Austin Veterinarians

The Good and Bad of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

Spaying or neutering, or more generally termed ‘fixing’, dogs is a common practice in the United States. This procedure is usually performed because a pet owner wants to prevent a pet from reproducing. However, this obvious result is not the only effect of the procedure. There are other advantages and disadvantages of spaying or neutering a dog. As a dog owner interested in spaying or neutering your pet, you might want to consider the following lists before committing to the surgery.

Advantages

There are a number of health conditions that are much less likely in dogs if they are spayed or neutered.

• Female dogs are seven times more likely to develop mammary tumors if they are not spayed before their first heat cycle.
• Pyometra is prevented in female dogs.
• Uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers are all avoided due to the removal of these organs.

Disadvantages

There are also conditions that become more likely in dogs that are spayed or neutered.

• Surgeries in general have a risk of infection or adverse reaction to anesthesia.
• Obesity is an increased risk in both males and females.
• Increased risk of urinary tract infections for both males and females.
• Increased risk of adverse effects to vaccinations.
• Alopecia, or hair loss, is common in males.

Visit your Austin Veterinarian Clinic

For more information on whether spaying or neutering is right for your dog, contact the Austin veterinarian clinics today.