In today’s modern society, it is politically and socially correct to alter any and all healthy pets for the belief of ending pet overpopulation. However, as more studies and statistics have made themselves known from the no kill movement and shelter reform, we are learning that altering all pets has had very little, if any, impact of the shelter pet population as a whole. Furthermore, other benefits are explained to pet owners of the surgical procedure including a calmer pet with fewer health concerns. Some are true, but others are simply as false as old wives tales. Spaying or neutering your dog is just as much of a personal decision as your own diet, and it is up to you to understand the benefits and risks associated with this life altering surgery before you place your pet under the knife.
Debunking Beliefs
It is believed that altering your pet can reduce any aggression, marking behavior in males, and reduce activity levels. While it is true that your pet may slightly reduce his activity level due to the dramatic loss of hormones in his body, the belief that aggression and marking behaviors are only for intact animals is flat out false. Marking is a deep, instinct driven behavior that even female dogs do, and their reproductive organs play very little part in it.
Aggression, on the other hand, seems to take another turn when it comes to altering a pet. Studies in the past have shown that altered males are more likely to instigate a dispute than intact males, and especially when an altered male meets an intact male. Altered dogs feel threatened by the hormone levels of the intact male, and sometimes are the first to attack or make any aggressive moves. Females, however, are more accepting of each other and other dogs when they are spayed. An intact female may be more territorial as she feels the need to protect her whelping area, even if she has never been bred.
The health benefits a dog can get from spaying or neutering may or may not outweigh the risks. This is completely your opinion on if your dog is worth risking for these benefits. Spayed females have their uterus completely removed, which means they can never get a pyometra, which is a uterine infection. Roughly 25% of all intact females will get a pyometra by 5 years of age, and while it can be battled with antibiotics it usually requires an emergency spay to remove the organ completely. Cardiac tumors are increased four fold for spayed females than for intact females as well.
Neutered males receive only 2 benefits from the altering procedure; reduced chance of prostate cancer which effects roughly 12% of intact male dogs and the elimination of testicular cancer, infections and benign tumors. More and more seasoned dog owners and professional are opting out of neutering all together, but most veterinarians and pet owners still prefer to alter their pet before growth plates close.
Early Alteration
Early spaying for females, that is altering a female before 2 years of age, significantly increases the chances of bone cancer and incontinence as her body was not allowed to develop properly beforehand. There are no benefits to spaying early outside of preventing pregnancy and messy heat cycles. For both males and females the spay and neuter surgeries that occur before the age of 2, which is the typical age in which growth plates close, delays the closing of the plates and they may never close properly. This increases hip dysplasia and arthritus, meaning your pet may have more pain and difficulty in getting around than he otherwise would had he not been neutered until 2 years of age.
There are benefits to spaying and neutering, but the risks associated may be too much for you and your dog to handle. Meanwhile, it takes extra care for an intact pet to remain safely in their home with their family. The humans of the household will have to take responsibility in keeping their pets from mating and causing unwanted litters. More obedience training can also help those who wish to keep their pets intact for health reasons so that a dog can be immediately recalled even if he smells a female in season or their female senses an intact male nearby. A well trained dog can over come unwanted litters with a dedicated owner.
If, for any reason, you feel you are not capable of providing the advanced training or care that an intact animal will require for life, or if the chances of health problems involving the reproductive organs just don’t seem to be worth it, then altering your pet is an ideal solution. If spaying or neutering will keep your pet safer in his environment, then the risks of surgery and possible conditions down the road may be worth it to you. The best thing you can do is to do your own research, learn of all the benefits and risks, and make the best decision for you and your dog.
Visit Pampered Paw Gifts.com For Get Well Soon Gifts and Treats For Your Dog