Spay and Neuter Awareness Month:
Myths vs Benefits of Sterilisation
Paws for Compassion has been working hard for years to educate the community on sterilisation; making it safe, readily available, and affordable for pet owners. There are some myths and misunderstandings in the community. Some people are even scared for their pets when considering sterilisation. We hope that, through education, we can make pet owners understand that sterilisation is the best option for their pets.
Debunking myths about sterilisation
Unfortunately, there are still several myths and misunderstandings in the community about sterilisation.
1️⃣ “It’s good for a female dog or cat to have at least one litter before they are spayed.” ❌ This is FALSE. There’s no health benefit to allowing your pet to have a litter. In fact, you’re not just adding to the overpopulation crisis, but you’re also putting a financial burden on yourself by caring for more puppies or kittens and struggling to find them homes. There’s also no guarantee that the people who take them will treat them well or sterilise them, making the problem worse.
2️⃣ “Sterilisation is expensive.” ❌ Spaying or neutering your pet is actually an affordable procedure that only happens once in your pet’s lifetime—and it’s permanent. When you consider the potential medical costs of health issues in unsterilised pets (like cancer, infections, or tumours), sterilisation is a much more cost-effective option. It’s also far less expensive than caring for an unexpected litter of puppies or kittens.
Paws, in partnership with Four Paws and Paws International Clinic, regularly offers FREE sterilisation days to help reduce the number of unwanted pets in our community (more info below).
3️⃣ “Sterilisation is painful and dangerous.” ❌ The risks of sterilisation are minimal when performed by a licensed veterinarian. Your pet is given general anaesthesia, so they don’t feel pain during the surgery. Post-surgery, painkillers are provided, and most pets recover quickly.
4️⃣ “Sterilisation will make my pet overweight and lazy.” ❌ Not true! Sterilisation itself does not cause obesity. Weight gain happens when pets are overfed and under-exercised. As long as you control your pet’s food intake and ensure they get enough exercise, they will stay fit and healthy.
Reasons to sterilise your pets
As a pet owner, choosing to sterilise your pet may be one of the most important decisions you make. Sterilisation has many benefits, not only improving the health of your furry friend but also preventing unwanted animals and their impact on the community.
💙 For male pets:
✅Reduces the risk of testicular cancer and prostatic disease
✅Decreases unwanted behaviours like spraying, fighting, or aggressive behaviour
✅Makes them less likely to roam, keeping them safer
💗 For female pets:
✅Reduces the risk of cancers (up to 85%) and eliminates the risk of pyometra (a potentially fatal infection)
✅Stops heat cycles and mood swings
✅No more unwanted litters!
Sterilisation also helps the community 🌍 By preventing unwanted litters, you’re helping to reduce the number of homeless pets on the streets and in shelters. Every pet that’s sterilised helps the larger fight against pet overpopulation, ensuring that there are more loving homes available for animals in need.
Paws for Compassion, in collaboration with FOUR PAWS and Paws International Clinic, consistently organises free sterilisation days in Da Nang and Hoi An. Follow our page for updates on the next free sterilisation day!
If you’re a pet owner, make the responsible choice today and sterilise your pet to help reduce the number of unwanted litters. Together, we can make a huge difference! 💪🐾
We are 100% funded by our incredible volunteers, donors, and partners. We receive no government funding, so all the work we do relies on people like you deciding to help out the precious animals in such desperate need of care.
Thank you for your support!
