PROS & CONS Of “Neutering” IN DOGS, CATS
Dr. Ramiz Mondal, Veterinary Physician & Nutritionist & Dr. Samina Parveen, Veterinary Officer, Govt. of W.B.
If you have an aggressive or particularly lively dog and you believe that with a castration it turns into a lamb, you are wrong.
It’s high time to rethink animal breeding practices and do as per nature. It’s time to start thinking about spaying or neutering your dog and cat. But, maybe, you are thinking about the surgical procedure issues and post-operative care management flaws before visiting a vet.
If you’re clueless then you should go for further information to consider the advantages & disadvantages of spaying and neutering before making your decision.
Neutering is done most commonly at or around six months of age. However, many vets prefer to do the surgery at the early stages of their life.
Studies have shown that dogs spayed before puberty have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than unspayed dogs or dogs spayed later in life.
Advantages of Surgical Sterilization
- Considered safe in most cases may reduce hormone-related diseases such as testicular cancer or prostate disease may decrease unwanted secondary behaviour characteristics such as roaming, marking or aggression.
- Sterilization of female dogs is the ideal solution to avoid unwanted pregnancies: having to manage litters, with the consequent difficulty of finding family at all, is not a simple job.
- Neutered females are exposed to a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer. Besides, the removal of the uterus eliminates the risk of developing uterine tumours and a potentially fatal infection called pyometra.
- Castration of male dogs is perhaps less widespread, but it is useful because it reduces the risk of pathologies affecting the testicles and the prostate, which unfortunately are very frequent in older dogs.
- Castrated dogs have less desire to mate, in fact they lose almost all the stimulus, so they are more relaxed and do not make the famous “love escapes” that lead them to run away from home, risking facing dangers such as crowded roads, cars or owners of dog girls who don’t want to be annoyed.
- 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.
- Spaying makes for a cleaner, calmer dog.
- The spayed dog no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Dogs won’t have a bloody discharge for several days while they are in heat. Without proper protective products, the discharge can stain sofas, bedding and carpets. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.
- Spaying keeps your dog healthier.
A final positive aspect of spaying your dog is that spayed pets tend to have fewer health problems. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Without these organs, ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer of the reproductive tract are no longer a concern.
Disadvantages of Surgical Sterilization
- Involves nominal risk of complications from anaesthesia and surgery longer post recovery times and the need for post-operative care and observation side effects.
- 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/ill treated each year, this is really not so bad.
- Spaying may cause weight gain. Some pets may gain weight after spaying and as they get older. Just as with people, to lose weight we need to either diet or exercise.
- Neutering will result in the sterilization of your dog. He will no longer be able to reproduce, so if you intend to breed your animal, do not have him neutered.
- Neutering sometimes changes his appearance.
- By neutering pets, owners can help lower the numbers of unwanted and homeless creatures.
Sterilization is still a surgical operation that involves anesthesia. Even in dogs there is the rare possibility of an unpredictable reaction to the anesthetic. However, to limit the risks it is essential to turn to trained and competent professionals.
Sometimes sterilized female dogs can develop urinary incontinence: it can be temporary, as the dog gradually learns to check the urinary muscles again during the recovery process. Often, spayed females have a change in metabolism, which begins to slow down, therefore they have to deal with weight gain, especially if little motor activity is performed. For this you need to give them specific food.
If you have an aggressive or particularly lively dog and you believe that with a castration it turns into a lamb, you are wrong. From the behavioural point of view, it is not true that an aggressive dog, once castrated, becomes docile, but simply castration does nothing but reduce the impulsive response of the four-legged. It will feel exactly the same as before but without the frantic push of testosterone.
For further information and detailed discussion please keep eye on my YouTube channel. WONDER VET
REMEMBER – Only a registered veterinary practitioner can legally sterilize your dog or cat. We just shared the details related with the procedure and possible hazards regarding the operation.
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