Should you neuter your dog?

An early consideration of owning a dog is whether to neuter them – castration in the case of males, spaying in the case of females. There are both advantages and disadvantages to having your dog neutered. Hopefully we can help you make the decision that suits you and your dog best. 

Another thing worth considering for your furry friend is peace-of-mind dog insurance.

What is neutering?

Neutering is the surgical removal of a pet’s reproductive organs – in this case, your dog’s. The name and procedure is different for males and females:

• Males are castrated – otherwise known as snipped – which involves their testicles.
• Females are spayed, which means their ovaries are removed, and often their womb too.

While this doesn’t sound the nicest, they’re very common procedures, performed under general anaesthetic. And while it’s more extensive for a female, both will recover from the procedure quickly.

Advantages of neutering

If your dog is not a potential breeding or show dog, there are benefits to neutering.

Health and behavioural benefits for female dogs

Unspayed females usually come into season twice a year. This lasts for about three weeks. During this time, they often produce discharge, and run the risk of becoming pregnant.

This can affect their behaviour too. For instance, they may try to run away in order to find a mate. This is why it’s best to keep them on a lead while out walking. You should keep a close eye on them, particularly around male dogs which haven’t been neutered.

If you have a female that has trouble with their menstrual cycle, this can be helped if the female is spayed.

Neutering also rules out the possibility of certain health conditions. For example, the risk of mammary tumours in females is reduced if the female is castrated early. It can also eliminate the possibility of certain cancers and womb infections (pyometra).

It also removes the risks involved in pregnancy and giving birth – particularly with brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds.

Health and behavioural benefits for male dogs

Unneutered males can develop certain testosterone-related habits, such as scent marking and mounting. Getting them castrated usually helps to curb these behaviours.

Likewise, if your male dog isn’t castrated, their behaviour can change drastically around females in season. This can make them difficult to manage, especially with stronger dogs. It can also lead to them not eating, and howling.

In addition, there are health benefits to castrating males. For example, this risk of testicular cancer is as good as removed, and there’s less chance of them developing prostate problems.

Neutering male pets provides health benefits as well. Castration greatly reduces the risk of testicular cancer and decreases the likelihood of prostate issues.

Disadvantages and risks

Castration is a procedure that requires the dog to be put under general anaesthetic. This always involves a small risk.

A male that’s castrated before puberty never develops the muscle mass of an adult, uncastrated dog. A castration can also lead to urinary incontinence. In some cases, a change in the fur quality can also occur in neutered dogs.

In several studies, it’s believed that the metabolism at rest is lower than in intact animals, which means that the neutered dogs have a lower energy requirement. 

Be aware: many behavioural problems cannot be neutered

Temperament or behavioural issue prevention is often the reason an owner wants to perform a castration. In the vast majority of cases, the male becomes calmer and the sex drive largely disappears after castration. However, for example, territory marking and aggressiveness can remain even after castration if it was done after the dog developed the behaviour.

If you have an insecure or fearful dog, it’s good to discuss with a veterinarian before making the decision. 

See also:

How soon can I walk my dog after neutering?

Weight gain for dogs after neutering

Chemical castration of a male dog

If you have an Agria Pet Insurance policy, you can get veterinary advice at any time through the Agria app.