Besides preventing reproduction, what are the perks to spaying/neutering?

Question

First off, I would really appreciate answers vs. insults for curiosity, and I'm asking for answers from people that know, not people that'll have to do a search to find out why a dog should be spayed/neutered.
Why is it that all dogs, even perfectly healthy ones *purebreds included* are recommended to be spayed/neutered? A lot of times I've noticed that you don't even get to make the choice for your dog unless you go to a place that's not so great to buy a puppy *BYBs or petshops* where everyone says these sub-par pups should be sterilized and only top-notch purebreds should be left intact to be bred, but the pups sold to most anybody *breeders trying to break into the biz included* have a spay/neuter contract attached. i understand overpopulation, so let's not go there.
What I want to know what are the risks to a dog if it it left unaltered? Are they like ferrets where if the female isn't fixed and isn't bred there are problems or what? Thanks.

Most dogs are "fixed" in the later puppy months, right? *if wrong, feel free to correct me* But if "fixed" near the end of the time that they're hyper by nature, wouldn't they be calming down either way?
But I CAN indeed see reason behind the spaying the girls due to bloody messes, but I beg to differ on the fact that intact males run off more offten than those who are neutered, and that dominance is cut off along with testosterone. We have three dogs in the area, all small mutts, two neutered, on intact. The intact one is the one that will follow you for miles of you walk, and he's the one not participating at all in any pecking order vs. the neutered boys going nuts trying to assert dominance over eachother.
I was kinda hoping for more scientific answers than "they run off less and are less dominant" and not so much of the obvious "can't get cancer where there is no organ tissue" But it's great that very few of you said that prevention of reprodiction is the best reason. More?

Not to be rude, but if removing the organ is *from a medical standpoint* really only good for preventing cancer, shouldn't we be removing every body part and organ ever to develope cancer from a dog just because it's the healthy choice?
That's like saying that we should remove everything, including brain and bone in order to prevent cancer in that part.
In other words, if an animal is prone to cancer, shouldn't we not breed that animal and breed the ones that come from lines that have aged and not developed it? I met a woman yesterday breeding rats, commonly thought to allways die young because of their ancestry in lab rats and genetic testing. She bred wild rats into her lines and now they live 5-7years, vs. 3 tops with your average pet rat. Couldn't we do something like that with dogs?
If every dog is "prone" to cancer of the reproduction organs, we really should start over with domestication, which didn't take quite as long as I thought it had.

Castrated men are less prone to testicular cancer. Does that mean that we should cut the balls off of every man we don't deam perfect? Women that have had a historectomy are less prone to any cancer of the organs removed. Should we take everything out of every woman for the sake of preventing those cancers?
Everything in perspective. Every period that a girl has we do not become more prone to cancers of the breast tissue or mastitis, why would it be that way for a dog? Show me numbers, show me a website that proves to me why it's only that way with domestic dogs and wolves and coyoties aren't dropping dead from cancer of the reproductive tract? Let's all take time to move past the overpopulation for a second to really see weather or not it's healthier for the dog, and I dunno if I want vets answering at this point, because though you are very good for the animals, certain vets will say anything to convince an owner it's the right thing to do. Not all, but some.

Answer 1

Well, besides preventing reproduction a dog can't get cancer in the parts that removed--ie. you can't get testicular cancer when you have no testicles. But newer studies have shown that other cancers, such as prostrate cancer, are more predominate in castrated dogs. And spayed females are more likely to be incontinent than intact females.

Answer 2

As far as dogs go, there are several reasons.

First, there's cleanliness. A lot of people who aren't in it for the breeding probably don't want to deal with humping or cycling.

Also, spaying/neutering is recommended for the dog's health. Some people breed dogs just to make some easy cash, and fail to look out for the best interest of the dog. The don't try to find the best mate for, and as a result, the puppies may not be getting the best genes. Some people also may over breed their female dogs, leaving little time between one litter and the next. So it is often encouraged to leave it to the professional breeders.

Some people also figure that by getting their dog fixed, they won't have to worry about prostate problems or cancer when they get older.

Although some may encourage you to spay/neuter your dog, most reputable breeders that I've heard from leave that option up to you, especially since they have the potential be show dogs. Make sure that your dog is AKC certified and has papers.

Answer 3

I don't have a male dog so unfortunately I wouldn't be able to assist you in that side of the question much.
My grandmother did have a male and a female dog and they both (on several occasions) ran away from home (either together or separately) so I'm not sure if the running away from home and roaming thing is specifically tied to males since it is clear that both sexes do this. However, it may be the fact that when female is in heat in a neighbourhood male dogs can tell. And it is instict for them to find it and reproduce. *shrugg* I'm not a guy I'm not sure why. Sorry ^^
As for getting a gal dog spayed, my vet said that the more times that Maggie (my lab now four) went through heat, the chances for brest cancer or other cancers went up significantly. I'm not sure about the studies, it's just what she told us. We had a spay/neuter contract with our breeder that stated that we had to have her spayed within the first year.
I'm sure (from experience) that spaying your female dog does very little to slow her down. (As it's rumoured to do with males.) If anything she's became more hyper than ever.
I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help, but what I did put down I hope helps in some way.
Good luck!
~Manda

Answer 4

1. Unneutered males are much more likely to get testicular cancer.

2. Unneutered males are sometimes more aggressive and definitely more annoying than neutered ones (intact males will hump everything in sight and may become especially aggressive if they smell a female in heat)

3. Unspayed females will have "period" during which they bleed from their vaginas.

4. During periods of heat, females will do everything possible to breed, including dashing out of open doors or gaps in a fence.

