The Northern Cape Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s Veterinary Services has sterilized about 34 dogs and eight cats in Priska during spaying and neutering campaign recently.
Through such campaigns, government seeks to enable veterinary services to reach more animals in need of professional veterinary care especially in rural areas of the Province.
Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes) of the female animal.
While Neutering is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes of the male animal). Males and females should be spayed or neutered by when six months of age, while older animals can be done as long as they are in good health.
In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic diseases and hernias and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviours.
In females, spaying decreases the incidence of breast cancer, it eliminates the chances of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus experienced by many mature un-spayed animals.
Spay surgery also eliminates the heat cycle and associated mood swings and undesirable behaviour, messy spotting (in dogs) and the attraction of males to your yard.
Through its state of the art mobile veterinary truck and the Compulsory Community Services (CCS) by newly graduates veterinarians doctors- the team used the platform to educate the community about animal welfare, zoonotic diseases and promoting veterinary profession to the youth.
Spaying and neutering is been rendered free of charge by government while private veterinary clinics charges for their services.
Enquiries: Phemelo Manankong - External Communications Officer
Tel: 053 802 5622 Cell: 066 303 8166
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www.agrinc.gov.za