Neutering dogs doesn’t just prevent unwanted pregnancies, though this alone is an excellent reason to get your dog neutered. Neutering your dog also brings with it a whole host of other health and social benefits which can lead to your dog having a longer and happier life. Neutering a dog is a simple operation, though the operation for the female dog is more complex and invasive than for a male dog, given the location of the female reproductive organs.
Why Neutering is Beneficial for You and Your Dog?
Unwanted or unplanned pregnancies can bring an increased burden onto local pet rescue centres if the puppies cannot be rehomed. Considered breeding, with carefully chosen parents, with excellent temperaments, and healthy genes, can be a perfectly viable option. Sadly, much of the breeding that occurs is ill-conceived and impulsive and can lead to unhealthy puppies, with nervous temperaments. Neutering prevents the risk of accidental pregnancies from occurring. Neutering also reduces the health risk of certain cancers and diseases in both male dogs and female dogs.
Most dogs are family dogs, who live in the family home. Trying to cope with a male dog that is set on mounting everything in sight or a female dog that bleeds during its heat cycle, can be difficult and stressful. Neutering reduces mating tendencies in male dogs and can make them less dominant and aggressive. If you are having issues with two male dogs, you may find that neutering the dogs improves the situation. Male dogs can also have straying issues when entire, which again can be reduced by neutering.
If you have a female dog in heat, you could attract unwanted male dogs. Neutering your dogs, both male and female, will make your life together easier, and improve your pet’s health.
Health Advantages of Getting Dog Neutered
There are many health benefits to neutering your dog. Male dogs can be susceptible to testicular cancer, so removing the testicles is an easy way to remove this health risk. Dogs that are left uncastrated can risk developing a large prostate gland as they age, this is called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which causes discomfort and straining to toilet.
Female dogs are also prone to cancer in the reproductive organs, namely ovarian and uterine. Spaying your female dog removes these organs, and this risk. Interestingly, research also shows that spaying at a young age significantly reduces the likelihood of getting mammary gland cancer, which can be fatal. Spaying a female dog removes their heat cycle, and helps to regulate their hormones, some dogs, like humans, can be extremely hormonal, and it can improve their lives to not be at the mercy of their hormones.
Spaying also eliminates the risk of uterine infections such as Pyometra, which can be potentially life threatening if not treated. Male dogs can have high levels of testosterone, which is reduced through surgical castration. Testosterone can cause aggressive and dominant behaviour, as well as the desire to roam, and castration may help to reduce these unwanted behaviour. Some owners report that their dog’s concentration and focus improves after castration.
Dog’s Population Control and Community Benefits
In the UK, and overseas, there are many pet rescue centres, which are overflowing with dogs that need a home. Whilst some people don’t want to take on a rescue dog, many people enjoy rescuing and will always choose to rescue over buying a puppy. If your dog becomes accidentally pregnant, you are adding to the burden of unwanted dogs. As a responsible dog owner, you should think about the implications if your dog were to become pregnant. The lure of the price of puppies during the pandemic has led many people into breeding, but the price of puppies has reduced back down to more sensible levels. Dog breeding is not a cheap pastime, and it is easy for your dog to run into problems whelping and need veterinary assistance.
A c-section for a dog can cost up to £1000, and there is no guarantee that the puppies will be born healthy, especially from an unplanned pregnancy. If your dog were to have puppies, it is very hard work and requires a great deal of effort from the owners. Your dog is your family pet, and you want to enjoy the years you spend together, building your bond and connection. Dealing with unplanned pregnancies can be stressful and costly, for both you and your dog.
Household Benefits
Anyone who has lived in a house with a bitch in heat will know how messy and difficult it can be. Many dogs sleep on the sofas, play on the carpets, and enjoy being part of the family life. A female dog in season may need to be locked away from the family, which they may not enjoy. Walking a female dog in heat can be tricky, you must be very mindful of other dogs, and attract unwanted interest.
Generally, it is best to walk your female dog on the lead on the pavement, rather than risk being around male dogs off the lead, but even in this scenario, you can still attract the interest of male dogs. Uncastrated male dogs can be dominant and aggressive, sometimes with other pets in your home. Castration can help to reduce these tendencies, and castrating when a male dog is still young, helps to prevent these tendencies from becoming ingrained habits.
Neuter your Pet for a Happy and Healthy Life
Neutering your dog is a sensible choice for several reasons. The operation is common and straightforward, with a short recovery time. Whilst the operation for a female dog is more complex, many vets offer keyhole spay surgery, which is less invasive than a traditional spay and reduces the recovery time.
Here at Anrich Vets, we carry out spays and castrations in our state-of-the-art facilities, using our experienced surgical team. Your pet will be extremely well looked after throughout the operation and during the post-op care by our dedicated nurse team. We will always explain the procedure to you, and give you detailed instructions for your pet’s aftercare so that they will heal quickly. If you want to discuss any questions that you may have, or book your pet’s neutering, simply call us today on 01942 242001.