Remember your fluids – as the temperatures soar so does you and your dog’s need to stay hydrated. Make sure that your dog has plenty of fresh water available at all times. If you are traveling with your dog make sure that you take water with you. It is also handy to carry a travel dish with you for extended walks or trips to the park. If your dog spends a lot of time alone outdoors, make sure that he has at least two water sources in different locations. That way, if one gets tipped over and spills, he still has an alternative supply. If your dog plays with his dishes, consider getting heavy ceramic ones that he cannot tip or a trough like is used for livestock.

Watch out for pests! As the weather warms up, the bugs start to multiply. Summertime is prime season for disease-carrying pests. Make sure that your dog is current on heartworm and flea preventative and gets regular stool checks for intestinal parasites. If you live or travel to wooded areas where there are ticks, talk to your vet about getting a Lyme disease vaccination for your dog.

Be aware of other animals. Just as your dog is out more, so will other animals in the neighborhood. This will include other dogs, cats, and wildlife. Keep a close eye on your dog when out walking to prevent a dash in front of car while chasing a squirrel. Watch out for skunks after dark to prevent a stinky encounter. With the increased activity in the neighborhood, your dog may be more tempted to wander off. Take precautions to make sure that backyards are fenced in with no gaps in the fencing or underneath it, gates are shut, and that your dog uses a leash when out away from the home.

Make sure that you know the signs to watch for during the summer months. If a dog’s rectal temperature is above 105 degrees, he is in danger of developing heat stroke. If you are unable to take his temperature, looking for heavy panting, dark red gums (though this may be difficult to tell if your dog has a black mouth) and he might feel warm to the touch. Soak him in cold water and get him to a vet as soon as possible for treatment.

Be aware of tempting cool down places in your neighborhood. Dogs may be encouraged to jump into pools or ponds to cool off, and then not know how to get out and drown. If they are without water, they may be tempted to drink antifreeze or other dangerous liquids in an attempt to hydrate. Take the appropriate precautions to make sure that your yard is safe.

Prepare for the worst. Unfortunately, as the weather turns nicer, some pets become more inclined to roam away from home to investigate the great outdoors. Make sure that your dog has identification tags on and that the information is current. You might also want to consider getting your dog micro-chipped. Keep a current photo of your dog on hand to be able to duplicate in the case you need to make fliers.

With just a little preparation, both you and your dog will be ready for summer fun!

Protecting Your Dog from a Nasty Sunburn

Many people don’t realize that dogs, just like humans, can be burned by the sun. So what can you do to protect your pooch from those burning rays? Just use the same common sense and know-how that keeps you and your family from burning up in the sun. First, keep your dog in the shade during those times when the sun’s rays are most intense – approximately 10 am to 4 pm. Second, apply a little sun block to your dog’s most exposed areas – the tip of each ear and the nose. While your dog’s lip area is also vulnerable to sunburn, the chance that your dog will ingest any sunscreen applied there is too great. Instead of applying sunscreen to the lip area, just keep a close eye on it and make sure that the area doesn’t get too pink. Third, pay special attention to your dog if he has a lighter colored fur. Just like their pale human counterparts, these dogs are more vulnerable to the burning effects of the sun. If, after a day out in the sun, any portion of your dog’s skin is reddened or blistered, immediately seek a veterinarian’s opinion and care.

Protecting Your Dog from Heat-Related Conditions

Just a few simple actions on your part can help protect your dog from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. First, never leave your dog in the car without the air conditioner running. Even a few minutes in the sun can send the interior temperature of a car (with windows open or closed) soaring to fatal temperatures. If you’re doing errands and know that you’ll be in and out of the vehicle, your safest option is to simply leave the dog at home. However, if you really must leave your dog in the car for even the shortest period of time, leave the air conditioner on.

Second, provide your dog with a shaded, well-ventilated resting area that will remain shaded at all times, regardless of the sun’s position. You may have to move the dog’s shade throughout the day in order to achieve this. Of course, during the most excruciating heat of the day, the ideal place for your dog is an air conditioned structure.

