TO NEUTER OR NOT TO NEUTER

 

 

Many controversies exist concerning neutering pets. In general, a good policy is to neuter any animal, which is not to be specifically used for breeding. Pet overpopulation has caused countless dogs and cats to be put to death in animal shelters or to roam the streets searching for a mate. To a large extent, this tragedy is the end result of the neglect of birth control in our pets. Even owners who try to be responsible are often at fault- it is very difficult to keep a pet that is intent on breeding completely confined whether it is a male or female. A serious breeder is prepared for this problem, but the average pet owner is not.

 

The first question you must consider is, "Should I have my pet neutered?". Pet overpopulation is only one of the issues involved. If it is not done routinely, most pets end up being neutered at some point for either behavioral or medical reasons. A female in season or an attracted male is much more interested in breeding than in being a loving pet. A normally steady, secure, even-tempered, well-trained animal will often be moody and aggressive. Females will be restless, anxious to get outside to the awaiting pack of eager males that are sure to be on your front lawn. She will need to be kept indoors, since fenced in yards are rarely enough to keep her in and the males out. In addition, you will have to contend with the bloody discharge that she will leave throughout the house. Males will tend to roam, often going through screens and over fences in search of a female in season. His "male related" behavior will include aggression (usually directed towards other male dogs, but also possibly toward people, including family members) and territorial urine marking.

 

 

A neutered pet is also a healthier pet. Unspayed females have a high risk of mammary tumors, and are susceptible to developing cancer and infections of the uterus as mature adults. Intact males tend to get disorders of the prostate (enlargement, abscesses and/or tumors), tumors of the testicles, perineal hernias, and other tumors that are related to the effects of testosterone on the tissues. The incidence of these problems is high enough to justify neutering as a medical preventive measure alone.

Once you have decided to neuter your pet, the next question is, "When is the best time?". It is recommended that both males and females be neutered at 6 months of age. At this time the animal is young and healthy, and best able to undergo a surgical procedure. The reproductive organs are large enough to make the procedure feasible, but undeveloped enough to keep the risks to a minimum.

 

 

This is especially true of a female who has never gone through a heat cycle: the blood vessels, uterus and ovaries are small and so the spay is quicker and safer. In addition, if females are spayed before they come into season for the first time, the risks of developing mammary cancer are close to zero. If you wait until after she has had two heat cycles, the chances are equal to that of an unspayed female, so it really is beneficial to have your pet spayed early. For males, roaming and aggression are serious problems in many cases. Some people choose to wait to see if these problems will develop before deciding to neuter their pets. Unfortunately, these traits are often learned behaviors by this time, and neutering will not reverse them. In many instances, if the pet had been neutered early, the behavior problems would never have developed.

 

 

Some people believe that neutering an animal at a young age will cause it to be obese as an adult. It is true that in many cases the metabolism will be lower after neutering, but this would occur regardless of the age at which the procedure was done. The simple solution to this problem is to make sure our pet gets adequate exercise and is not overfed, which you should do regardless of the animal's reproductive status. Another belief is that animals neutered at a young age will not reach their normal size. In actuality, there has never been any scientific indication that this is so. Neutering your pet is advised, therefore, for both behavioral and medical reasons.