If you are thinking about neutering your dog, then you’re making a good decision for both of you. Neutering your male dog not only helps him out, it can also help with behavioral problems like spraying and roaming around the neighborhood. Did you know neutering your dog can actually affect their health as well?
Adding a pet to your family might be one of the greatest things ever, but there’s a catch. You have to care for it. For most animals, that includes food, exercise and medical visits. You also will have to pay to neuter it (if you decide to do so). Here are some facts about neutering a dog.
There are a number of side effects to neutering a dog, including:
- Increased chance of urinary tract infections
- Difficulty in urinating, which can lead to more serious health issues like kidney failure and stones in the urinary tract
- Anemia, due to the fact that testosterone helps regulate red blood cell production in the body
- Increased chances of prostate cancer, which is rare in dogs but does occur.
Neutering a dog can have a number of side effects. Some of these effects, especially in the short-term, are positive. For example, neutering a male dog will decrease the likelihood that he will mark his territory with urine or feces. It may also reduce aggressive behavior towards other male dogs and humans, as well as reduce roaming behavior.
Neutering can also have negative side effects. For example, it can cause urinary incontinence in some dogs (especially young ones), which is when they leak urine when they go to the bathroom. This is most common in female dogs who have been spayed before their first heat cycle, though it can occur in both sexes with any age spay/neuter procedure.
Other possible side effects include obesity (because of decreased exercise after neutering), increased risk of certain cancers like osteosarcoma (bone cancer), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), and testicular cancer (in males).
It’s important to keep in mind that these side effects are very rare—most dogs will not experience any of them at all after being neutered.
Side Effects Of Neutering A Dog
You probably think about neutering or spaying your dog, but you’re not sure if this is a good idea.
Know that you’re not alone in this because many pet owners are given conflicting information on whether neutering and spaying dogs is necessary and whether it’s good or bad for their health.
This article will look at the advantages and disadvantages of spaying and neutering dogs based on what veterinarians say and the most current research.
Many dog owners find themselves contemplating on this decision for a while and rightfully researching the Internet for all kinds of answers to common sense questions:
- What are the pros and cons of neutering or spaying a dog?
- Should I leave my dog as nature has intended him/her to be?
- What do dog experts and veterinarians think about this process?
- Do all other dog owners spay or neuter their dogs?
- What does science have to say about neutering or spaying your dog?
Rest assured, these are all valid concerns of a responsible pet owner, and I will try to address all of them using evidence and expert opinions on the matter. Dog neutering is a grave decision, and you should not take it lightly.
I also recommend listening to our editor Samatha’s recent podcast episode on the pros and cons of neutering/spaying dogs and how people view this all-important surgery (below).
RELATED: How Neutering Dogs May Lead to Cognitive Impairments
Pros and Cons of Dog Neutering or Spaying A Dog:
Should You Do It?
What is Spaying and Neutering of Dogs
Let’s start at the beginning to understand what spaying and neutering dogs really means, what this surgery looks like, and what it entails for you and your pet.
Both neutering and spaying refer to the most common sterilization methods, most often used with dogs, but many other animals go through this.
Veterinarians usually call this procedure either de-sexing dogs or fixing dogs.
One may argue that the term “fixing” a dog may be misleading or even ironic since the evidence on whether it should or should not be done is not conclusive. More on this later.
What is neutering? Neutering is the de-sex procedure of male dogs where their testicles (or gonads) are removed. The actual removal of a male dog’s testicles is called Castration.
What is spaying? Spaying is a similar procedure of sterilization for female dogs. In this case, a female dog’s ovaries and uterus are removed – it’s called Ovariohysterectomy.
Even though the terms neutering and spaying are used in veterinary medicine, the term “neuter” will most often refer to removing reproductive organs in the dog for both sexes. Colloquially, neutering doesn’t necessarily mean that it applies to male dogs alone.
How to Prepare Your Dog Before Spaying or Neutering
Before the surgery, your vet will typically want to confirm that your dog is healthy. Your dog will also typically have to fast before the surgery to prevent nausea from the anesthesia.