Third, make sure that your dog has unhindered access to cool, clean water. You’ll want to place the water in a shaded area so that it does not heat up as a result of direct sunlight. Change the water often, as stagnant water can harbor bacteria and insects that are harmful to a dog’s digestive system. When traveling, make sure that you have a water dish and fresh water (figure on one gallon per day) on hand at all times. If your dog spends all day outside, provide him with a small, shaded wading pool filled with water. Your dog can cool himself off throughout the day by jumping in and out of it. Make sure, however, that the pool is in the same, consistently shaded area as the drinking water.

Fourth, avoid any situation that would force your dog to stand on a sun-baked surface for any length of time. Such surfaces include truck beds, sidewalks, streets and beach sand. The heat can not only burn your dog’s skin, but can also prevent your dog from efficiently expelling heat from his body. If you must walk your dog in the heat of the day, walk him on a grassy area or buy him some dog booties and make your walks shorter. The best time to walk your dog during the summer months is early in the morning or in the evening, especially in very hot climates.

Recognizing and Treating Your Dog’s Heat Stroke

If your dog’s body temperature gets too high, he could develop heat stroke, or hyperthermia. In addition to a high body temperature (over 105 – 110 degrees F), the signs that indicate potential heat stroke are: an inordinate amount of panting, labored breathing, bright red gums or eye membranes, pronounced fatigue, collapse, unconsciousness and seizures. If your dog displays any of these symptoms, get him out of the heat immediately and into the shade. If possible, put your dog in a tub of cool water or bathe him with a series of cool, wet towels. Do not use cold water or ice! Either will cause your dog’s blood vessels to constrict and impede the body from being able to release heat. Heat stroke should be treated as an emergency; therefore, as soon as possible, seek a veterinarian’s care.

Food & Water

Obviously the most important things for your family and your pets are food and water. These are essential to survival and should always be brought along when you evacuate. You can keep a little bowl in your pet evacuation bag. You can add a bottle of water and a small bag of food in the sack as well. This will keep you from running around trying to collect food and water when you are told to evacuate.

Can Opener

If your pet can eat dry food you should rely mostly on it to get through. Dry food travels much better than wet food. However, if you must bring along wet food, don’t forget to bring a can opener as well. Your pet will be a hungry one if you forget to bring the utensils needed to open the food!

Leash or Harness

As always, when you bring your pet along during an evacuation, you will need to bring along a leash or a harness. Most dog owners have these items very handy, but cat owners may not think about needing one. However, if you want your pet to be as safe as possible, you should be sure all animals have a proper leash. Even if you plan on holding the pet while traveling, a leash would give extra protection if the pet tries to escape.

Medications

With today’s pets being on more medications than ever, it is likely you have a pet that takes daily meds. If your pet does need medication, don’t forget to bring it along. This will help your pet stay on his or her normal routine and will prevent any pet medical emergencies from occurring. Think about putting a few in the “grab and go” bag so that you will at least have a few handy if you forget the entire bottle. You can always call a local vet in the area in which you are staying for more.

Bedding

Making sure your pet is as comfortable as possible is part of your responsibility. This being true, you should make sure to bring proper bedding for your pet. If your pet has a special blanket they love to snuggle up on, try to remember to bring it along. The more like home you can make their trip, the better they will behave. In turn, the better they behave, the easier your trip will be.

Litter

If you are a cat owner, then you certainly don’t want to forget a stash of litter and a small litter pan. Cats are particular about where they use the “potty”, so you will need to bring these things along. They will not like to be “walked” on leashes at rest areas, much like dogs may.

List of Important Contact Numbers

To make your trip a little easier, prepare a list in advance of important pet numbers you may need. Make notes of which hotels in your state will allow pets and list their numbers. This way you can call while on the road to get reservations. Having a handy list with all of this information will save you time.

