Pros and Cons of Neutering

We are inundated with information about why it is important to neuter dogs. Neutering your dog helps keep it healthy and avoids unwanted litters of puppies. There are some health risks associated with the procedure, though. While the benefits far outweigh the possible negative side effects, it is best to fully understand the pros and cons of neutering.

  1. Health Pros

    • Neutering a dog reduces the risk of testicular and prostate cancers. The risks of perianal tumors and hernia also are reduced. These diseases and physical ailments tend to affect older dogs, so neutering your dog gives it a better chance at healthy senior years.

    Behavioral Pros

    • Unneutered dogs tend to be more aggressive and have trouble concentrating, making them harder to train and control than their neutered counterparts. One particularly dangerous habit that tends to wane after neutering is running out of the house. Dogs do this for a number of reasons, including being drawn to an activity outside or a possible "mate." Having your dog run into a busy street is one of the worst fears an owner has, and neutering helps reduce the risk of this happening.

    Population Control Pros

    • The main benefit of neutering your dog is sterilization. This is clearly a negative if you intend on breeding your dog. If you're like most owners, you have no intention of breeding and the prospect of an unwanted litter of puppies is disconcerting. Neutering eliminates this possibility and helps reduce overpopulation, which reduces the number of dogs without homes.

    Health Cons

    • The biggest health problem associated with neutering is obesity. Neutering causes a dog's hormones to change. One side effect of this change includes a slight reduction in activity and the need for less food. Your dog will gain weight if you feed it normal amounts. Speak with your veterinarian to determine how much your dog should be eating each day to prevent overfeeding and obesity.

    Surgery Cons

    • Putting your dog through surgery is another con to neutering. There are risks involved even though the procedure is quick and simple. As with humans, there are dangers when general anesthetics are used, although the possibility of anything life-threatening occurring (e.g. negative reaction to anesthesia) is remote. The benefits of neutering far outweigh any surgical risks.