Benefits and Risks to Spay/Neuter
Since the internet now has everyone questioning their decision to spay/neuter their pets, let’s explore the benefits and risks. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all in this scenario.
Benefits of Spaying/Neutering
- No unwanted pregnancies!
- No unwanted pregnancies means less dogs and cats being sent to already full and underfunded animal shelters and rescues
- Prevention of pyometra, a life threatening uterine infection
- Significantly decreased risk of mammary gland tumors
- Prevention of testicular cancer
Risks of Spaying/Neutering
- If altered too young, increased risk for joint disease and cancer in many dog breeds
- Increased risk of weight gain due to decreased metabolism
- Increased risk of hypothyroidism
- Increased risk of Cushing’s Disease
- Neutering was previously thought to prevent prostate cancer in males, it actually may increase the chances
- Three times more likely to develop lymphoma
- Increased risk of mast cell tumor development
So, is surgical sterilization right for your pet? You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. In my experience, it’s best to have your pet altered after they have fully developed. Many of the diseases, infections, and cancers listed above are surprisingly common. When you remove the reproductive hormones, you alter the body’s physiology. Reproductive hormones influence muscle mass, tendon and ligament strength, as well as telling the body when to halt bone growth. Just ask any veterinary technician and they will point out the unaltered male dog from across the room. Unaltered male dogs are always leaner with a significant amount of muscle compared to altered males.
My Opinion
I do not think that holding off on spay/neuter completely is the right choice here. Unplanned pregnancies happen, shelters are overflowing and pets are suffering because of this. Currently, our local rescues have stopped accepting cat and kitten surrenders because their cages are full and not enough people are coming in to adopt or foster.
Cancer and chronic disease in pets is becoming more and more common. While I do believe that sterilization prior to maturity is playing a major role, I also believe that there are hundreds of other factors at play. To name a few, pets are being fed ultra-processed foods and in constant contact with lawn chemicals, cleaning products, fragrances, and pesticides. What causes cancer and inflammation in humans, will cause the same in our pets.
Hold off on spaying/neutering until your dog is done growing. See my previous post for recommended ages. Reduce or eliminate the amount of chemicals you use on your lawn and in your home. If possible, stop feeding dry kibble diets and upgrade. If you can’t afford to stop feeding dry kibble, that’s OK, start adding fresh ingredients to your dogs bowl. Do you have leftover carrot tops, broccoli stalks, fruits, vegetables, or unseasoned meats that you may not be able to finish eating before they go bad? Add them to your dog’s bowl. Finally, make sure your dog gets enough mental and physical exercise. Just like with people, “if you don’t use it, you lose it”.