If you remember to bring along these pet essentials during an evacuation, your experience will go smoothly. Your pet will value you and appreciate that you remembered to be a responsible owner and take him or her along. Your family will also be calmer, because they will have their family pet along with them. By planning ahead, bringing a pet along is no more trouble than picking him or her up and loading him or her in the car!

Given the statistics cited above, adopting an animal can be a kind and loving thing to do. However, before making the final decision to adopt, there are a number of things to consider.

Many of the animals awaiting adoption in shelters have had very rough beginnings. Some were abused, some abandoned and some were “turned in” because the owners didn’t have time for them. Many were left alone for long periods and some were never properly potty trained. In short, when adopting an animal you must be prepared to work with them. They may come to you cowed or with feelings of trepidation and may be overly sensitive to your tone of voice or to any commands you might give them. You will need to be patient and by all means, loving. When they finally realize that they can trust you they will reward you with more affection and loyalty than you can imagine.

Adopting a dog as a means of entertaining a small child is not recommended. A dog is not a toy and should not be treated as one. Small children should be trained to understand “animal etiquette”. In other words, animals are not to be hit, dragged, ridden or teased. They should understand that being overly aggressive with a new dog, especially one recently adopted, could cause the dog to react by biting or running away. If feeding and exercising the dog is to be the responsibility of a child, an adult should follow up to be sure these things are getting done. It isn’t the dog’s fault if a child fails to meet his or her obligations and the dog shouldn’t have to suffer for the child’s failure.

Many adopted dogs will come to the new surroundings filled with fears based upon earlier mistreatment or the harsh rules of their previous owners. Some dogs will be reluctant to go from one room to another, will shy away when corrected and hide upon hearing a loud noise. New owners must be patient with them and speak to them softly and affectionately. Dogs are not stupid and they will gradually come to understand their new environment and show their appreciation for your loving care.

When contemplating adoption, prospective new owners should be prepared to deal with the fact that their new adoptee may not be completely housebroken. Previous owners may have been irresponsible in their approach to this training; furthermore, when the dog was placed in the shelter it continued to do its “business” right in its pen. Housebreaking is not a complex chore and should not deter someone from adopting a pet. Some owners will use a cage to assist in this training, while others will just take the dog out for a walk several times a day. Fenced yards and doggie doors are minimal expenses that pay extra dividends on cold or rainy days.

Adopted dogs are subject to all of the behavioral problems commonly associated to dogs in general. These would include digging, jumping up on people, jumping fences, barking and nipping. There are proven solutions to all of these “offenses.” If your dog is prone to digging, and always digs in one area, there are a number of effective repellent sprays that work well. If he digs under your fence, a little buried chicken wire works wonders in breaking that habit. Spray bottles filled with water should be kept at hand to break a dog from jumping up and to combat incessant barking. A quick spritz in the face immediately following, or during, the offensive behavior will usually bring about a quick behavior modification.

Visiting an animal shelter can be an emotional experience for an animal lover. It’s difficult to see all the animals in their pens and not want to take them all home. Such feelings are understandable and commendable; however, just be sure that prior to adoption you consider all of the ramifications. And remember, your best friend is waiting for you at your local animal shelter.

Next, consider your dog. Always read product labels carefully for warnings. Commercial flea dips should not be used on very young or invalid animals. Some people believe that if you have cats in the household you should not use dips for the dog, especially if the two animals spend a lot of time together. The chemical used in a lot of the dips marketed for dogs only is highly toxic to cats. In such cases, you might want to consider using a less harsh herbal flea dip or an alternative flea preventative.

Another thing to consider is how your pet is picking up the fleas in the first place. If this was from a one-time visit to the kennel and your dog has never had fleas in his life, then a one-time dip may be the solution for you. On the opposite side of things, if he constantly has fleas and appears to be picking them up somewhere in your own back yard then you will also want to consider some sort of preventative. Dips will kill all of the fleas that are on your pet within 48 hours or so, but remain effective limitedly after that (anywhere from 10 to 30 days, depending on the product). During this time, you will also want to follow standard procedures for removing fleas from your home to prevent re-infection.

