Do I have to spay or neuter my dog?

Why should I have my dog spayed?

We recommend spaying all female pets. The benefits to your pet’s health and to help reduce the pet overpopulation crisis make this decision easier.

What are the advantages of spaying in the female dog?

  • Prevention of “heat” or estrus.
  • When in “heat”, the female experiences an urge to escape in order to find a mate. This unwanted and
    dangerous behavior is eliminated.
  • Elimination of the hormone fluctuations that cause false pregnancy following the “heat cycle”.
  • Prevention of uterine infection known as pyometra.
  • Prevention of breast cancer. Dogs spayed before their first “heat” have less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer.
  • Elimination of the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.

    • What are the disadvantages?

    Most of the perceived disadvantages are false. The most quoted of these are that the dog will become fat, lazy, and useless as a guard dog. Obesity is probably the most commonly quoted disadvantage of spaying. Obesity is the result of overfeeding and lack of physical activity. The role of female hormones in preventing obesity is poorly understood. By regulating your dog’s diet and caloric intake, you can prevent obesity in neutered or intact females.

    Spaying doesn’t cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness or affection.

    What are the advantages of neutering my male dog?

  • Reduces the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis.
  • Reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases such as perianal adenoma.
  • Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common cancer in intact dogs.
  • Removes sexual urges, which usually decreases roaming behaviors
  • Reduces certain types of aggression.