Side Effects of Puppy Neutering

Neutering your male puppy (female dogs are spayed) involves surgically removing the animal’s testicles so he can no longer reproduce. Neutering should be done when your dog is between four and six months of age. While this procedure is irreversible, it does have both positive and negative side effects.

  1. Positive Side Effects

    • When your dog is neutered, the production of testosterone is reduced. This causes a decrease in his aggression and his urge to mark his territory. The loss of testosterone from neutering also helps prevent your dog from wandering since he has lost interest in the female scent. Neutering provides health benefits for your dog as well. The occurrence of testicular cancer and prostate issues is reduced. A benefit of neutering for all animals is controlling pet population and the number of unwanted pets.

    Negative Side Effects

    • The negative side effects of neutering your puppy are minimal. Your puppy may start gaining weight after castration, but proper feeding and exercise can effectively combat this side effect. Dogs may have problems recovering from the anesthesia used during the surgery if the dog is anemic before surgery. But surgery generally is not performed if the animal is anemic. The negative side effects of neutering an old dog can be serious. Older dogs are susceptible to shock during the procedure.

    Myths

    • Myths abound about neutered dogs. Some people believe that when a dog loses his desire to roam and track the female scent, his energy levels decrease. Neutered dogs have the same energy levels as dogs who have not been neutered. Another myth is that your dog’s personality will suddenly change after being neutered. This is not true—other than roaming less, displaying less aggression, and no longer marking territory as often. Still others think that neutering pets deprives them of the pleasure of sex. Your dog does not crave sex for pleasure as humans do. Sex is nothing more than a reproductive instinct for animals.