What to Pay Attention to and Expect After the Surgery
Your vet will ask you to restrict your dog’s activity 7 to 10 days after the surgery. Expect your dog not to eat as much the first day after surgery, but this should quickly change. You will have to bring your dog back in a week or two, so the vet can remove the stitches and check the incision.
LISTEN: Podcast on Pros & Cons of Neutering/Spaying Dogs
Why Spay or Neuter Your Dog
Most commonly cited two main reasons for dog neutering are:
- Control the population growth of dogs;
- Eliminate or decrease the chance of a dog developing certain types of diseases.
Overpopulation of dogs. In North America, most animal shelters, veterinary clinics, and humane societies highly recommend (read: force) pet owners to spay or neuter their dogs to prevent further problems to an already huge overpopulation of domestic animals.
Some states are even required by law to spay or neuter dogs before they can be adopted.
The problem is real, however. The Humane Society of the United States cites that 6 to 8 million pets are brought to animal shelters every year:
The numbers of domesticated pets in the US are growing, and so do the numbers of animals brought into shelters, which clearly pose a huge issue on many different levels.
Neutering and spaying are also performed for many other animals, but dogs are the most common recipients of this unpleasantly sounding surgical procedure. Dog owners will usually have their puppies spayed or neutered around the age of 6 months or earlier.
Neutering and spaying of dogs are done under general anesthesia, so your canine won’t feel a thing when a surgical incision is performed.
What Do Science and Experts Say
As I mentioned above, most veterinarians and other experts, as well as state laws, see neutering or spaying your dog not only as a good thing but as a necessity. It has been like this for decades.
However, most recent research has been calling this surgical procedure into question as more evidence emerges.
There have been many studies coming out over the last five years that show how neutering and spaying dogs may actually be naughty for their health.
A quick science-based overview of what we know today:
- Early dog neutering doubles the chance of hip dysplasia (1)
- Early dog neutering increases joint disorders in dogs by four times (2)
- Neutering dogs triples the risk of several joint problems in GSDs (3)
- Neutering decreases longevity in Rottweilers (4)
- Neutering increases the chance of cancer in dogs (5)
With this new research and more on the horizon, veterinarians and scientists are beginning to reconsider their stance on neutering and spaying dogs.
However, just like with research on the pros of neutering a dog, evidence for the cons of neutering dogs, in general, is still not conclusive and requires more biological research.
One thing is clear, however:
We must definitely reconsider the time of spaying and neutering dogs. Based on all the scientific data, it is clear that early neutering has more cons than pros.
It appears that spaying or neutering your dog much too early is very likely to cause joint disorders, and potentially obesity, and maybe even cancer. Furthermore:
“In addition to dogs suffering pain from joint disorders, the condition may also disqualify the dog as a working partner in military and police work. We hope these findings provide evidence-based guidelines for deciding the right age to neuter a puppy to reduce the risk of one or more joint disorders.”
– Prof. Benjamin Hart from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (source)
With all of the above in mind, you should definitely not rush into spaying or neutering your dog. However, there are advantages to this procedure, some of which are based on scientific research while others still do not have conclusive evidence.
Statistically, it used to be that there are more pros than cons to deciding to neuter or spaying your dog. The surgery is still highly recommended by vets for various reasons, but now we need more evidence than we currently have.
Let’s take a look at the consensus of the pros and cons of spaying and neutering dogs.
RELATED: 8 Laws All Dog Owners Should Be Aware Of
Spaying Your Dog: 3 Pros and 3 Cons
(female dogs)
1 PRO of spaying your dog: Heat Period Reduction
Spaying a dog will prevent periods of her being in heat.
When a female dog is in heat, her genitals swell, and she lets out a scent that can be traced for up to a mile and attract unwanted attention from male canines.
Your female will also have less desire to wander and look for a mate, which would often result in additional dog behavior problems like escaping from home and getting lost.
When in heat, a female dog can have bloody discharge that will stain her coat and your furniture, her own dog bed, or dog crate. Having a dog in heat when living in an apartment maybe not be the most pleasant thing.
