Five myths about spay/neuter surgery and the truth about your pet’s health

Earlier this month, five common myths surrounding spay and neuter surgeries that often cause confusion among pet owners in Macau were addressed.

Spaying/neutering your pet is essential to responsible pet parenthood, yet many myths and misconceptions surround these procedures. Unfortunately, these myths can prevent pet parents in Macau from making the best choices for their pets’ health and well-being. Here are five more myths about spaying and neutering – and the facts you need to know to make an informed decision for your pet.

Myth 1: Spay/neuter is risky or painful for my pet.

Fact: Spay/neuter procedures are routine surgeries performed by trained veterinary professionals under anaesthesia, ensuring that pets are comfortable and pain-free during the procedure. Modern pain management techniques minimise discomfort both during and after surgery. While every surgery carries some risk, spay/neuter is considered a low-risk procedure with benefits far outweighing the risks. Most pets recover quickly and resume normal activities within a few days to hours.

Myth 2: My indoor pet doesn’t need to be spayed or neutered.

Fact: Spaying and neutering are essential for all pets’ health and well-being, whether indoors or outdoors. Even indoor pets can escape unexpectedly, leading to unplanned pregnancies. Additionally, unspayed female pets still go into heat, which can cause stress and behavioural issues, such as yowling or marking territory. Neutering male pets helps reduce behaviours like aggression, territorial marking, and roaming.

Myth 3: Spaying/neutering will cause my pet to gain weight.

Fact: While hormonal changes can slightly reduce a pet’s metabolism, weight gain is not a direct result of the surgery. Instead, it occurs when pets consume more calories than they burn, often due to overfeeding or a lack of exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight is manageable with a balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Myth 4: My pet is too old to be spayed or neutered.

Fact: Older pets can still benefit significantly from spay/neuter. Spaying prevents pyometra (a deadly uterine infection) and reproductive cancers. Our team at RVC will assess your older pet’s overall health before surgery to ensure it is safe and perform blood work and other diagnostics to reduce risks. It’s never too late to consider this responsible decision.

Myth 5: Spay/neuter is unnatural and harmful.

Fact: While spaying and neutering alter the reproductive system, they help prevent numerous health risks, such as uterine infections, certain cancers, and complications from behaviours like roaming or fighting. These surgeries also address the unnatural issue of pet overpopulation, which leads to millions of homeless animals and unnecessary euthanasia every year. Far from being harmful, spaying and neutering are responsible choices that protect individual pets and contribute to the well-being of the entire animal community.

By debunking these myths, we hope to empower pet parents to make informed decisions that benefit their pets and society. If you want to schedule an appointment for your pet’s spay/neuter, please contact us or your preferred Vet. by Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester

Hope this info helps

Till next time

Dr Ruan

Royal Veterinary Centre

Tel: +853 28501099

Emergency: +853 66776611

Email: info@rvcmacau.com