Pros and Cons of Spaying and Neutering in Dogs

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Pros and Cons of Spaying and Neutering in Dogs

By: Dr. Dawn Ruben

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It's time to start thinking about spaying or neutering your dog. But, you are not quite sure if it is the right thing to do. If you're wondering whether you should just leave your dog as nature intended, consider the positive and negative aspects of spaying and neutering before making your decision.

Spaying – The Positive Side

Spaying removes the risk of pregnancy.

Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your dog to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Finding homes for your new family additions is not as easy as you may think. Even if you choose to keep the puppies, you now have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets. In addition to costs, the health of the mother can be in jeopardy during delivery. Some new mothers can have serious complications delivering puppies and can even develop health problems during nursing.

All these potential problems can be avoided by spaying your dog.

Spaying makes for a cleaner, calmer dog.

Without the drive to mate, your dog may be quieter and not prone to an incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed dog no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Dogs won't have a bloody discharge for several days while they are in heat. Without proper protective products, the discharge can stain sofas, bedding and carpets. Spayed pets are also easier to get along with. They tend to be more gentle and affectionate.

Spaying keeps your dog healthier.

A final positive aspect of spaying your dog is that spayed pets tend to have fewer health problems. Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. Without these organs, ovarian cysts, uterine infections and cancer of the reproductive tract are no longer a concern. Studies have shown that dogs spayed before puberty have a significantly lower chance of developing breast cancer than unspayed dogs or dogs spayed later in life.

Spaying – The Negative Side

Spaying means sterilization.

Spaying will result in the sterilization of your dog, and she will no longer have the ability to become pregnant. If you wish to breed your dog, spaying should not be done.

Spaying may cause weight gain.

Some pets may gain weight after spaying. Unspayed animals typically have a strong mating desire and can expend a lot of energy seeking a mate and reproducing. Without this energy burden, your dog may eat the same amount but not burn off as many calories. Cutting back on her food can help reduce the weight gain but it is still something to be concerned about.

Spaying makes some dogs less active.

Pets that have been spayed tend to be less active. If a more sedentary dog is not for you, spaying may not be the best option.

Neutering – The Positive Side

Neutering removes the risk of pregnancy.

Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your dog to breed, you are adding to the problem. Although you may not own the female dog, and you are not burdened with finding homes for those new puppies, someone else is. Even if you accept your responsibility and choose to keep the puppies, you now have the additional cost of vaccines, parasite control, toys and food for several pets.

Neutering makes for a calmer dog.

Another positive aspect of neutering your dog is that neutering can result in a calmer, and sometimes cleaner, home. Without the drive to mate, your dog may be quieter and not prone to an incessant need to seek out a mate. The neutered dog no longer feels the need to seek out and serenade females. He no longer has the stress of needing to mark his territory and urinate throughout the house and yard. Neutered pets are also easier to get along with. They tend to more gentle and affectionate. Neutered males tend to roam less and typically are not involved in as many fights with other animals.

Neutering keeps your dog healthier.

A final positive aspect of neutering your dog is that neutered pets tend to have fewer health problems. Neutering is the removal of the testicles. Without these organs, testicular cancer is no longer a concern and the risk of prostate problems is reduced. For those people who would like to sterilize their dog but do not wish to alter his appearance, testicular implants are available.

Neutering – The Negative Side

Neutering is sterilization.

Neutering will result in the sterilization of your dog. He will no longer be able to reproduce, so if you intend to breed your animal, do not have him neutered.

Neutering changes his appearance.

Your dog will look different because his testicles will no longer be present. If the absence of these organs is a cosmetic problem for you, don't have him neutered, or discuss testicular implants with your veterinarian.

Neutering may cause weight gain.

Some pets gain weight after neutering. Intact animals typically have a strong mating desire and can expend a lot of energy seeking a mate and reproducing. Without this energy burden, your dog may eat the same amount but not burn off as many calories. Cutting back on his food can help reduce the weight gain but it is still something to be concerned about.

Neutering will make him quiet.

Pets that have been neutered tend to be less active and calmer. If a more sedentary and peaceful dog is not for you, neutering may not be the best option.

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1 Should You Breed Your Dog?
Each year, millions of animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes. If you plan to breed your pet, make sure you have good homes already selected. Sometimes, it is better to let a homeless...
Read More
2 Pregnancy in Dogs
Pregnancy is the period of gestation when the young are developing in the mother’s uterus. Typically, pregnancy lasts about 62 days and average litter size varies from one to fifteen, with an average of...
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3 What is Neutering?
Neutering is a surgical procedure that eliminates the dog's ability to reproduce by removing the testicles in the male (castration) and the ovaries and uterus in the female (spaying). Both involve a surgical...
Read More
4 What Is an Ovariohysterectomy (Spay)?
An ovariohysterectomy (spay) is the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. The operation removes the two ovaries, the uterine horns and the body of the uterus.
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1 Pregnancy in Dogs
Pregnancy is the period of gestation when the young are developing in the mother’s uterus. Typically, pregnancy lasts about 62 days and average litter size varies from one to fifteen, with an average of...
Read More
2 Should You Breed Your Dog?
Each year, millions of animals are euthanized because there are not enough homes. If you plan to breed your pet, make sure you have good homes already selected. Sometimes, it is better to let a homeless...
Read More
3 What is Neutering?
Neutering is a surgical procedure that eliminates the dog's ability to reproduce by removing the testicles in the male (castration) and the ovaries and uterus in the female (spaying). Both involve a surgical...
Read More
4 What Is an Ovariohysterectomy (Spay)?
An ovariohysterectomy (spay) is the surgical removal of the female reproductive organs. The operation removes the two ovaries, the uterine horns and the body of the uterus.
Read More

Pros and Cons of Spaying and Neutering in Dogs

Pros and Cons of Spaying and Neutering in Dogs

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