Happy Pets Are Neutered Pets

by Dr. Karen Halligan

I bet if someone told you there’s an easier way to live a longer, happier and healthier life, your response would be “Great, what do I do?” Fortunately, there is something really effective to help your companion animals live a better life: neutering. While the benefits of spaying and neutering are similar, for this article we are going to focus on neutering.

Simply put, neutered dogs and cats live healthier, happier, and longer lives. Since our pets cannot make the decision to neuter for themselves, they rely on their owners to look out for their best interest. Neutering (aka castration) is a term used to describe the surgical removal of male animal’s reproductive organs/testicles. This greatly reduces the often sexually driven behaviors such as roaming, digging, humping, marking and fighting. Furthermore, neutering your pet greatly decreases or completely eliminates certain health problem such as testicular, prostatic and rectal cancers, and hernias.

Aside from health and behavior benefits, another very important reason to neuter your pet is to help curb the massive pet overpopulation crisis. To put it in perspective, everyday 10,000 babies are born in the United States, and 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. Only one out of five of these find their way into a responsible home. Approximately 14 million dogs, cats, and rabbits end up in shelters every year in this country alone. Only one in four makes it out alive. Clearly, you can save lives by neutering your pet.

Colorful Myths About Neutered Pets

MYTH: Neutering my dog will change his personality.
FACT: Your pet’s personality will not change much, if any, once he is neutered. In fact any minimal change that does take place will be for the better. For example, neutered cats almost instantly stop crying and howling in the middle of the night to get out to mate and are less aggressive, even during play. Your pet will be a more loving, protective companion because they are not preoccupied with breeding and fighting.

MYTH: Neutering my pet will make him fat and lazy.
FACT: Neutered pets are not fat and lazy. Too many calories and not enough exercise make pets fat and lazy, regardless if they are neutered or not. The good news is, however, is that most neutered pets need fewer calories to sustain their body weight. This means that they probably won’t need to eat as much but will still need plenty of healthy exercise to keep their weight normal.

MYTH: My male dog will feel emasculated if I have him neutered.
FACT: Neutered pets do not feel emasculated. That is a human trait. On the contrary, they are relieved they no longer have to constantly think about searching for a female in heat. They are more focused, easier to train and content. Think about it… you would not want to be incessantly frustrated to mate, and if you were a pet you would be greatly relieved to have such an overwhelming, frustrating drive eliminated.

MYTH: Neutered dogs are not good protection dogs.
FACT: Neutered pets are better protection animals because if an intruder opens the door and there is a female in heat (which can be detected up to three miles away with our pet’s amazing sense of smell) in the neighborhood, your pet will choose mating over protecting you. Pets protect their owners partly instinctually, and partly because they love them - neutered or not.

MYTH: Castration is very painful for dogs and cats and my pet might die during the surgery.
FACT: Neutering is a relatively short, easy surgery, which is commonly performed and with today’s pain management and quality anesthetic is considered a short, safe surgical procedure. In fact, most dogs are completely normal within 24 to 48 hours after the surgery.

Just a few of the reasons to neuter your pet :

• Approximately 80% of all pets hit by cars are UN-neutered males.
• Neutered pets are more social with other dogs and thus have less aggression, which in turn means less fighting.
• Neutered pets live longer because they have less health problems such as prostatitis, testicular or rectal cancer and perineal hernias.
• Neutered pets require fewer veterinary bills.
• Your neutered dog won’t be seeking romance with your company’s legs anymore.
• Neutering eliminates sexual frustration so your pet will be friendlier and more relaxed. Neutered cats and dogs are less likely to mark their territory.
• Neutered pets will regard you with greater importance.
• Neutered pets have less behavioral problems such as digging, fighting and escaping.