What are the benefits of having your dog spayed or neutered?

Anyone who watched The Price is Right growing up knows host Bob Barker’s famous last words at the end of each show. He reminded viewers to help control the pet and stray animal population by neutering or spaying their pets. Barker may not be a game show host anymore, but the importance of spaying or neutering a dog hasn’t changed one bit over the decades. Unless you want to breed your dog for commercial or competitive purposes, there is no reason why you should not have this procedure done.

What is sterilize and neutralize?
Both procedures are types of surgical sterilization that are performed on dogs, cats, and other animals. Spaying refers to the surgical sterilization of females, and castration refers to the sterilization of males. If you have a female dog, you will want to make sure that she is spayed before her first heat, because the procedure is most successful when done before the animal reaches sexual maturity. In dogs, this could be between 2 and 6 months of age.

General benefits of sterilization and neutralization
Whether your dog is male or female, there are several benefits you will inevitably enjoy from having him “groomed.” You won’t have to worry about your dog having a litter of unwanted puppies, which could tragically lead to abandonment or euthanasia. You also won’t have to worry about behavior problems that naturally occur in dogs that aren’t spayed or neutered. Other benefits are more specific to men or women: spay or neuter.

Benefits of sterilization

• Prevents unwanted pregnancies, puppies and reproductive problems
• Makes unwanted male dogs less likely to be “on” your dog
• Stops the heat cycle before it happens, eliminating noise and other complications
• Keeps your dog happy by eliminating discomfort, distraction, and heat distress.
• Keep your dog close to home: Dogs that are not sterilized are more likely to roam, which could lead to injury, illness, and even death.

Benefits of neutralizing

• Prevents tumors and other problems in the testicles and prostate
• Keep your dog happier by eliminating the distraction of sex and the destructive behavior that comes with it
• Again, keep your dog close to home – male dogs that are not neutered are more likely to stray, which could put them in dangerous situations and lead to accidents, illness or, in the worst case, death.