6 Benefits of Neutering Your Dog in Greenville, MI

Are you thinking of having your dog neutered? Do you want to know whether it’s really a good idea to go through with this? Are you concerned about your pet’s health and wellbeing after the procedure is finished?

If you’re concerned at all about having your dog neutered, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explain all about the benefits your dog can enjoy after he’s been neutered so you can feel more confident in your decision. Read on to find out more!

1.     Less Risk of Injury

Dogs who are not neutered want to find a mate, and they will usually put themselves in harm’s way to make this happen. For example, a dog who is looking for a mate has only mating on his mind, and he may not pay much attention to dangers and risks in the area, such as oncoming traffic. This goes double for areas where there is a female in heat present.

Additionally, dogs get into fights over mating rights with females in heat. If your dog gets into a fight with other male dogs for this reason, he may end up severely injured.

2.     Less Risk of Cancer

Dogs are at risk of cancer just as humans are, and many dogs come down with testicular cancer later in life. When you have your dog neutered, this risk will be gone completely, and your dog will never be able to contract testicular cancer.

Additionally, a neutered dog is much less likely to contract prostate cancer as well. Although this risk does remain, it is significantly reduced in dogs who are neutered. The earlier you have your dog neutered, the better his chances will be at living a life completely free from prostate cancer.

3.     Less Risk of Getting Lost

Dogs who are still intact—meaning they are not neutered yet—are prone to wandering. When they sense a female in heat in the area, these dogs may stop at nothing to get out of the house and try to find the female. When this happens, they often get lost and may never make their way back home after the fact. You can reduce this risk in your dog by having him neutered.

4.     Less Risk of Behavioral Problems

Dogs who are very aggressive or fearful may see a marked improvement in their behavior when they are neutered. This is because the aggression or fear often comes from hormonal changes in the dog and neutering him will remove this problem.

Keep in mind, however, that neutering isn’t a 100% accurate method of improving behavioral issues, and some dogs may need more assistance through training or medication as well.

5.     Less Risk of Adding to Pet Overpopulation

Your pet will not contribute to the overpopulation of dogs in your area and around the world if he is neutered as early as possible. By having your dog neutered, you can ensure he will not be able to bring more puppies into the world and will not cause even more of a burden on the local animal shelters and rescues, either.

6.     Less Risk of Raising Unplanned Litters

If your dog happens to become the father of an unplanned litter and you choose to keep the puppies—even if you plan to try to rehome them when they get a little older—you will become responsible for this unplanned litter. You will have to pay their vet bills, feed them, and take care of them until they are old enough to go to a new home.

This is less common in families who have male dogs than those who have female dogs, but it isn’t impossible that you might end up needing to care for a lot of puppies you weren’t anticipating. If you have your dog neutered, however, he will be unable to impregnate any other dogs and will not lead to this potential problem for you and your family at all.

Talk with Your Vet About Dog Neutering

Did you learn something helpful about the benefits of dog neutering? As you can see, there are many to consider, and your dog will likely enjoy several of these benefits almost right away after the surgery. Despite this, it isn’t uncommon for dog owners to worry about neutering their pets or find reasons to avoid the procedure, even though it is a very useful one.

If you have any further questions or concerns, call your Greenville Animal Hospital veterinarian at (616) 754–9633 or book an appointment online for more information.