Post by Lucy on Jun 30, 2011 13:52:42 GMT
Reasons to spay and neuter your pets
[/center]Lately we have being reading that many Chihuahuas are being kept intact when they are not being shown or part of a responsible breeding programme. A lot of the time, owners are being misinformed and given reasons why they SHOULD keep their dogs intact and are unaware of the health risks of doing so. It is obviously down to each individual what they do with their own dog but we decided to put together some information on this to hopefully dispel myths and give owners the facts as to why spay and neutering your dog is so important.
Making a decision.
I personally believe that when you bring a dog into your life, this is one of the first things you need to think about. If you are not intending to show your Chihuahua and it is not part of your breeding programme (See this thread for more info on breeding your Chihuahua for the right reasons: heychihuahuas.com/index.cgi?board=chihuahuahealth&action=display&thread=218 ), then really there is no reason for your dog to be intact.
Keeping your dog/bitch intact
Many people believe that it is unfair to take away this “right” from a dog and think that nature should take its course and that it is cruel to neuter a dog. However, we live in a world where there are more homeless/unwanted dogs than there are shelters to take them in.
“Think of it this way: For every puppy that is born, there is one dog in a shelter that will not be placed in a home, and will therefore have to be euthanized. The only way to slow this problem is to have pets spayed or neutered.”
When a dog/bitch is intact, they are more driven by their hormones and instincts; this can not only make life a bit more difficult for you, but also for your dog.
There may be times when your dog is out on a walk and catches the scent of a bitch in heat. He could very possibly try everything in his power to escape you to get to the bitch. Similarly, having a bitch in heat means that other dogs will try and get to her to mate her, and yes, that’s including the big ones too!
Male dogs are known to be closer to their owners if they have been neutered as they are not driven by their hormonal urges.
While it is not the same for every dog, you can have one or more of these things to look forward to, should you choose not to spay/neuter:
- Aggression toward other dogs, particularly for males.
- Territorialism, that is, the tendency to be overprotective of the dog's home ground.
- Wanderlust, that is, the desire to escape from the yard and seek sexual adventure inthe outside world.
- Dominance.
- Marking territory with urine/feces.
- Unwanted sexual behavior such as riding, sniffing, licking, arousal.
- Frustration which occurs when the behaviors dictated by hormonal urges cause the dog to behave in a way that is undesirable to the owners.
Health risks and benefits
Spaying dramatically reduces your bitch's risk of developing uterine infections, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. If and when possible, spay your female before her first season. (See this thread for more info on Pyometra: heychihuahuas.com/index.cgi?board=chihuahuahealth&action=display&thread=553 )
The risk of malignant mammary tumors in dogs spayed prior to their first heat is 0.05%. It is 8% for dog spayed after one heat, and 26% in dogs spayed after their second heat.
As for the boys, neutered males have far fewer prostate problems (including cysts, abscesses, and prostate cancer) than unaltered males, and they can’t develop testicular cancer. They are less likely to roam, fight, demonstrate aggressiveness, or display hyperactive behavior.
Spaying/neutering can provide Protection (either partial or complete) from such hormone-induced conditions as:
Males
- Testicular cancer
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Acute and chronic prostatis, prostatic abscess
- Perianal gland adenomas
- Orchitis (infection of the testicles)
- Venereal tumors
- Perineal hernia (abdominal organs bulging out of rectum)
- Inguinal hernia with potential organ strangulation
Females
- Breast cancer
- Cystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra
- False pregnancies
- Mastitis (can occur during false pregnancy)
- Transmissible venereal sarcoma
- Ovarian and uterine tumors
- Cystic ovaries and hyperestrogenism
- Chronic endometritis
- Vaginal hyperplasia and prolapse
- Uterine torsion or uterine prolapse
Myths & Facts
Myth: Pets become fat and lazy after being spayed or neutered.
Fact: Fat animals are usually over fed and under exercised. It's true there can be a tendency for a pet to put on some weight after the operation. But what is not true is that the operation causes the condition. If your pet shows signs of putting on a little weight, reduce the calories and increase the walks or play sessions. That will keep the waistline trim.
Myth: We don't need to neuter males, because they aren't the ones having the litters
Fact: This is most prevalent myth yet the most ridiculous. Immaculate conception doesn't explain canine and feline pregnancies. It takes two to tango.
Myth: Small dogs can’t handle the anesthetic.
Fact: Whilst we all worry about our pets, the fact of the matter is is that all surgeries carry risks. We have to weigh out the pros and cons. Spay and neuters are routine procedures. Would you rather have your dog spayed or would you rather have your bitch have to undergo and caesarean section because she is too small to have pups naturally? Would you rather have your dog neutered or have an emergency op for cancer?
Complications do occur, but deaths are rare. Studies suggest that for normal, healthy dogs and cats, the risk of death is approximately one in 2,000. For pets with a preexisting disease, that number increases to about one in 500. But a well-trained veterinary team will take every reasonable precaution — including having a knowledgeable staff, appropriate patient monitoring procedures, and proper patient evaluation and preparation — to minimize these risks.
- Altered dogs, on average, live longer, healthier lives.
- Female dogs spayed before their first birthday are 99.9 percent less likely to develop reproductive cancer.
- Altered dogs behave better and are more focused on training.
- You’ll stop overpopulation. One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just six years.
- You’ll stop homelessness. Only one in four dogs find a permanent, loving home.
- You’ll stop the killings. More than eight million surplus dogs and cats are destroyed each year because there are not enough homes for them. Taxpayers pick up the tab to the tune of $300 million.
- Eighty percent of dogs struck by vehicles are unaltered males.
- The majority of dog bites to postal carriers are from unaltered male dogs.
- Pet licensing fees are lower in cost for altered dogs in many cities and countries.
Here are some links for the US.
www.aspca.org/pet-care/spayne...FSU65wodVlVwAg
www.pets911.com/spayneuter/spay-usa
www.aspca.org/aspca-nyc/mobileclinic/
www.csnip.org/
These are just a few. Remember, spay and neuter. It's the right thing to do.
Don't forget to check your local humane societies or SPCA, they can also point you in the right direction
Thanks Stacia, this will be a great help to many!
