If you knew that you could possibly extend your pets life span, you would do anything you could to make that happen, right? The good news is that pet owners can give their pets a chance at a longer, healthier life if they simply spay or neuter them. There are several other benefits as well, both for the pet and you, the pet owner.
Did you know that pet overpopulation in the United States results in nearly 4 to 6 million pets being euthanized each year? This is probably the best reason to have your pet spayed or neutered, but let's look at the other reasons too. Spaying and neutering your dog prior to six months of age may prevent or reduce the risk of a number of health issues that could occur later in their life.
These health problems could either be very difficult or very expensive to treat, not to mention the stress your pet(and you) will face. For female dogs, spaying greatly reduces the possibility of contracting breast cancer, uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer. For male dogs, neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and reduces the possibility of contracting prostate cancer.
As the dogs owner, you will appreciate that your pet will be more affectionate and obedient after they are spayed or neutered. For female dogs, spaying removes her heat cycle, which will eliminate the incessant crying and nervous behavior female dogs will sometimes exhibit while they are in heat. She will not be so likely to attract unwanted male dogs anymore either. If a female is spayed at the right age, she will be less likely to end up getting pregnant. With an unplanned pregnancy, you will have several puppies for which you will have to pay medical expenses. They will also each need a good home and that will be up to the pet owner once again.
A male dog that is not neutered will do nearly anything to get to a female who is in heat. They will dig up the yard or break through fences and rip leashes, causing property damage and possibly injuring themselves(or you)in the process. After neutering him though, he will be less likely to roam or run away from home, mark his territory or all of your possessions with urine, get into fights with other animals, or to bite someone.
Not only do pets and pet owners benefit from the spaying and neutering procedures, but the community as well. Many times, cities and towns will spend up to millions to control animals that are wandering or unwanted. Animal shelters are completely overwhelmed with the number of pets who are found or dropped off daily. Homeless or stray pets can get into trash containers and make a mess or do their business on private lawns or in public areas. When stray dogs breed, sometimes it can contribute to the problem of dog bites and attacks. Some pets who wander the neighborhood will kill or frighten birds and other wildlife.
When discussing dogs there are two methods called spay or neuter that are often performed by vets. If you are like me you have probably gotten the two mixed up for what procedure is male and which is female on occasion. When you spay your dog you are talking about a female dog that has had its reproductive organs removed, and when you talk about neutering you are talking about the male version of the surgery. There are many reasons why these two procedures may be performed. It is definitely your option as a dog owner when you purchase the dog from a pet shop or breeder. In many cases when you adopt a dog or other pet from the humane society they have already been fixed, i.e. undergone the surgery to remove the organs. The humane society usually fixes the dogs as soon as they come into the pound if they are lost or abandoned so that there cannot be any puppies born. Often the dogs are sharing kennels so this can become an issue. The other reason most humane societies spay or neuter is to prevent more dogs from coming into existence that they would have to euthanize if they are not adopted.
So if you don't want a sterilized dog you will want to seek a breeder or pet shop that buys from a breeder. Often this only matters if you are thinking about breeding two dogs. There are several reasons that spaying or neutering can be a good thing for your pet. First when you have the surgery for your pet you are actually increasing the length of life for them. If you remember in biology you were probably told that those who reproduce are actually shortening their life spans, especially females because of the toll it takes on the body. This is true for dogs as well. You will also find they can be healthier by being fixed.
There are certain health issues a dog can have when they have not been fixed. For instance there is canine prostate and uterine cancer that can form. These are usually very expensive to treat because of the surgery and other treatments that may be required. There are also other health issues that can crop up in a dog with their sexual organs, such as breast cancer in the females. So by having your dog fixed you could be saving them from having health issues later down the road.
For you there are also benefits. You will find that most often a dog that has been fixed is more affectionate because they don't go through the hormonal periods. Dogs tend to mark their territory more when they haven't been fixed and for female dogs you will eliminate the heat cycle they go through. For most dogs you will also find that they have more behavior and temperament issues when they have not been fixed, and they are less likely to bite. Overall you will find that your pet will save you in vet bills from having continuous litters once you have them fixed. Again it depends on whether you want the dog to breed or not.
When you adopt a dog you have to make sure you can handle the dog and the care required. If you have a busy life you probably don't have time for more than one or two dogs in the house and especially not a litter. So it is wise to consider where the proper care for your dog is actually spaying or neutering them.
Both Joann Henry & Gerry Ronson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Joann Henry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Concerns, Pets and Dogs. Joann Henry operates "Doggie Health Care" , a blog all about our pooches. Joann Henry's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.