Should I Spay or Neuter my Dog?

Some people continue to have doubts about the surgical sterilization of pets. Many of these doubts are based on false beliefs. The truth is, when you decide to have your dog sterilized, you avoid future health problems and contribute to the prevention of overpopulation, slaughter and abandonment of domestic animals.

Information about dog sterlization

Almost no one likes to go to the operating room. All surgery, as simple as it may be, involves certain risks. This is one of the reasons why many of us tend to resist having our dog sterilized.

However, it is an operation that rarely has problems. And the animal recovers quickly. It consists of the removal of testicles in males, and for females, the ovaries and, usually, the uterus.

Most veterinarians agree that the ideal time to sterilize a dog is between 6 and 8 months of age. At this age, the animal has already physically developed sufficiently and is able to face surgery. But the key is that he is not yet fully developed sexually.

If you are wondering if you should have your dog sterilized, My Animals will give you some answers. The important thing is to make your decision based on accurate information.

Seriously consider sterilizing your dog

So, unless you are planning to become a dog breeder, or specifically want your dog to have offspring, either to keep the puppies or give them to relatives or friends; the best thing you can do is to choose to have your four-legged friend sterilized.

Think of it this way: you must be a responsible owner. If you do not want your pet to have offspring, what will you do with any puppies? The answer should never be abandonment or slaughter.

So, we recommend that you become well informed about the sterilization issue by consulting with different professionals. Do not stick with only one opinion. You can also consult people who have had their pets operated on and they can tell you about their experience.

The decision of whether or not to have your dog sterilized will ultimately be yours. The important thing is that you make your choice freely, based on precise and accurate information, and not echoing false beliefs.

Some of the benefits of neutering male dogs

Among the benefits of neutering a male dog, we can highlight that, generally:

• His personality will not change, but he will be calmer.
• He will be less territorial and dominant. And he will not be so aggressive when he is with other dogs.
• It will decrease the possibility of him escaping (and being lost or in an accident) in search of females in heat.
• The chances of him suffering from tumors in the penis and the prostate will be reduced. And it is very likely that he will not urinate all over everything as he gets older.
• It will improve his health (and his life expectancy), since he will not suffer the stress that unsterilized females can cause in males that are not neutered.

Advantages of spaying a female dog

As for females, spaying them will have the following benefits (among others):

• They will not experience mood swings because of hormones, nor will they run away in search of males.
• There will be less chance of their developing breast cancer or infections of the genital area.
• They will not have psychosomatic pregnancies.
• They will no longer menstruate. So you will also be free of the extra cleaning that this condition creates.

Other information about sterilization

When an animal, whether male or female, is sterilized before it has sexually developed, it will most likely become more affectionate and friendly. In addition, the procedure will decrease his need to mark his territory with urine.

And keep in mind that, contrary to the myth that claims otherwise, your dog is unlikely to become fat if you have him sterilized. If you give him enough exercise and feed him the appropriate amount of food according to his age, size and characteristics — and in the amounts that the veterinarian indicates — your pet should not end up overweight.

On the other hand, if the cost is is keeping you from having your dog sterilized, keep in mind that there are some establishments where operations are made free of charge or at very low cost. Ask for information in a shelter or animal control center.