Myths About Desexing — Busted by Our Vets

Desexing your pet (also known as spaying or neutering) is one of the most common procedures in veterinary care—yet, it’s also surrounded by myths and misinformation. At Creature Comforts, our veterinary team hears these concerns all the time, and we’re here to set the record straight.

Let’s bust the most common desexing myths and give you the facts you need to make the best decision for your pet’s health and wellbeing.

✅ Truth: Your pet’s sweet, loving nature won’t change after desexing.
What can change are hormone-driven behaviors like roaming, marking, mounting, and vocalising. These behaviors often decrease after desexing, especially if done before sexual maturity. But your pet’s playfulness, affection, and quirks? Those stay the same.

✅ Truth: Male pets benefit just as much from desexing.
 Neutering helps reduce aggression, spraying, and roaming in male pets. It also eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate disease. Desexing male pets is just as important for long-term health and responsible pet ownership.

✅ Truth: Weight gain is not caused by desexing—it’s caused by overfeeding and lack of exercise.
 While desexing may slightly lower your pet’s metabolism, this can be easily managed with a proper diet and regular activity. Most desexed pets live longer, healthier lives when given the right care.

✅ Truth: Desexing is a routine, low-risk surgery performed under general anesthesia.
 At Creature Comforts, we take every safety precaution—from pre-anesthetic bloodwork to continuous monitoring during surgery and recovery. While no procedure is entirely risk-free, the health benefits far outweigh the minimal risks in most cases.

✅ Truth: Even indoor pets can benefit from desexing.
 Unwanted behaviors like marking, yowling, or attempting to escape are common in unneutered pets—even if they never go outside. And in the rare event your indoor pet escapes, the risk of accidental pregnancy or injury increases.

✅ Truth: Desexing plays a major role in preventive health care.
 It’s not just about preventing unwanted litters. Desexing helps protect your pet from reproductive cancers, infections, and behavior issues. It also helps reduce the number of stray animals in our community.