If you grew up in the ’80s or ’90s, then you know the highlight of staying home from school sick was watching The Price is Right. For over 30 years, Bob Barker signed off with, “Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.” For those who have grown up in the 2000s, Drew Carey has continued the mantra. But besides the fact that Bob or Drew said so, just why should you spay or neuter your pet?

Getting your cat in a carrier and taking them to the vet can be incredibly stressful for both of you. It's extremely common for cat owners who adore their cats to only take their cat into the vet when they are sick because it will stress their cat out. The big problem is that cats will try to hide their symptoms until they fall critically ill. If your feline family member does develop health issues and it is detected early it is more likely to be treated and resolved. With early detection, treatment is likely to be less expensive and easier to manage.

As veterinarians, it's heartbreaking that every summer we see several cases of heatstroke. These are dogs that are members of the family. They are loved and cared for by well-intentioned owners that dote on them. They just thought that their dog loves to ride in the car and that they would be fine in the car with the windows cracked while they ran into the dry cleaners. Or they perhaps didn't realize that they were putting their beloved pet in danger by taking them for a run or a walk on a summer day. Don't let this happen to you!