Food And Care : The Pros and Cons to Spaying and Neutering

Many dog owners are torn between the choice whether or not to spay or neuter their pet. Depending on your expectations from your pup, you should make this decision carefully as the process is irreversible.

Most dog owners have no intention to breed their dog at a later date, so this procedure should be looked into immediately by anyone who does not want an extra litter of puppies running around the house. Speak with your veterinarian and discuss the options regarding the spaying or neutering operation so that you can make the most informed decision that will best benefit your dog.

The sad fact is that a phenomenal six million dogs and cats each year die in animal shelters while awaiting homes. There are at least that many more forced to live on the streets with no one to care for their well being. An astounding 30 million dogs and cats are born in this country each year, so if you have no desire to add to this number, consider spaying or neutering your pet today.

The overpopulation of man’s best friend is severely unfair to these loving animals that never get to experience the joys of belonging to a home. Do not add to this exponentially growing problem and practice responsible pet ownership today.

Many pet owners find themselves wanting to delay the spaying or neutering procedure because they just want one puppy from their beloved dog. The truth of the matter is that dogs, like most animals, have multiple births so that one puppy can quickly turn into four or five that you are unable to bring into your home. If you are interested in breeding your dog so that you can have another one of the breed, consider seeking alternative methods to find your pup instead of breeding. Contact responsible breeders in your area that specialize in a specific breed or visit your local animal shelter and find a good hearted pooch that will suit your family.

Besides sterilizing the pet, spaying and neutering can help control other problems your pet may be experiencing. Especially for male dogs, this procedure can curb territorial or aggressive behavior that can often lead to dogs given away since the owners can no longer deal with them. If your dog is showing such threatening behavior to yourself, other dogs, or other people, speak with your dog’s veterinarian immediately and discuss this option. An aggressive or territorial dog is a threat to both himself and anyone around him. This behavior will not be outgrown and should be address with the utmost importance.

Female dogs experience a period of “heat” that can become messy and aggravating, especially if you have a male dog in your household. The smell of a female dog in heat can send a male dog into a frantic attempt to visit the female, often resulting in dogs breaking through fences or other boundary devices. In addition, this time of “heat” can be quite messy and many owners do not want to deal with the side effects. By spaying your female dog, you will no longer have to experience these effects and will be certain she will be able to bring extra pups into your home.

The actual procedure is quite simple and generally has few complications. The sooner this procedure is performed in a dog’s life; however, the better he will recover. Furthermore, you may need to look into spaying or neutering as a method of prolonging your dog’s life. Especially in males, the presence of the reproductive organs can lead to serious health problems later in life—including the growth of tumors.