Neutering keeps your dog healthier. A final positive aspect of neutering your dog is that neutered pets tend to have fewer health problems. Neutering is the removal of the testicles. Without these organs, testicular cancer is no longer a concern and the risk of prostate problems is reduced.
In males, neutering decreases the chances of developing prostatic disease and hernias, and eliminates the chances of developing testicular cancer. It also reduces problems with territorial and sexual aggression, inappropriate urination (spraying) and other undesirable male behaviors.
If your male dog is not neutered until after he reaches maturity, there are health benefits, as well. Stopping testosterone production at a young age can mean an increased risk of hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as a higher likelihood your dog will tear a cruciate ligament in his knee.
Neutering is a reasonably safe process; however, you can expect sharp changes in your dog's attitude right when you bring them home from the procedure. These side effects can range from increased aggression, depression, anxiety, or even clinginess; however, they only last for a short amount of time.
A University of Georgia study, based on the medical records of more than 70,000 animal patients, found that the life expectancy of neutered male dogs was 13.8% longer and that of spayed female dogs was 26.3% longer.
Castration may make him slightly lazier, but don't expect it to have any effect on adolescent enthusiasm or rowdy behaviour either! If your dog has a behavioural issue, don't rely on castration as a “quick fix”. While it can help in some situations, it can make other problems much worse.
Increased health risks: While both spaying and neutering come with certain health benefits, they also can lead to a higher risk of other ailments. Some studies indicate older dogs have an increased risk of cruciate ligament rupture, hip dysplasia, incontinence, and tumor development after neutering or spaying.
The recommended age to neuter a male dog is between six and nine months. However, some pet owners have this procedure done at four months. Smaller dogs reach puberty sooner and can often have the procedure done sooner. Larger breeds may need to wait longer in order to properly develop before being neutered.
In dogs, an incision is made in front of the scrotum, and both testicles are pushed through this single incision and removed. One incision is made over each testicle in the scrotum in cats, so the cat and dog incision areas look different.
Advantages of NOT desexing on behaviour:
There may be a decreased incidence of cognitive dysfunction in intact male and female dogs. This means less dementia and possibly less anxiety.
Neutering, also known as castration, is a surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian to remove the testicles. Neutering is almost always a less invasive procedure than spaying (the “fixing” equivalent for female dogs).
The pleasure serves to encourage the act to produce puppies. However, it is not likely that castrated dogs miss this drive, as dogs do not view sex and sexuality in the same way as people.
“It may sound surprising at first, but the majority of the time, testicles are disposed of in the regular trash,” veterinarian Georgina Ushi Phillips confirms.
The recommended time to spay or neuter a dog is six to nine months. But if your dog is healthy, there is no specific age limit to having the procedure done.
On average, it takes about two to four weeks for testosterone levels to decrease significantly after neutering. However, it can take up to six months for testosterone levels to fully decrease.
Dogs can get affected by the sudden change of hormone level after neutering, and basically go a bit mental. My friends dog was crazy after neutering and it took him a few months to settle down.
The discomfort caused by spay or neuter surgeries usually only lasts a few days and should be gone after a week. If your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort for more than a couple of days you should contact your vet to get further advice.
Some dog breeds have higher risk of developing certain cancers and joint disorders if neutered or spayed within their first year of life.
There is new knowledge related to reproductive surgeries that suggest that spaying or neutering pets at that age could potentially lead to an increased risk of conditions such as joint disorders, cranial cruciate injuries, and some cancers.
The suggested guideline for males is neutering beyond 6 months of age. Given the increased cancer risk for females spayed at a year of age, the suggested guideline is delaying spaying until beyond 2 years of age.
This may be a complication called a haematoma which although not normal and rather sore, is a relatively common complication of a castration. It happens when a blood vessel continues to bleed and the scrotum fills up with blood, causing dramatic bruising.
Removing the testicles removes the largest source of testosterone in the body. This results in a decrease in sexually driven behaviors in your dog: urine marking, escaping to seek female dogs, and aggression toward other male dogs.