Are there any problems associated with spaying and neutering?
People often worry that sterilizing their dog or cat will cause obesity. It’s true that spaying and neutering does change an animal’s metabolism — more or less instantaneously — but it may take the animal several weeks to adjust its appetite “thermostat.” A spayed or neutered animal requires fewer calories for maintenance than an intact one. Some experts recommend cutting the amount you feed by 1/4 to 1/3 for 4 to 6 weeks post-operatively. By doing this, chances are good that he or she will be able to self-regulate at that weight the rest of its life. Also, animals, just like people, need exercise and physical activity to maintain their ideal weight. We as caregivers are responsible for keeping our cats and dogs active. A companion animal’s metabolism, just like that of humans, tends to slow down as we get older. Therefore, less food and more exercise may be appropriate for your cat or dog as he or she matures. So please, be your best friend’s best friend — have your animal companion s
