http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-to-spay-or-neuter-your-dog.html
Why Spay or Neuter Your Dog
posted by Annie B. Bond Mar 11, 1999 10:39 am
Excerpted from 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Dog, by Arden Moore.
The birth of a litter of puppies is certainly a miracle to behold. But it’s time for a reality check: There are simply not enough homes for all. Show true compassion for the dogs of the world by having your dog spayed (for females) or neutered (for males) before 6 months of age.
Be a Pal
- If you have your veterinarian spay your female dog before her first heat (estrus) cycle, you’re doing her a terrific favor. Spaying dramatically reduces her risk of developing uterine infections, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
- As for the boys, neutered males have far fewer prostate problems (including cysts, abscesses, and prostate cancer) than do unaltered males, and they can’t develop testicular cancer. They are less likely to roam, fight, demonstrate aggressiveness, or display hyperactive behavior.
- Schedule the surgical appointment early in the day so that you can pick your dog up in the early evening (Unless your vet recommends an overnight stay). Also, select a time when you will be home for a couple of days after the surgery—weekends are good—so that you can provide comfort and reassurance to your healing friend.
Top 10 Reasons to Spay or Neuter Your Dog
- Altered dogs, on average, live longer, healthier lives.
- Female dogs spayed before their first birthday are 99.9 percent less likely to develop reproductive cancer.
- Altered dogs behave better and are more focused on training.
- You’ll stop overpopulation. One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just six years.
- You’ll stop homelessness. Only one in four dogs find a permanent, loving home.
- You’ll stop the killings. More than eight million surplus dogs and cats are destroyed each year because there are not enough homes for them. Taxpayers pick up the tab to the tune of $300 million.
- Eighty percent of dogs struck by vehicles are unaltered males.
- The majority of dog bites to postal carriers are from unaltered male dogs.
- Pet licensing fees are lower in cost for altered dogs in many cities and countries.
- Thanks to improved surgical and anesthesia equipment and techniques, you can spay a female or neuter a male as early as 8 weeks of age. Don’t hesitate.
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50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Dog, by Arden Moore
From recipes for gourmet treats to grooming tips, herbal flea repellants to pet comfort corners, pet massage techniques to understanding how a dog thinks, 50 Simple Ways to Pamper Your Dog present easy-to-implement tips that support a happy, healthy dog and a strong human-animal bond.buy nowrelated stories
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19 comments
add your comment »@Kanine Kween: thank you for your opinion, which is one I do more than 100% agree upon!
Why aren't there more people like you?
@Laticia Kirkaldy: I sure love you for that comment/statement! There is nothing really more to say to it
(I'm holding the opinion that I do not do to my dogs what I wouldn't have done to me peroiod :-)
@Simon Spencer: of course there is another way: don't do that to your best friend! and then read over what Kanine Kween just wrote!
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I am so pleased with the responses to my comment. Thank you Robin C and Kanine Kween. I totally agree that it is the pet owner who needs to learn responsibily. I also admit that if my situation was different I may have opted to have my pets fixed. (we are still considering fixing the chihuahua) only because I am afraid he may find a way out if a femail comes in heat somewhere and we could loose him and I would be devistated. But again I have to weigh out my feelings on it. I could breed him in future if I decided to. and at least I would know that his pups would be being sold for hard cash, so it is less likely that the pups would go to a spur of the moment home. I know my unaltered femail is safe from getting pregnant but I will not lie and say her heat drives me nuts! But then again I have to think about how much pain she would go through to have a hystorectomy. I had one myself and it is 8wks of pain and misery. I can not put my trusting loving and loyal pet through that. Besides she is 4 now and I just feel the surgey would be too much for her. Like I said she is a good dog. I can let her out in the yard with out a leash though always supervised she never leaves her bounderies. I just wish more people would be responsible pet owners with out having to put their pets through needless suffering... I know plenty of wondeful owners out there that had there dog ultered just because it was "the standard" or "right thing to do" but in the end their dogs have been well traine
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I am a trainer who volunteers at animal shelters. What I have been seeing in shelters are unwanted ADULT dogs, not litters and litters of unwanted puppies. If one examines the shelter's records for reasons of surrender they would find that many owners give up their dogs because they are moving, can't afford vet care, or because their dog has behavioral issues. Perhaps we should label "irresponsible dog owners" as those who:
1)do not commit to keeping a dog for its lifetime
2)fail to train their dogs and/or correct undesirable behavior issues
3)will not spend money on a dog's medical care
It amazes me that many would call me an irresponsible pet owner simply because I have testicled dogs. I pick up poop that other dog owners leave behind; put my dog on a sit when it is being pestered by someone else's unleashed dog; do not allow my dogs to bark back at the yappy dogs next door; provide expensive, quality nutrition; exercise my dogs daily; train my dogs daily; and am financially prepared for a medical emergency.
Furthermore, in the presence of a bitch in season, I don't let my testicled dogs mount her. So, even though I don't allow my dogs to breed, I'm still irresponsible because they are sporting their God-given body parts?