To prevent getting fleas again, you will want to take a few steps towards getting rid of them permanently. This means not only treating your pet, but treating your house as well. Flea eggs can fall off your dog and live in carpet, bedding, draperies, etc. As soon as a suitable host walks by, the fleas hatch, and jump right on.

To get rid of fleas in your home, pay particular attention to the areas that your pet frequents. Wash all bedding and draperies. For items that cannot be washed, vacuum the areas and immediately take the vacuum bag outside to prevent the fleas from jumping out again. In severe cases, you may want to consider having your home sprayed. Sprays, however, can be toxic for both people and pets, so you will have to make arrangements to be away from home during that time. Make sure animals that cannot leave (such as aquariums) and food items are covered. Make sure that your home has completely aired out and chemicals have dispersed before you and your pet return.

After you have ensured that all of the fleas in your home are gone, you will want to start a regime of prevention. This could include a regular cycle of dips, approximately once a month or so, used alone or combined with another flea treatment, such as Frontline or Advantage, which are also applied once a month. All pets in your home need to be treated to prevent fleas from hopping from one host to another. Take care in combining flea treatments to prevent overdosing. Always wait a minimum of 48 hours after a dip before applying an additional topical treatment.

With a little work, both you and your pet can enjoy a flea-free lifestyle.

1. Catnip – Catnip is an all-natural herb. You can buy it at any pet store, herbal store, or even a plant store. It belongs to the mint plant family. Cats react to this herb through their olfactory glands. When a cat smells catnip, they go absolutely nuts!! They start sniffing things, trying to chew the plant or stuffed toy, jumping around, sliding across the floor, and just start acting like a fool. They love the feeling that comes with the catnip and you will get a kick out of watching them make a fool of themselves. It will truly be an entertaining experience. Now comes some scientific bad news. Catnip does not work on all cats. It has to do with cat genetics. Some cats are genetically immune to the effects of catnip. Some cats are genetically not immune. On average about seventy to eighty percent of cats will entertain themselves and you when they are exposed to catnip. Also cats younger than 3 months or older than 8 years usually do not react to catnip. Kittens’ olfactory glands have not yet developed enough to be affected, and senior cats’ olfactory glands have ceased to function after a certain point. They can still smell, but the chemical reaction that causes them to get “high” no longer affects them.

2. Laser pointers – Laser pointers are an inexpensive way to keep you and your cat entertained for hours. You can buy a laser pointer at just about any toy store or electronics store. Just bring it home and let the fun begin. She will chase that laser across the floor, into other rooms, up the wall, outside, into the dryer, around the corner, under the bed, and just about anywhere you point it. Try not to point it at other people (unless you really don’t like that person), on furniture, or anything you don’t want your feline companion to accidentally scratch or knock over. This can keep you and your cat entertained for hours, not to mention it is good exercise for your cat and good laughs for you.

Crack Head Cat Meets Laser Pen

3. Pet grass – This is one of the most overlooked options that pet owners completely miss. Pet grass is just a patch of specially designed grass for your pet to play in. Most people don’t realize that grass is a natural part of most animals’ diets. It aids in digestion, constipation, nausea, and other digestive problems. You cat (or dog) instinctively knows this and eats it when necessary. Aside from being a good health supplement, it can also be a fun thing for your cat. Cats can tend to have an over active imagination. Their little patch of pet grass can be anything they want. To them, it can be a jungle or a green toy that moves when she runs her paws through it. Occasionally your pet grass will get a bug or two in it. This is perfectly ok. It’s grass. Grass gets bugs. Bugs can be hours of entertainment. You cat loves chasing and tormenting them, and you enjoy watching them chase and torment the poor bugs.

