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| Should I Have My Dog Neutered? |
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The neutering of dogs and bitches is considered for a number of reasons. Apart from
population control, these include the avoidance of the inconvenience of unwanted
seasons in bitches and the reduction of risk or total prevention of medical conditions in
later life. The latter includes mammary and testicular cancer and pyometra, a
potentially fatal uterus infection. The validity of some of the medical benefits has been
questioned but the prevailing opinion is that the benefits outweigh any concerns in
most cases, even the increased risk of incontinence in older bitches. Neutering is also
carried out as a means of curing or preventing behavioral problems.
It remains a common misconception that the castration is a universal remedy for
behavior problems. Although it can help to cure problems and early castration can
prevent the development of problems, the procedure is only relevant to certain types of
behavior. The behaviors most likely to be affected are those that are sexually
dimorphic, that is, they are behaviors that are more common in or specific to male dogs.
Males exhibit behaviors that are influenced by testosterone, such as scent marking,
roaming away from home to find potential mates, inappropriate sexual behavior and
aggression specifically directed towards other male dogs. It has been suggested that
the male hormone, testosterone, plays a part by increasing reactivity and maintaining it
for longer in dogs that have not been neutered than dogs that have. This may help to
explain why males that have not been neutered show some types of aggression, that
does not involve other males, more often than neutered males and females. This does
not include aggression categorized as involving fear or territorial aggression, which
makes sense because it is often related to fear. It has also been suggested that fear
related behavior may be made worse by castration because testosterone helps to
maintain confidence.
When relevant, there is only a percentage chance that castration will work. This varies
from 90% for some problems, such as roaming to find potential mates, down to 50% for
others such as inappropriate scent marking in the home. This is because the male
brain is programmed to display male behavior by testosterone as it develops and those
behaviors can continue because of this of this and learning that occurs prior to
castration. So if neutering is carried out, behavior modification therapy is also required
to address the learnt components of the problem. Where castration does result in
improvement the results can be rapid or gradual. For example one piece of research
showed that roaming to find potential mates improved within two weeks in 44% of dogs
and within six months for 50%. Perhaps this is a further indication of the need to
address the learnt component of a behavior because testosterone is out of the system
within 6 to 24 hours.
As far as behavior problems are concerned, the spaying of bitches appears to be
relevant if aggression occurs before and when the bitch is in season, she is showing
signs of false pregnancy or is at the stage in her cycle, real or false, when she would
be feeding puppies. Likely problems include the adoption and guarding of items as
surrogate puppies, nest building and the onset of aggression in defense of it or other
items she treats as resources. I have listed the stages because they are associated
with different stages of hormone influence.
It has been suggested that neutering will not necessarily remove aggression
associated with a bitch’s cycle and that problems may continue for two or three cycles
after neutering. This is feasible because mechanisms, other than those the ovaries are
responsible for, occur at the time of oestrous. Exactly what internal mechanisms are
responsible for cyclical behavior changes after neutering has yet to be proved but
hormones that are released from the brain to trigger the cycle are a possibility. It is
also suggested that eventually the cycling stops because the ovaries are not there to
send feedback messages.
What has been shown in research is that bitches that are spayed are more likely to
show what the researchers called ‘dominance aggression’ than those that have not
been spayed. It is important to note that this trend was most significant when
comparing groups of bitches spayed under six months of age that had already been
showing aggression. This seems to be consistent with other claims that bitches that
have been neutered can show masculinized behavior. The researchers’ suggestion is
that behavior problems involving aggression should be addressed before neutering is
carried out. They also stated that the neutering of bitches should not be considered as
a means of addressing behavioral problems, except those directly related to the cycle
of their seasons including, one assumes, the competitive behaviors described above.
by David Appleby
population control, these include the avoidance of the inconvenience of unwanted
seasons in bitches and the reduction of risk or total prevention of medical conditions in
later life. The latter includes mammary and testicular cancer and pyometra, a
potentially fatal uterus infection. The validity of some of the medical benefits has been
questioned but the prevailing opinion is that the benefits outweigh any concerns in
most cases, even the increased risk of incontinence in older bitches. Neutering is also
carried out as a means of curing or preventing behavioral problems.
It remains a common misconception that the castration is a universal remedy for
behavior problems. Although it can help to cure problems and early castration can
prevent the development of problems, the procedure is only relevant to certain types of
behavior. The behaviors most likely to be affected are those that are sexually
dimorphic, that is, they are behaviors that are more common in or specific to male dogs.
Males exhibit behaviors that are influenced by testosterone, such as scent marking,
roaming away from home to find potential mates, inappropriate sexual behavior and
aggression specifically directed towards other male dogs. It has been suggested that
the male hormone, testosterone, plays a part by increasing reactivity and maintaining it
for longer in dogs that have not been neutered than dogs that have. This may help to
explain why males that have not been neutered show some types of aggression, that
does not involve other males, more often than neutered males and females. This does
not include aggression categorized as involving fear or territorial aggression, which
makes sense because it is often related to fear. It has also been suggested that fear
related behavior may be made worse by castration because testosterone helps to
maintain confidence.
