Do you have a male dog who urinates more times than necessary? Is your precious puppy peeing in the house when he is expected to do so outside? Does your pet bark and whine at every sound even though it’s quiet outside? If this sounds familiar, you may not be able to cure this behavior on your own. Neutering your dog may help you solve most of these problems.
Neutering involves removing both testicles from a male dog which decreases testosterone levels and reduces aggression and other unwanted behaviors such as marking territory with urine. According to the ASPCA, this process will calm down an overly excited or anxious animal by preventing excess testosterone that would otherwise cause him to behave aggressively or unnecessarily just like in humans where additional testosterone leads to heightened libido. Your dog will also become more relaxed and less likely to roam around the house.
Some owners, however, are concerned about neutering because they think it will make their pet fat and lazy – which is not true at all! A study published in the Veterinary Record showed that dogs who were spayed or neutered did not behave any differently than those who weren’t after 6 months of receiving the procedure. The findings suggest that the effect of sex hormones on behavior only last for a short time after birth. Furthermore, there is no evidence showing that neutering causes weight gain which according to VetInfo , usually happens when your pet eats too much once his energy levels go down due to decreased physical activity after he has been neutered.
People who are looking to neuter their dogs should consider talking to their veterinarian about the right time for this procedure. Early neutering at 6 months of age may be more beneficial because it can prevent “hormonal aggression” which may result in injuries particularly when your pet interacts with other animals in close quarters or in inappropriate situations, suggests vetInfo . On the other hand, neutering done later may still be helpful but will not address potential problems that happened before neutering like dog aggression and marking territory. Late neutering might even cause some health problems since removing testosterone-producing organs could pose risks especially if your pet is older than 6 months old. Neutering also requires general anesthesia so if you your dog get this procedure late when he is old, it might be more difficult to perform.
Neutering is done by removing both testicles which is a simple procedure that can either be done through an incision inside the scrotum or by making one cut above the scrotum and two cuts on each side of the scrotum. The testicles are then removed with stitches used to close any wounds.
People who want their male dogs neutered should consider asking their veterinarian about this process because neutering will stop male dogs from marking territory using urine, prevent dominance aggression towards other pets in your home, calm your dog down if he urinates too many times or gets overly excited with his usual activities like sleeping, eating or playing around the house. Neutering will also increase your dog’s life expectancy and reduce the risk of prostate cancer in male dogs.
What is the best age to neuter a male dog?
It is recommended to have male dogs neutered by the time they are 6 months old.
What are the health benefits of neutering?
Neutering reduces your dog’s risk of building prostate cancer by 25%, decreases their chances of urinary tract infections, and reduces the chances that they will mark territory with urine or become aggressive. Neutering also reduces your dog’s risk of developing testicular cancer by preventing the overproduction of testosterone.
Is neutering painful?
Neutering is an invasive procedure that requires anesthesia, so it may be uncomfortable for your dog. However, with general anesthesia comes pain relief, so there is no further discomfort after the surgery. Once the incisions heal, there are no signs that your dog was neutered.
What kind of complications can happen?
Some dogs may experience pain and swelling in the scrotum after having been neutered. Make sure to follow your veterinarian’s instructions so your dog does not lick their incision, which increases the chance of infection. Your veterinarian may also provide you with antibiotics for your dog or prescribe them to take at home if they are at risk for infection.
Neutering specifics
What is neutering?
Neutering is a simple surgery that involves removing the testicles from a male dog, also known as castration. In most cases, it’s done when they are 6 months old to make sure they do not breed, marking territory with urine or becoming aggressive.