4, Homeade toys – You can go to the store and buy your cat a fifty-dollar pet toy. You can fork out the money and buy the top of the line pet toys. Your cat will then ironically have a cruel since of humor. She may annoy you by ignoring the expensive gift because she is more interested in the packaging it came in. It makes crinkling noises and slides on the floor. She will entertain herself for a good while with, not the toys, but the package it came in. After doing this a few times, you will probably stop buying the expensive toys and get creative at home making stuff. Two things that cats go nuts over will give you a solid example: throw a balled up piece of aluminum foil at your cat. She will chase it all over. Fill a sock up with a few pieces of catnip and tie it off. Throw it to your cat and watch her go nuts!

5. Give into their demands – If all else fails, give into the purring and meowing and pet your cat. Sounds simple, but she can be content for hours just sitting in your lap. When she has had enough of you, she will politely excuse herself.

The mature segments of the tapeworm contain multiple eggs and are grouped into packets. Often, these are found near the dog’s anus and look like a piece of rice or a cucumber seed. It is the site of these egg packets that leads to the diagnosis of tapeworm in most pets.

Types of Tapeworms

There are several different types of tapeworms that infect dogs, they are: Dipylidium caninum, Taenia species, Echinococcus granulosus, Diphyllobothrium latum, and Spirometra mansonoides. The treatment used to get rid of the tapeworm generally depends on the type of tapeworm your dog has.

Dipylidium Caninum

Dipylidium caninum can cause abdominal discomfort and nervousness in your dog. It may cause your dog to vomit and to even have convulsions, which are thought to be caused by toxins produced by the tapeworm. In addition, the active segments that form around the anal region can cause your pet to excessively lick the area or to scoot its bottom across the floor.

Praziquantel is the most common treatment and is found in products such as Tradewinds Tapeworm Tabs and Droncit. Your dog’s body weight is used to determine the dosage, though the medication cannot be given to a pregnant dog. Epsiprantel, sold under the brand name of Cestex, is another effective treatment but cannot be used on puppies less than seven weeks old. Flea and lice control are the best preventative measures to take to keep your pet from developing this type of tapeworm.

Taenia Species

There are nine species of Taenia found in North America, with six of them affecting dogs. Dogs infested with a type of Taenia species tapeworm rarely show any signs of infection other than the eggs sacks in the anal region and segments attached to the fur. Taenia species tapeworms are generally treated with antihelmintics, such as Drontal Plus and Cestex. The best way to prevent infection is to keep your dog from eating raw meat and from preying on wild animals.

Echinococcus Granulosus

Similar to Taenia species, dogs rarely show signs of infection from Echinococcus granulosus, unless there are large numbers of tapeworms present. The eggs are not uniformly passed through the stool and when an egg is found, it is difficult to distinguish from the Taenia species. Treatment usually consists of using Praziquantel. Preventing Echinococcus granulosus includes never feeding your dog raw meet.

Diphyllobothrium Latum

Diphyllobothrium latum lives in the small intestines of your pet and is most commonly found in the Great Lakes area because it is transmitted through fish. The Diphyllobothrium latum tapeworm grows to be very large, but there are very few signs of infection in dogs. Praziquantel is also used to treat Diphyllobothrium latum, although it still is not FDA approved for this purpose. To prevent your pet from becoming infected with Diphyllobothrium latum, you should not feed it raw or undercooked fish.

Spirometra Mansonoides

Spirometra Mansonoides most commonly infects felines, though it can also infect dogs. It is most commonly found in the southern United States, particularly in Florida and along the Gulf Coast. There are usually no symptoms of a Spirometra mansonoides infection, though severe cases can cause irritability, weight loss, and change in appetitie. Praziquantel is also used to treat this type of tapeworm. To prevent Spirometra mansonoides from infecting your pet, prevent it from eating snakes, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and rodents.