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Robin H I agree with you, I think that you are doing what is best for your dogs and just because someone may have a different opinion does not mean you are wrong or are doing harm to your pets in not altering them. People with large breed dogs need to realize that if they choose to alter their pets they need to do it when it is best for their specific dog, if not their dog could have some serious repercussions from it. I am not saying that you should not spay/neuter your dog by any means, many people should, for many reasons. But it is totally possible to keep your pet intact and not let any surprize puppies occur, if you are responsible which unfortunatley not all pet owners are.
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Does anyone know anything about chemical castration, using depo provera injections on male dogs to see how they respond to being without testosterone? I saw them use it on that show "Its the Dog or Me" on animal planet. They used it on a wild Husky male to see if it would help some of his behavior issues. It worked and so the owners did surgically alter their dog. I thought that would be a good thing for some situations. I know some sex offenders have opted to use depo provera injections to lessen their need for sexual predation, I guess it doesn't work that well since those people are not just having sexual desires, they have a deviant psychological issue that isn't always a testosterone issue.
By the way I did rescue a mix breed puppy. We don't really know anything about him but he is a bit agressive and I just pray with lots of love and guidence he doesn't do anything to harm my children when he is older. He looks like a yellow lab/pit bull or some sort of terrier mix. I must say I am scared of the unknown but I am hoping since he is a mix that he will die of old age, I can't survive losing another fur baby to illness at a young age.
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I have 3 dogs. My oldest is 14 yr old fixed Lab (adopted already neutered) I have a 4 yr old female Chow Chow which isn't spayed (never mated)and a 5 mo old male Chihuahua not neutered. All of our dogs are indoor pets. Who have access to a very secure fenced in back yard to go potty but they prefer staying in. The Lab can't get my girl pregnant because he's been "fixed". The Chihuahua which is only 4.lbs to my Chow's 53.lbs so I doubt we will have Chowhuahua's! Our dogs are well loved well taken care of loyal pets, they don't try to stray, they want to be at our side all the time. I choose not to breed my female because I know the heart ache not only to part with puppies (our babies) that we absolutly love and the fear of them going into homes where they wont the same love. But still I see no reason to alter and put my babies who trust and love me through unnecessary pain if we can help it. Would you want someone to do that to you? Also because my male Chihuahua is of quality blood line I reserve the right to sire him. I also reserve the right to pick and choose who with. Puppy mills? I dont think so! Remember his pups are still my babies even if they are welped in a different home. I dont appreciate anyone looking down on me or calling me "irresponsible" just because I differ in my oppinion. Its not irresponsible to leave your pets unaltered. Its irrsponsible to get pets you cant take care of. Keep them indoor and love them. By the way I bet my dogs are glad they were born.
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Mark I agree with you totally. After having an unaltered male dog, I know first hand it is very easy to keep your dog from getting another dog pregnant. I did want to breed my dog one day but unfortunatley TImber got leukemia and died one week ago, he was only 4 and 1/2. I am a responsible pet owner, I have small children so I need to know that the breed of dog I get has a good temperment so pure blood dogs work for me. When my children are gone I will definitley be a little more adventerous with getting a nice lovely mutt of some sort. Since I lost my precious fur baby I am really wanting to get another one for my kids so I am going to look into the breed rescue groups and hopefully get a lab or golden that needs a good home. I know there are many perfect mutts out there that are great with children, I just can't take a chance and get a mix breed that may turn out to be aggessive, and yes I know I take that chance with any dog but our dogs are part of our family and I want to do my best to make sure the fit is right so we don't have to find a new home for one that doesn't work out, it would break my heart. I think if more people really thought through about what a huge undertaking a dog is many would opt not to do it, and then there wouldn't be so many shelter dogs. I hate it so much when people don't take into consideration how much love and attention a dog needs,they just think the puppy is cute and buy it. It should be harder to own pets.
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My 2 cents (maybe a bit more)
This is ridiculous. I have no use for puppy mills but every individuals situation is just that, individual. We don't spay or neutre humans just because. Even the suggestion of "fixing" people who are severley disabled or delayed raises a lot of debate.
Simply put, if you have a dog and have no intention breeding it then you could consider getting it fixed. But, if you are a responsible owner I see no reason your unaltered dog is going to get pregnant or get another dog pregnant, get hit by a car or bite the mailman.
On the other hand if you do want to breed your dog don't alter him/her and be responsible with the litter and keep them or find them good homes.
As far as all this "stray dogs" business I'd bet that most of them come from puppy mills boought by idiots who have no idea what they are doing.
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I feel that there should be more reason for people to spay & neuter there pets... like reduced prices.. not everyone can afford the prices of Vets ... that would give people ample reason to get them spayed or neutered without feeling they are taking money away from other things... alot of good people care for there pets but have no way to get them fixed... its just too expensive.. & to have people think cuz you can't afford it you shouldn't have them is wrong.. so something should be done to help these people afford it..& I believe less unwanted pets would be born & less would be killed at the shelter & droped by the roadside..or for other people to take the burden on themselves of feeding & finding homes for these unwanted pets that come from ones that can't afford the neuter & spaying operation..
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is there any other way rather than neuter my dog
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