to mount other dogs or inanimate objects. Although animal behaviorists have confirmed that \’fixed\’ animals still \’mount\’ and \’hump\’ during play.
During mating season dogs will be increasingly less likely to spray the household with urine in the process of marking their territory. Some dogs are also less likely to be prone to aggression after neutering.
Splash and Dash Groomerie & Boutique wishes you a happy World Spay Day and loves when pet health becomes the focus of discussion!
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