Dog Breeds Info
Information on Dog Breeds from A to Z

Home Dog Breeds Articles About Us Awards Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Use
 

Why You Should Get Your Dog Fixed

 

 

shocked dogWhen you head out and decide to get a puppy, one thing you’ll find is that pretty much every rescue or shelter only offers dogs that have been spayed or neutered. Ever wonder why that is? Well, the basic reason is very simple and it all comes down to the desire to prevent the spread of strays. But are there any other benefits or risks involved with getting your pet fixed? There are indeed, so here’s what you should know regarding altering your pet.

Dogs, like cats, are currently overflowing animal shelters across the world. The reason is that too often, a new owner will adopt an unfixed pooch and then let them wander about unchecked, typically leading them to find other unfixed dogs and immediately start breeding. This is why you get the usual cliché of one dog owner walking up to another dog owner’s house with a box full of puppies, saying that they belong to him because of his randy dog. You’ll more commonly find this in the country where dogs are able to roam freely, but it still happens frequently enough in the suburbs that it’s a problem.

When your dog is fixed, they are altered so that they can neither become pregnant nor do the impregnating. With a female this involves removing the uterus and ovaries, whereas it’s a big simpler for males (removing the testicles). Either way, the pet is then ensured not to add to the growing problem of strays and shelter overcrowding.

The biggest benefit happens to be the no pregnancy thing, though that’s not all. Females spayed early enough are at lower risk for ovarian and uterine cancers, and can’t have any pregnancy-related complications as they can’t get pregnant. Plus, they don’t go into heat in the same way, making them a lot easier to deal with. Males are much the same way as their aggression levels typically lower, particularly around females, and they are less likely to feel the need to mark their territory by urinating on things, which is one of the biggest plusses associated with neutering your dog.

But along with this come some negative side effects, most typically a general lethargy in males that can lead to increased risk of weight gain and hyperthyroidism. Also, both sexes tend to have oddly higher rates of specific types of cancer and urinary tract infections. Even sadder, studies have shown that neutered dogs have a slightly higher chance of developing cognitive impairment problems sooner than intact dogs.

Of these problems though, the increase is typically minimal, though the risk of pregnancy drops to 0% in all cases. It’s really a tough call, especially if you someday hope to breed your pet, but most of the time the answer seems pretty clear: Snip snip. Talk to your vet and get their opinion, but when in doubt and if you let your dog wander, it’s best to lean towards getting your dog fixed.

 

Related Articles

 

5 Tips on Training Your Dog
 

Reasons to Choose Organic Dog Food

Popular Dog Breeds for Pets

5 Tips for Naming Your Dog

The Best Dogs for Senior Citizens

Housebreaking Your Dog

How to Travel With Your Dog

Basic Principals for Better Health and Safety of Dogs

Advice For Feeding Dogs

5 Ways To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Safe

Dog Accessories

Dog Breeding

Information On Dog Parks

Dog Shows

Dog Toys

Dog Training Tips

Doggy Daycare

Dog Owner Edicit

Health Insurance For Your Dog

How to Avoid Dehydration for Dogs

How to Avoid Bloat Condition

How to Choose A Dog That's Right For You

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Barking

How To Avoid Worms In Your Dog

Dogs and Seperation Anxiety

Better Training for Your Dog

Places To Buy A Dog

Poisons To Keep Away From Your Dog

Safety Dogs for Autistic Children

5 Tips to Find Your Lost Dog

Buying a Dog From a Rescue: What To Look Out For

How to Crate Train Your Dog

How to Puppy Proof Your Home

5 Common Household Toxins and Your Dog

5 Tips For Dog Show Preparation

Clipping Dog Nails: A How To Guide

Children and Dogs: Is your Child Ready For a Dog?

Dogs and Fleas: How to Treat Your Dog's Fleas

5 Ways To Exercise With Your Dog

Brushing Dog Teeth: A How To Guide

No-Kill Shalters: Quick Facts

Overweight Dog? The Doggy Diet

Dealing With Dog Nipping

5 Useful Tips For Dog Paw Care

When To Euthanize Your Dog: Making The Decision

Dog Tears: Preventing Stains

How to Stop Your Dog From Jumping

5 Tips To Managing Shedding Dogs

Top 5 Healthiest Dog Foods

How To Potty Train Your Dog

What are Lap Dogs?

Where You Should Look to Find Your Puppy

Winning the War on Fleas

What Not to Feed Your Dog

Three Main Keys to Owning a Healthy and Happy Dog

Dog First Aid: How To Treat Wounds and the Supplies You Need

The Options for Paying Those Costly Vet Bills

Tips to Maintain a Healthy Dog or Puppy for Life

To Hire a Dog Sitter or Not

Things to Consider Before Buying a Puppy

Useful Information for Dog Breeding

Training Your Dog to Walk with a Leash

Top 9 Canine Breeds to Adopt

Most Popular Dog and Puppy Names of 2011

Dealing with your Dog's Sleeping Habits

Why Dogs Become Aggressive

Dealing With an Itchy Dog

What Makes a Good Guard Dog?

Why You Really Shouldn't Feed Your Dog Scraps

Why Don't Some Dogs Like Strangers?

Why Dogs Make Poor Gifts

Puppy Love

To Breed for the AKC Standards or Not

Why You Should Check for Corn in Your Dog Food

Dealing With Your Dog's Ear Infection

Shock Collars and Electric Dog Fences

The History of the Iditarod

Foods to Keep Away From Your Dog

Should You Feed Your Dog a Raw Food Diet?

Calming Your Dog Around Thunder

Things to Consider When Moving While Owning a Dog

Why You Should Get Your Dog Fixed

Dog Houses and Kennels

Let's Get Moving!

Supplies for Dogs

You Dog, Your Debt, and You

A Vulnerable Dog Skin

Learning to Live With a Dog When You Don't Want To

Dogs and Bones

How to Clicker Train Your Dog

What to Do if You Are Attacked By a Dog

Telling the Difference Between Playfulness and Aggression

Car Safety for Your Dog

Helping Your Dog Handle Fear

Being Able to Sense When Your Dog is Sick