By spaying your female canine, you won’t have to worry about leaving her alone in the yard or taking her for walks. She will also be a much cleaner, calmer, and more affectionate dog, according to veterinarians.
2 PRO of spaying your dog: No Doggy Pregnancy
Spaying a dog prevents your female canine from getting pregnant.
Whether intentionally or accidentally, Breeding can become a large financial and time-consuming burden for dog owners, which also comes with health risks and responsibilities.
When caring for a pregnant dog, you should expect an increase in your vet bills and dog food and care supplies. There is also a small risk of death during birth or right after.
Furthermore, any complications during the pregnancy period of your dog may also result in even more veterinary care bills and additional health risks for the newborn puppies.
If you decide to find homes for your new puppies, that may prove to be much harder than you think. Normally, owners must keep the puppies with their mother until they are about 6 weeks old and then try to find a home for them.
In the most basic sense, it is far less expensive to have your dog spayed to prevent canine pregnancy than it would be to have her get pregnant and get a litter of puppies.
3 PRO of spaying your dog: Less Risk of Cancers
Spaying a dog will eliminate the risk of your female dog developing cancer of her uterus, cancer of ovaries, or reproductive tract. When these organs are removed, you will have fewer things to worry about regarding your dog’s health.
Even though these types of cancers are already very uncommon (6) for female dogs to develop throughout their lives, many veterinarians advise that it’s still a very valid reason to proceed with spaying your dog, and it doesn’t hurt to be safe.
Aside from the above-mentioned cancers, spaying reduces the risk of your female dog getting breast cancer if she is spayed before she reaches 2.5 years old. The more heat periods she has, the greater the risk that she may be developing breast cancer.
Finally, spaying your female dog protects her from getting uterine infections. It’s been observed (7) that one in four unspayed female dogs will contract a uterine infection. If left untreated, this disease may very well kill your pet.
READ: 15 Tips on Dog Pregnancy and Whelping
1 CON of spaying your dog: Hypothyroidism and Weight Gain
Because your dog’s endocrine system is affected, one of the more known side effects of spaying your dog is the risk of hypothyroidism. Low thyroid levels in a female canine will result in weight gain and obesity, which is difficult to fight even with an adequate diet.
Your dog may also become lethargic, tired, and start losing hair. Veterinarians recommend special medication to deal with hypothyroidism in dogs.
As the above-discussed study shows, this condition may be why your dog is becoming overweight, and eventually, you might need to start dealing with dog obesity.
Spayed a dog often starts gaining weight at an increased rate after the procedure, most likely due to changes in metabolism and hormonal structure.
You can avoid weight gain and dog obesity issues by using an adequate amount of regular exercise, understanding dog food and proper nutrition, and otherwise providing your female canine with a healthy and stress-free lifestyle.
2 CON of spaying your dog: Cancers and Complications
It has been observed in the above-discussed studies that spaying your dog increases the risk of deadly canine cancers, including lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma.
Hemangiosarcoma disease, in particular, affects the dog’s spleen and heart, which normally would’ve been protected by your female canine’s reproductive organs.
Additionally, if the spaying surgery is done wrong or at the wrong age, health complications can worsen for the dog even more. For example, after spaying your dog, you might have her run the risk of uneven bone growth, bone cancer, urinary incontinence, and this procedure can also affect the appearance of her private parts.
Finally, abnormal vulvas can trap bacteria and cause dermatitis, vaginal infections, urinary tract infections, all of which should be considered.
3 CON of spaying your dog: Sterilization and Use of Anesthesia
In its technical term, spaying is the surgical procedure of sterilization. That means your dog will never be able to become pregnant, and there’s no going back with this.
However, given the overpopulation of dogs today, with millions of them being stray, homeless, living in shelters, or being euthanized, most pet advocates see this as an advantage of spaying a dog.
Because the procedure itself has to be done using general anesthesia, there’s a possibility that your pet will react poorly to this medication (7).
Some studies have shown (8) that about 1 in 5 dogs will have complications after surgery under general anesthesia. However, most of these complications are not serious health issues, and they do have a meager death rate.