When relevant, there is only a percentage chance that castration will work. This varies
from 90% for some problems, such as roaming to find potential mates, down to 50% for
others such as inappropriate scent marking in the home. This is because the male
brain is programmed to display male behavior by testosterone as it develops and those
behaviors can continue because of this of this and learning that occurs prior to
castration. So if neutering is carried out, behavior modification therapy is also required
to address the learnt components of the problem. Where castration does result in
improvement the results can be rapid or gradual. For example one piece of research
showed that roaming to find potential mates improved within two weeks in 44% of dogs
and within six months for 50%. Perhaps this is a further indication of the need to
address the learnt component of a behavior because testosterone is out of the system
within 6 to 24 hours.
As far as behavior problems are concerned, the spaying of bitches appears to be
relevant if aggression occurs before and when the bitch is in season, she is showing
signs of false pregnancy or is at the stage in her cycle, real or false, when she would
be feeding puppies. Likely problems include the adoption and guarding of items as
surrogate puppies, nest building and the onset of aggression in defense of it or other
items she treats as resources. I have listed the stages because they are associated
with different stages of hormone influence.
It has been suggested that neutering will not necessarily remove aggression
associated with a bitch’s cycle and that problems may continue for two or three cycles
after neutering. This is feasible because mechanisms, other than those the ovaries are
responsible for, occur at the time of oestrous. Exactly what internal mechanisms are
responsible for cyclical behavior changes after neutering has yet to be proved but
hormones that are released from the brain to trigger the cycle are a possibility. It is
also suggested that eventually the cycling stops because the ovaries are not there to
send feedback messages.
What has been shown in research is that bitches that are spayed are more likely to
show what the researchers called ‘dominance aggression’ than those that have not
been spayed. It is important to note that this trend was most significant when
comparing groups of bitches spayed under six months of age that had already been
showing aggression. This seems to be consistent with other claims that bitches that
have been neutered can show masculinized behavior. The researchers’ suggestion is
that behavior problems involving aggression should be addressed before neutering is
carried out. They also stated that the neutering of bitches should not be considered as
a means of addressing behavioral problems, except those directly related to the cycle
of their seasons including, one assumes, the competitive behaviors described above.
by David Appleby
Click to go: Articles > Should I Have My Dog Neutered?
Advantages of spaying and neutering
The neutered male has a decreased urine odor, less of a tendency to fight and roam,
and a significantly lower likelihood of spraying urine to mark territory (this is especially
true in the male cat).
The neutered male dog also is less likely to roam or mark territory, and is usually much
less aggressive to other dogs and humans. The neutered dog has a much lower risk of
prostate disease and cancer.
The spayed female cat and dog will not have reproductive tract disease problems, and
will have a much lower risk of mammary cancer.
What age is best?
Dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered any time after 3 months of age, but 5 to 7
months is the preferred age range because there is sufficient maturity to reduce risks,
but still avoid sexual maturity.
Will spaying and neutering make my pet fat?
No. Weight gain is caused by the pet being fed more calories than it uses. Watch the
quantity of food your pet receives, offer regular exercise, and limit treats to avoid
obesity.
The surgical procedure
Your pet will be given a pre-surgical physical examination, and then any necessary
pre-anesthetic blood tests will be performed. If everything is acceptable, an IV catheter
will be placed and fluids will be started intravenously. This will keep your pet properly
hydrated, speed recovery, and enhance the overall safety of the procedure. Your pet
will then be anesthetized. Anesthesia will be maintained by gas (isoflurane) delivered
through a tube placed in his or her trachea (windpipe). The entire surgery is
performed in a sterile manner, and carefully monitored, just as it would be in a human
hospital. Following surgery and recovery, your pet will remain under observation in the
hospital until s/he is able to go home.
The neutered male has a decreased urine odor, less of a tendency to fight and roam,
and a significantly lower likelihood of spraying urine to mark territory (this is especially
true in the male cat).
The neutered male dog also is less likely to roam or mark territory, and is usually much
less aggressive to other dogs and humans. The neutered dog has a much lower risk of
prostate disease and cancer.
The spayed female cat and dog will not have reproductive tract disease problems, and
will have a much lower risk of mammary cancer.
What age is best?
Dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered any time after 3 months of age, but 5 to 7
months is the preferred age range because there is sufficient maturity to reduce risks,
but still avoid sexual maturity.
Will spaying and neutering make my pet fat?
No. Weight gain is caused by the pet being fed more calories than it uses. Watch the
quantity of food your pet receives, offer regular exercise, and limit treats to avoid
obesity.
The surgical procedure
Your pet will be given a pre-surgical physical examination, and then any necessary
pre-anesthetic blood tests will be performed. If everything is acceptable, an IV catheter
will be placed and fluids will be started intravenously. This will keep your pet properly
hydrated, speed recovery, and enhance the overall safety of the procedure. Your pet
will then be anesthetized. Anesthesia will be maintained by gas (isoflurane) delivered
through a tube placed in his or her trachea (windpipe). The entire surgery is
performed in a sterile manner, and carefully monitored, just as it would be in a human
hospital. Following surgery and recovery, your pet will remain under observation in the
hospital until s/he is able to go home.