The Value of Having Your Male Dog Neutered
Having your male dog neutered is an excellent way to help reduce pet overpopulation and avoid behavioral problems. What many people are unaware of are the numerous health benefits it can provide in a dog's life.
Common behavior problems seen in un-neutered male dogs include marking their territory, running away and aggression. Typically dogs will start lifting their leg to mark (urinate) territory after 6 months of age. If they only did it outdoors it probably wouldn't be much of a concern, but the house is part of their territory and even well housebroken dogs may forget themselves when stressed or excited.
Neutering before marking behavior starts is almost 100% effective in avoiding this behavior. Once the marking behavior starts, and the longer it goes on, the less likely neutering is to completely control it. This is because the behavior is learned as well as hormone influenced.
Because of their desire to wander looking for "girlfriends" un-neutered male dogs make up the largest percentage of animals seen by veterinarians for hit-by-cars. Neutering reduces that concern and the expense of treating them.
It is virtually impossible to have 2 un-neutered male dogs in the same household without fighting. The dogs are always challenging each other for dominance. Neutering both of the dogs will help them to get along.
The health benefits for older pets include reducing or eliminating the risk of certain cancers, eliminating prostatic infections and removing the risk of developing perineal hernias. Two types of cancer are prevented by neutering, testicular cancer and perianal tumors. Perianal tumors are not by themselves life threatening, but because they often become large and bleed easily they become a nuisance. Sometimes they will go away if the dog is neutered but some need to be surgically removed. In either situation the surgery will be more costly in an older animal that needs extensive blood work and more expensive surgical preparation than if it had been done when he was young. Prostatic infections in un-neutered dogs are very common in dogs over 7 years of age. Because the prostate is closely associated with the bladder secondary bladder infection and urinary accidents may occur.
Even if the bladder remains unaffected the dog may still leak infected prostatic fluid from the penis. Prostatic infections are extremely difficult to cure without also neutering the dog. Neutering shrinks the prostatic tissue reducing the site of the infection. Perineal hernias are another serious health concern for older un-neutered male dogs. The muscles on either side of the tail support the rectum. As the dog ages and the prostate enlarges the muscles weaken allowing the rectal wall to support the rectum. As the dog ages and the prostate enlarges the muscles weaken allowing the rectal wall to bulge outward. Small bulges may be managed by increasing the amount of fiber in the diet. Large protrusions can become life threatening if an abdominal organ slides back into the area and becomes trapped. When this occurs emergency surgery is required to release the trapped organ and repair the hernia so it will not happen again. The emergency surgery is at least 5 times more expensive and certainly more risky than a routine neuter on a young dog.
So save yourself money and frustration, have your male dog neutered at 4-6 months of age and never have to worry about these problems down the road.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
