Should I Neuter My Dog?
Deciding on Neutering by Weighing Neutering Benefits, Disadvantages
Jan 24, 2009
"Should I get my dog neutered?" It's a question that many pet owners wonder about, and for some, the decision to neuter a dog can be a difficult one.
This article will explore the advantages and disadvantages of neutering a dog, enabling dog owners to make the best possible decision for their pet.
Advantages of Not Neutering and Leaving a Dog Intact
There are two basic reasons why a dog owner may decide to leave a dog intact, opting not to neuter.
- The dog may be used for breeding in the future. If there's a chance a dog may be bred in the future, it's best to hold off on neutering the dog. The neutering surgery can be performed at any age. So once the male dog has sired a a few litters of puppies, he can be neutered at that time, thereby giving him the health benefits that neutering provides, albeit later in life.
- The dog will be eligible to take part in dog shows. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other organizations will disqualify a male dog from dog show competition if he is neutered. Therefore, if the dog may be destined for a career as a show dog, then the dog owner will want to opt to keep the dog intact and unneutered.
Advantages and Benefits of Neutering a Dog
While there are a few scenarios when it may be best to leave a dog intact, neutering a dog provides many, many health benefits and neutering also tends to improve the dog's behavior across the board as a result of lower testosterone levels.
- The dog will be healthier due to lower testosterone levels. High testosterone levels such as those found in unneutered dogs have been associated with illness and disease, like cancer. In fact, testicular cancer is a fairly common form of cancer that only affects intact dogs. Neutering a dog will make testicular cancer an impossibility and the dog will be less prone to developing other forms of cancer later in life.
- The dog will exhibit fewer territorial behaviors, like urine marking. Testosterone fuels territorial behaviors like leg lifting, barking and urine marking. A neutered dog will also be less apt to exhibit territorial aggression toward other dogs and humans.
- A neutered dog wanders less. When a female dog is in heat, a male dog can sense this and this causes many unneutered male dogs to wander off and run away from home in search of a female dog in heat.
- A neutered dog cannot produce offspring. An obvious but major advantage, a neutered dog cannot reproduce. Neutering a dog makes meaningful strides toward addressing the pet overpopulation problem; an intact male dog could literally produce hundreds of puppies in one lifetime!
- A neutered dog is less attractive to pet thieves. In some cases, a dog thief will steal a pure bred dog for use in a backyard breeding program. A neutered dog is useless to a breeder; therefore, neutering a dog makes it less likely that he'll end up a stolen pet.
In addition, dog owners who fear that their pet will "miss" their testicles now have an option: Neuticles, testicular implants that can be implanted when the dog is neutered or even years after the dog has been "fixed."
For more information on the testicular implants for pets called Neuticles, read Neuticles Help Neutered Pets Look Intact.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Dog Neutered?
The cost of neutering a dog varies depending on location; a resident of the northeastern United States may pay as much as $150 to get a dog neutered, whereas a resident of the southern United States may be able to get a dog neutered for $75 or less.
Fortunately, many animal shelters and humane organizations offer spay and neuter assistance programs, designed to make spaying and neutering affordable for pet owners. So in cases where the cost of neutering a dog is prohibitive, it's best to contact an animal shelter or other animal welfare organization for information on local low-cost spay and neuter clinics or spay/neuter financial assistance programs in the area.
How Do I Neuter a Dog? How Do I Care for a Dog After He's Neutered?
To learn more about how a veterinarian neuters a dog and how to prepare a dog to get neutered, read How Do I Neuter a Dog?
For information on what to expect after a dog is neutered and how to care for a dog that's just been neutered, read How to Care for a Dog After Neutering Surgery.
 |
