What is one of the main benefits of spaying and neutering pets?

One of the main benefits of spaying and neutering pets is that it helps to reduce the overall population of unwanted animals and can prevent several health issues. When pets are spayed or neutered, they cannot reproduce, which significantly decreases the number of homeless animals and reduces the strain on shelters and rescue organizations.

In addition to population control, spaying females can prevent health problems such as uterine infections and breast tumors, which can be life-threatening. Neutering males can prevent testicular cancer and can also reduce certain behavioral issues associated with mating instincts, such as aggression or roaming. This dual benefit—population control and health improvement—highlights the importance of these surgical procedures for both individual pets and the broader community.

The other options do not address the primary health and social issues tied to pet overpopulation or the health benefits associated with spaying and neutering. For instance, while exercise needs may change with spaying or neutering, this is not a primary reason for the procedures. Similarly, improvements in coat quality or hunting ability are not linked to spaying or neutering and are secondary to the main goals of population control and health risk mitigation.