To Neuter or not to Neuter your Pet

The term “neutering” refers to both sexes. Males are castrated, females are spayed. Another expression that is used commonly is “fixed”. There are several untrue statements about neutering. Males do not begin acting like females, nor do they bark differently. Males and females do not get fat and lazy just from neutering, there are several issues that can cause it. Weight gain comes first and foremost from overfeeding and lack of exercise. Since some dogs tend to “get a little lazy” and have a reduced need of calories after neutering, weight gain can occur and needs to be addressed by adjusting the food intact. Usually aggressive behavior toward people is not changed after neutering. Finally, there is no evidence that shows females to live longer after having had a litter of pups. I recommend not to neuer animals younger than 8 months, some veterinarian say that 6 months, or earlier, is the right age. It also depends on the animals general health/growth. Ask for advice if unsure.

After castrating a male, you can expect him to being less aggressive toward other male dogs. The male will be less dominant over you and the mounting of other dogs or people can diminish, but don’t count on it. Mounting is not necessarily a sexual behavior but a show of dominance. Castration will not make your male dog calmer, and definitely not more obedient. Don’t skip obedience training just because your animal is neutered! Vets, animal control, as well as the Humane Society urge to castrate your male animals; I personally say do it if your male dog is an “outdoor” animal and might get in contact with females in heat. If your dog is kept in the house and not yard and has never unsupervised contact with other dogs, the decision is up to you.

The main gain from spaying a female is that she will not contribute to the overpopulation by giving birth to numerous puppies who have to be killed every year. We do not recommend to spay at a very early stage, before 6 months. Some studies indicate that this could result in submissive wetting and some masculine aggressiveness similar to males, in some dogs. Females seem to gain about 5 - 10% of weight. Regular exercises and a controlled diet are necessary to prevent the animal from becoming too heavy. The weight gain is based on their reduced need of calories.

One health benefit is that the danger of gondola and ovarian cancer is practically erased. On the other hand, new studies have proven that the missing hormones result in behavior changes, sort of a “Menopause” symptom.

To neuter or not to neuter - decide for yourself!