Remember, Tapeworms are a serious problem for all animals, including dogs. If left untreated, they can cause a great deal of pain and ultimately death. Since there are so few symptoms associated with many types of tapeworms, it is important to watch your pet closely for signs of infection. This requires keeping an eye on the anal region and on your pet’s stool. In addition, routine visits to your veterinarian and the administration of vaccinations will prevent the problem from developing in your pet. Similarly, if tapeworms do get a hold of your pet, your regularly veterinary visits will ensure the infestation gets caught early and can be eradicated before causing too much harm to your pet.

Will you have enough time to devote to a dog? This is an important consideration for you to make. Dogs need love and attention just like humans, and it is not fair to bring one into your home only to never be there with it. Same thing if you keep it in a crate all the time even if you are home. Your dog will want to be with you and will want to play with you. It is a very rewarding thing to spend time romping in the yard with your pooch or engaging in a game of fetch. If you have the time for it, a dog will provide you undivided love and devotion.

You should also think about what kind of qualities you want in a dog. Dogs come in all shapes, sizes and temperaments, and there is one to suit virtually any person. Also think about the size of your living space. Some small dogs are perfect for apartment living, although you should be considerate of your neighbors and not get one that barks a lot. If you have a large house and yard, you may want a large breed as you can provide with ample space to run around. Do you want a guard dog? A friendly family dog? A lap dog? A dog that will go on jogs with you? Make a list of qualities you are looking for, and do your research.

What is your financial situation? A dog does not generally require a lot of financial expenditures, but you will need to spend some money on it. Dogs need a yearly physical exam at a veterinarian that includes vaccinations and heartworm protection. You will almost always pay a fee for buying or adopting a dog, so consider you budget for that as well. Breeders will charge more for a pure bred with a good pedigree than what you can adopt a dog for at the humane society. You will also need to buy dog food, toys, a collar and leash, and treats. Some owners also like to have a crate on hand and a dog bed. You can spend as little or as much as you want on accessories for your pet.

Do you want a pure bred or a mixed breed? Pure breeds will cost more money at the outset, especially if you get one with champion bloodlines. The advantage to that is the dog will have excellent genes and should be the picture of health. Some pure breeds will come from breeders who are not so careful with their breeding and will have genetic abnormalities. This will cost more in vet bills down the lines. Mixed breeds are almost always less expensive, and generally are healthier as their bloodlines and genes are mixed. You usually get the best of the different breeds that went into the make up. Both pure breeds and mixed breeds make excellent pets.

Owning a dog is a commitment, but the benefits far outweigh the responsibilities. Dogs are wonderful companions; they love you unconditionally and will be a lifelong friend. All they ask of you is to open your heart and home and let them come in. You will not regret it.

To get your pet prepared, you can start by making sure your pet’s identification tag is up to date. Include cell phone numbers or other numbers of places you may flee to during a disaster. You should always make your pet wear his or her tag. It could be the only thing that reunites you with your pet if a separation occurs during the disaster. You should also have an updated photo of your pet that will help you to identify him or her if needed.

Always be sure to have a leash or harness handy as well. You may not have a great deal of time to “pack” for your pet. So, if you already have these items handy, you can grab them and be out the door within seconds. Keeping an extra stash of dog food in the trunk of your car is also a good idea during disaster “seasons”. The less you need to pull together when a warning hits, the quicker you can get out of harm’s way.

If you know you would need a hotel room if disaster were to strike, then you should prepare ahead of time to do so. Obviously, you won’t always be able to make reservations, as disaster can strike immediately with no warning. You can however keep a list of hotels that will allow pets and their phone numbers. This will help you save time and possible snag a great room. If you cannot find a shelter that will allow you to bring your pets, consider contacting local boarding houses or relatives to find your pet a safe and temporary place to stay.

If you are a cat owner, be sure to remember the litter pan and litter. A cat will not likely go to the bathroom anywhere else, especially if it is an indoor only pet. You will want to be as prepared as possible. When disaster strikes, there may not be an operable store open to purchase these things. Also, don’t forget to bring along any medications your pet may need.

