List of the Pros of Neutering Dogs
1. It reduces the risk of prostate and cancer problems. Dogs that are neutered no longer have the risk of suffering from testicular cancer, a common form of cancer in dogs, later in life. Other common issues, such as infections or cysts, are reduces as well. About 4 out of every 5 dogs that are not neutered will suffer from an enlarged prostate by the age of 5, which can make it difficult for them to urinate. That issue goes away as well.
2. It reduces marking and spraying issues. The removal of the testicles changes the hormonal balance that is within the male dog. Less testosterone is present, which means there is less of a desire to mark territory. There can be fewer spraying issues around the house as well. This benefit is reduced when the dog is neutered later in life, so it is a good idea to consider this option around the age of 6 months.
3. It stabilizes the mood of the dog. Dogs are naturally protective of their territory. They will guard it against any “unfriendly” visitor. Some male dogs can be overly aggressive, especially when other male dogs are encountered. The neutering process reduces these behaviors. It will also reduce the aggressiveness seen in the dog over time without reducing their desire to be active and playful every day.
4. It reduces the mating urge. Dogs that are not neutered will have the urge to run away from their home if they sense a dog in heat somewhere in their neighborhood. The urge to mate is reduced once the neutering process has been completed. That means the desire to roam and expand territory is reduced. They still like to get outside to explore, but the purpose is different. The goal is to have fun more than it is to find a mate or expand personal borders.
5. It does not cause them to gain weight. Dogs that are neutered will usually be more inactive than normal for up to 2-4 weeks after the procedure. This is normal. It is part of the healing process. As long as the dog receives a healthy diet and regular exercise, the act of neutering will not cause the dog to put on weight. As the dog ages, the focus on diet and exercise must increase as the dog will want to eat the same amount while wanting to exercise less.
6. It can reduce sexualized behaviors. Some male dogs are hypersexualized. You can see this with behaviors that include leg humping and mounting other dogs of either gender. Neutering can reduce these behaviors because it changes the urge to mate. Although there may be changes to the maturation process afterward, for some dogs, the benefits here outweigh the potential disadvantages which may occur later on in life.
· Spaying removes the risk of pregnancy. Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your dog to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Finding homes for your new family additions is not as easy as you may think. Even if you choose to keep the puppies, you now have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets. In addition to costs, the health of the mother can be in jeopardy during delivery. Some new mothers can have serious complications delivering puppies and can even develop health problems during nursing. All these potential problems can be avoided by spaying your dog.
Last year about 17 million dogs and cats were turned over to animal shelters. Only one out of every 10 taken in to the shelters found a home. This means that over 13.5 million had to be destroyed. The tragedy is that this is unnecessary. Much of the problem could be eliminated by simple surgery: Spaying and neutering operations are performed under general anesthesia and are quite painless. By neutering pets, owners can help lower the numbers of unwanted and homeless creatures.
· Spaying may cause weight gain. Some pets may gain weight after spaying and as they get older. Just as with people, to loose weight we need to either diet or exercise. Cutting back on food intake or increasing your pets activity will help reduce weight gain.
· Spaying means sterilization. Spaying will result in the sterilization of your dog, and she will no longer have the ability to become pregnant. In the era of pet overpopulation with thousands of unwanted pets being euthanized each year, this is really not so bad.
It’s time to start thinking about spaying or neutering your dog. But, maybe you are not quite sure if it is the right thing to do. If you’re wondering whether you should just leave your dog as nature intended, consider the positive and negative aspects of spaying and neutering before making your decision.
Neutering reduces the risk of perianal fistula.
This is a painful skin disease where infected boils develop around a dogs anus. It is extremely difficult to treat. It can appear in any dog, but is most common in non-neutered German Shepherds, Irish Setters, and Leonbergers.