5. A female in heat puts out a scent "call" to unneutered males, and when she pees, she leaves a scent marker. You may have male dogs (some of them aggressive!) congregating on your lawn or following you down the street.

Good breeders generally sell their best puppies to other breeders so as to pass on the excellent genetics, or to "show" homes that will advertise their kennel (simply by showing off a winning dog bred there) when the dog competes. Puppies sold for pets are often "defective" in show terms: poor markings, wrong eye color or shape, wrong size, imperfectly shaped ears or tail. These things make no difference in a pet dog but are a big deal in the show ring. Breeders don't want these dogs bred as they are genetically inferior (again, regarding dog show standards) and THEIR puppies could damage a breeders reputation. If you're planning to breed, get the best possible dog you can afford. If not, why keep the dog intact and frustrated, or let it breed and add to the overpopulation that already exists?

Answer 5

Spaying and neutering also eliminates the possibility of uterine and testicular cancers. It gives them a healthier and happier life because they don't have the rage of hormones and females don't have to go through periods of bleeding and feeling miserable. Every animal I have ever had since I became an adult has been spayed or neutered and I tell ya, the difference in personality is amazing! They are so much more calm and docile afterwards. Also pregnancy is really hard on a dog and takes a lot out of them. So many things can wrong during whelping it really is just best to desex them. There are more benefits but I'd have to search and I would rather just give you what I know. =)

Answer 6

In females it lowers the risk of mamary cancer and prevents pyometra (unterine infection) that can be life threatening if not treated in time. Also prevents the mess of heat every six months.
Prevents puppys from being born. They is a huge over population problem and many are put down.
Also if you are wanting a dog fro a companion they make better pets if altered. They care more about the owner than looking for love or looking to see who is in season and hwere to find them to breed with.
In males it reduces the urge to look for love all the time.
Prevents enlarged prostate and testicular cancer. It also prevents puppys that are not wanted. Makes a dog more focused on what you are aking them to do rather than looking to procreate all the time.
Most dogs left un altered end up with some type of cancer that could have been prevented if they had been altered. Most are not of a good enough quality that they should be bred anyway.
And as far as removing assetiveness or protectiveness in males that is a huge myth.
Most guard dogs are neutered. The reason is they will do what they are supposed to be doing and not seeking to mate. Almost all of the police dogs are neutered most search and rescue dogs are also. It makes them more focused and less apt to be worried about breeding.
I have dobermans and I neuter them and they are extermely protective of me and our home. Loosing their testicles does not make them any less protective or less aggressive when strangers are around.

Answer 7

The reasons for spay or neuter a dog is to prevent unwanted litters, and reproductive diseases. this is the real reason for the procedure. other less effective reasons are to reduce roaming caused by sexual reproduction, spaying will not reduce roaming due to other reasons, following scent of other animals; or roaming due to anxiety, lack of exersize, fear, etc.

Most animal care professionals recomend spaying or neutering pets, because most pets are not close to the breed standard or, have a geneticly inherited health problem. They may have a full life with out major problems, but if they were use for breeding the offspring could have medical problems.

They are not like ferret wher if a female is not altered it will most likely bleed to death if not bred. but dogs can have medical problems like cancer in the reproductive organs, they also tend to roam, if they scent another dog of the oposite sex, mostly females in heat attract the male, when in heat. this is a minor issue for a responsible dog owner. many rescue groups promote this altering of pets.

finnally the best person too talk to about this is your veterinarian. and ask for information from both sides of the health issues, and remember that a veterinarian is the only person who can perform the surgery and will make money if you choose to have it done. so make it clear that in order for your vet to get the job they must provide both sides of the issue, which is over welmingly for Spay and neuter.

**********There are reason for seeing more dominace fighting in neutered males in the group you just described of three neutered, and one intact. due to the neutered males being more alike they are typically veiwed different by intact males, they are not rivals to the intaact male but thay are rivals to each other, they are showing more dominance to each other where they respond less to the intact male, posible because of a scent difference which only dog may smell. the intact male is different than the altered ones and thus is either submitted to or ignores the altered males, as non rivals

Answer 8

Spayed / Neutered dogs cannot get testicular or ovarian cancer. Owners of spayed / neutered dogs don't have to deal with their dog's unusual behaviors when a b*tch comes into season, or where there is a b*tch in heat in the vicinity of an intact male. Neutered males are less apt to mark and roam. Spayed females won't stain or nest.
Contrary to popular myth, spayed / neutered dogs do not get lazy and overweight, nor does their personality change very much at all.

Answer 9

If you have a female dog, she will bleed while she is in heat. And this will last a few weeks. So people will get them fixed to avoid having to lock the dog up for weeks, or so their carpet will not get ruined. As for a male dog, when he smells a female dog who is in heat, he will find her. A dog can smell the scent of a female being in heat a mile away. And a dog will do everything in his power to get out of the house to find her. Now if a male dog does this and finds a female in heat, and does his stuff and gets the female dog pregnant, this can be a lawsuit. Also getting them fixed promotes long lives, and it also promotes them not to get some cancers. All in all it is alot healthy for a dog to be fixed if your not planning on breeding them.

Answer 10

Spaying a female:
dramaticly reduces the risk of mammary cancer, eliminates reproductive cancers, eliminates pyometria, a very serious often fatal uterine infection

Neutering a male;

dramaticly reduces the incidences of prostrate cancer & infections, eliminates testicular cancer, dramiticly reduces (almost eliminates) anal fistulas

The above aren't rare occurances nor do they only happen in older dogs...many young dogs, some as young as 9 months old,have these issues. They are often very hard to treat.They are expensive to treat and often the outcome isn't favorable