If you wait until the last possible moment to evacuate an area, it is unlikely you will be able to bring your pets along. If emergency officials are helping you out of the area, you will have to leave them behind. So, be sure that if you can any chance to evacuate early you do so. This will save you and your pet trauma and stress in the long run.

If you are in an area that experiences a lot of tornadoes, consider bringing all outdoor pets inside during the night. This will give you the security of knowing that they will be safe if a storm hits overnight. You can also take precautions and reinforce their outdoor shelter. If you can add any extra bedding or roofing, you should do so. When adopting a pet, think about the space it will need to thrive. If you don’t have enough space to bring it in if needed, you should think of adopting a smaller pet.

As always, you should look out for yourself and your other family members in case of a disastrous situation. You should not however neglect your pets. As a pet owner, you have a responsibility to take care of your pets. This includes making sure their needs are met during a disaster. By being prepared in advance, you will not find it any more difficult to bring your pet along. So, go ahead and get everything prepared at the beginning of your area’s bad weather season. If and when disaster does occur, you will be ready to grab your family pet and go!

What is Spaying and Neutering?

The terms “spaying” and “neutering” are used to describe those medical procedures performed on a dog in order to render it unable to reproduce. “Spaying” is used in reference to female dogs, while “neutering” is used when referring to a male.

When a female dog is spayed, the uterus and ovaries are removed. This prevents the dog from going into heat. When a male dog is neutered, the testicles are removed. Both procedures are done by a veterinarian in a surgical environment. If there are no complications, then the dog can usually go home on the same day that the procedure is done.

The Community-Related Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

The overpopulation of unwanted, domestic animals has become a huge problem in America. Animal shelters are overflowing with pets for which there are no homes and packs of homeless dogs can pose a health and safety hazard to the general public. Each year, 3 to 4 million unwanted dogs and cats have to be euthanized and that number is steadily growing. These unwanted animals don’t just materialize from out of nowhere, however. They are the products of pets that were never taken in to be spayed or neutered by their owners.

For some dog owners, not having their pet spayed or neutered is simply a matter of laziness. They keep meaning to take their pet in, but time slips away; and, before they know it, their male dog has impregnated the dog next door or their female dog is expecting a litter of puppies. For other dog owners, the reasons for not having a dog fixed may be financial. Any surgical procedure, even for a pet, can be expensive. There are, however, low-cost spaying and neutering programs available. Check with your local humane society for information on qualifying for and utilizing them.

The Health and Behavioral Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

Any risks associated with the surgical spaying and neutering procedures are far outweighed by the long-term health and behavioral benefits. In female dogs, the most obvious benefit is that there will be no litters of puppies and none of the health risks associated with that process. If your dog is spayed before she ever goes into heat, then the risk of her ever developing mammary tumors (malignant or benign) is almost completely erased. Furthermore, her risk of developing any reproductive organ cancers and infections (uterine and ovarian cancers or uterine infections) is obviously reduced significantly as well. If you wait until after her first heat cycle to have her spayed, then her chances of developing some of these conditions is almost doubled.

Without the mood swings, yelping and howling that a heat cycle brings on, your female dog will experience less stress. You’ll also experience less stress by not having to deal with blood-stained carpet, bedding or furniture.

Your male dog will also enjoy many health benefits if you have him neutered. As with the female dog, if the neutering procedure is done early (before 6 months of age) the chances that your dog will develop reproductive-related cancer (i.e. penile cancer) or disease is just about cut in half. The danger of your dog getting struck by a car while in pursuit of a breeding partner is also eliminated.

Early neutering can also help control or altogether eliminate certain behavior in the male dog. Behaviors such as spraying, marking and the desire to run away are very much linked to a dog’s hormones. Without such hormone production, your dog is less likely to develop these behaviors. Neutering your male dog could also render him easier to handle in social situations where other dogs are present. He will be less likely to show aggression toward other male dogs and will not be compelled to try and breed with an available female, even if she is in heat.