Advantages and disadvantages of neutering - Page 1

What are the advantages and disadvantages of neutering?

Thanks

Advantage the animal won't, can't, shouldn't be able to reproduce.  That can come in handy sometime's.

Disadvantage, mostly wive's tale's, weight gain, change in attitude or temperment, behavior.

A neutered male may still want to mount.

Mostly nothing.

JMO.

Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs

http://www.neutering.org/files/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf

ADVANTAGES

Unable to reproduce

No inconvenience involved with seasons

Reduced risk of mammary tumours (if performed early)

No risk of pyometra

DISADVANTAGES

Weight gain (can be controlled with diet and exercise)

Change in coat texture???

Possible increased risk of urinary incontinence (mainly if carried out very early)

Speaking from personal experience here: If we're talking about a male, he may not only want to mount the female when she's receptive, but may actually TIE with her! So, he will still need to be closely supervised, to prevent injury to both dog and bitch when this happens.

I let the two of them out in the backyard. A short while later, I wondered why my young bitch was screaming so loud it sounded like she was being murdered!

Didn't stop her from letting it happen again, though...    I had to keep her crated for most of her receptive period.

When I posted about this on another message board, someone said their vet told them it was not possible for a neutered male to tie a female. Heh. How sheltered some vets are!!

Early spay/neuter is more risky than the animal rights people and your local vet want you to think. It delays the closing of the bone growth plates, so offspring turn out tall and leggy, and at increased risk for cruciate ligament rupture. Also, the risk of certain cancers is INCREASED significantly!

I recently saw posted somewhere the results of various scientific studies on spay/neuter, and they found weight gain is NOT a myth. Spayed bitches were more likely to gain weight, but, of course, that can be controlled by the owner!

Wish I could remember just WHERE I saw this posted!  Sorry, this is one of those days when I'm suffering from CRS syndrome....

As well as the study quoted look here for castration of males

http://www.gsdhelpline.com/castration.htm

and here for performance dogs

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

I think it depends on the dog.  I have a 5 year-old who I neutered 2 years ago due to aggression issues.  It certainly has helped in that department and he's much more manageable, though he still barks at other dogs. 

People may tell you it decreases marking and interest in females who are in heat, but I've had male dogs on and off over the past 20 years that were unneutered and some never marked or rarely lift their leg, and others really aren't that interested in females in heat; even if they live in the same house.  They may initially show interest, but nothing like I've heard in the past about males chewing through doors to get at females and we've never had male dogs show up on our doorstep that smelled our female from miles away.  My mom's female is in heat and is crated in the same room as two unneutered males; neither of them have been acting crazy and only one has seemed interested in humping, but that is solved by just having her play with female members of the pack.  Once she's done she can go back to playing with her male pals.

People may also say it helps them live longer, but again, I think it depends on the general health of the dog.  My unneutered male Beckett lived to be 10, but died from health issues unrelated to prostate cancer.  My mom's unspayed female lived to be 12.  I currently have two littermate brothers, one neutered, the other not and they're both in excellent health (though they're still just 5).

If your male doesn't act up or do a lot of markings, if you're a responsible owner I don't really see a need to neuter.  This is also assuming you're not someone who lets their dogs out loose in the neighborhood and keeps tabs on them.  None of my dogs are ever out of my sight so there would never be a time when any "accidents" could happen.  Females are another matter.  It can be a pain when they go into heat twice a year, so if you don't plan on breeding, it's best to spay them. 

I think it boil's down to the individual and what their situation is.   I have one I'd like to neuter but not until he has matured fully.    I agree not to do this to a young dog.    Every procedure does have risk's.  

It alway's goes back to the owner and responcability for what they decide.

I must note that most of the responses here focus on benefits and costs TO THE OWNER.

There are a different set of benefits and costs for the dogs and bitches, and I would think they count, too.

Everyone should click on Langhaar's links and read the Zink article!