Question about neutering?

Question

I'm writing a speech on the benefits of neutering a pet. I have 2 questions:

1. Are there ANY downsides to neutering? I'd like to have something contrary to work against.

2. Do you think this would be entirely too dull? I know that this is a common subject but my neighbors just abandoned their declawed housecat last weekend to the streets and I'm trying to find it a home. I have a speech due next week and this topic comes to mind.

I love the idea of the first response, but it has to be a persuasive speech. Any suggestions on how to work that in? Don't abandon animals wouldn't work well, I don't think but that's the idea I want to get across.

To the concerned responder, have no fears...... I have settled him temporarily with my best friend while looking for a home for him. I'm just not having much luck so far. Maybe my persuasive speech should be to take this cat? LOL

Answer 1

There is only one real 'disadvantage' to neutering, and that's that it slows down the metabolism, and so makes an animal more prone to weight gain. Obviously there's the anaesthetic risk too, but this is minimal and not really part of the issue.

I did a paper on the pros and cons of neutering in both dogs and cats, and I didn't find it boring at all! I basically discovered that female dogs are the most likely to be affected.

I'd suggest covering the following points in your speech:

+the importance of neutering to to prevent health problems - especially mammary tumours and pyometra
+ the effect of neutering on weight - it can easily be controlled with the right type of food

I think this is a good topic, if you get the right slant on it you might surprise people with new knowledge! I got most of the info for my paper from www.scirus.com, a scientific website - you can search journals for some great info.

Chalice

For it to be a persuasive speech, I suppose I would go along the lines of presenting the (few) disadvantages and then 'and since these are the only disadvantages, compared with the MULTITUDE of advantages, there really is no reason to NOT neuter your pet'. You need to present both sides of course, but to be persuasive you have to then present which side of the argument you're supporting and make it seem winning (which, if you're going for pro-neutering, shouldn't be too hard!)

Oh, and I suppose the obvious consquence of neutering, not having young, could be seen as an advantage OR disadvantage - it's your job to make people see it as nothing BUT an advantage!

Answer 2

Consider trying a different approach.

We all have our pets. One of the joys they give is unconditional love. They don't ask for special gifts or treatment. They don't complain. So it's important to give them the best care possible.

One aspect of giving them good loving care is having them neutered (for the reasons mentioned in another response). Neutering doesn't necessarily cause pets to gain weight, by the way. Neutering means you can't breed them, but in reality, there are so many unloved, abandoned pets out there needing adoption, this isn't a negative like we think it is. adopted pets really appreciate being rescued.

another way to give our pets love is to not abandon them. It would be like abandoning an infant child. There are groups you can give pets to if you can no longer keep them. There are rescue groups and the humane society who will happily take in pets so you won't leave them on the streets where they can die. One good example is the declawed housecat which cannot feed itself since it doesn't have claws, so it will surely die.

Hope this gives you some ideas you can work with & develop.

Answer 3

There are no downsides to neutering a pet.
I don't think the subject is dull at all.
It is so sad that your neighbors abandoned their declawed cat . The poor thing wouldn't last very long on the streets being declawed, it is good of you to try helping this poor kitty. It needs to be inside though. If you can't bring it inside, it might be better if you call an animal rescue group or a no-kill shelter. There are so many homeless animals which is the best reason for neutering and spaying animals.
For more information check out the site below.

Answer 4

Advantages: lowering the over population of pets (which leads to unwanted and abandoned animals), reducing the 'wanderlust' some animals get, thus the number of runaways and car accidents. Usually stops the urge to spray and/or mark territory. Male dogs will no longer want to 'mate' with everything in sight. It also reduces the risk of prostate problems.

Disadvantages: Most animals gain weight after being fixed. Increased activity can help there, as can a diet regiment. Some animals (for a little while) may act different. You would too if you were reduced to an 'it'. Time and love can help there. Some cats, especially males who are genetically predisposed, can develope crystals. Actually, any cat can, but it seems to happen more after a male has been fixed. And, as with any surgery, there are risks while under anasthesia.

Knowing the disadvantages, would I still get the animals fixed? Yes.

Answer 5

No, I don't think it would be too dull, because you have a lot you can say on the subject matter, such as overpopulation of pets, abandonment, and puppy mills. There are some downsides to neutering, however. There are some animals that cannot be neutered, such as reptiles. Also, it would be impratical to neuter an animal that was an endangered species in captivity, because then they couldn't enter captive breeding programs to repopulate their numbers in the wild. Also, my state (as well as others) is trying to pass a mandatory spay/neuter bill, that basically states that if it can't be neutered it either has to be moved out of state or be euthanized, which would run breeders out of buisness, end captive breeding programs, put pet stores out of buisness, and get a lot of great animals killed. I own reptiles, which cannot be neutered, because the surgery would kill them, so I'm looking at an out-of-state move if the bill is passed. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I do think this would be too dull as a speech. You could liven it up to make it a speech about abandoned animals in general, and have neutering them as just one sub-topic.

The only downside to neutering is the small risk of complications or even death during surgery.

Answer 7

you can say about a pet adoption place called happy tails too go to happy tails .com for more info.