In the last year, VPI increased the spay/neuter benefit allowance on its new WellCare plan by 53 percent, from $65 to $100. The increase comes at a favorable time for pet owners in communities considering mandatory spay/neuter laws. Just this month, the city of Los Angeles became the largest municipality in the country to pass an ordinance requiring pet owners to spay or neuter their pets, possibly setting a precedent for other communities with an overflow of sheltered animals.

“At the forefront of the move to legislate pet sterilization is the desire to reduce the escalating population of unwanted pets and the subsequent euthanasia of healthy pets in overcrowded shelters,” said Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “This is a noble goal. Secondarily, from a pet health perspective, spaying or neutering is also an effective cancer prevention measure pet owners can take for their pets.”

Early spaying can greatly reduce the risk of mammary cancer if done prior to the first reproductive cycle of a female dog or cat. The procedure can eliminate the chance of ovarian and uterine cancer. Spaying also prevents pyometra, a life-threatening infection of the uterus, which may occur in middle-aged to older female dogs.

Neutering a male animal reduces the influence of testosterone on the prostate gland and prevents enlargement. An enlarged prostate is more susceptible to infection (prostatitis) and may cause discomfort or interfere with defecation. Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer. In addition, male sterilization dramatically reduces the behavioral effects of testosterone, such as aggression, roaming and urine marking.

VPI's Pet WellCare ProtectionSM Premier Coverage plan reimburses pet owners $100 for spay/neuter and also features benefits for two physical exams a year, vaccinations or titers, fecal testing, deworming, microchipping, flea and/or heartworm preventive, and diagnostics such as X-rays or blood screen and urinalysis. The Premier Coverage provides $400 of total annual benefits for $22 a month.

“Our Pet WellCare Premier Coverage rider is designed to promote optimal pet health through regular preventive care,” said McConnell. “Having a pet spayed or neutered is part of pet ownership and an essential component of a successful preventive care routine. We believe the financial help provided by our Premier Coverage plan will give pet owners extra incentive to elect this procedure for their pet.”