Creature Feature
Why It’s Good for Your Dog to NOT become a Parent
By Stephanie Karpf, DVM
The month of May has us turning our thoughts toward Mother’s Day. We take this time to reflect on how dear our mothers are to us, and also on how much we enjoy being mothers to our children. For our canine and feline companions, however, it is most often the case that it is much better for them, and for us, for them not to become parents themselves.
The simple truth is that your pet has a chance at a longer and healthier life if you spay or neuter them at a young age. Female cats that are spayed prior to 6 months of age have a 91% reduction in the risk of developing mammary carcinoma (breast cancer). Dogs that are not spayed before the age of 2.5 years are almost 200 times more likely to have breast cancer as adults, than dogs that are spayed before their first heat. Another common reproductive complication of dogs called pyometra, which is a severe infection of the uterus that can be life-threatening, is completely eliminated by spaying. This health protection is also granted to male dogs as well. Male dogs who are neutered cannot develop problems like testicular cancer or testicular torsion, and they are much less likely to have diseases of the prostate gland later in life.
Early neuter of your pet has many behavioral benefits as well. Neutered dogs are much less likely to roam far from your house (in search of a mate), have less tendency to urine mark their territory, and are also less likely to show aggressive behavior toward other dogs or toward people. Male cats that remain intact fight frequently with other cats, spray their territories with urine, and the smell of their urine makes them practically unbearable to keep in your home.
Contrary to popular belief, sterilizing your pet will not make it “fat and lazy.” Both sterilized and unsterilized pets can have poor body condition due to overfeeding and lack of exercise. Your animal’s body condition is much more dependant on these parameters, than on their reproductive status. Another misconception is that it is healthier to let a female dog or cat have one litter before spaying her. This most certainly is not true, and in fact, female dogs and cats are much less likely to experience certain medical complications as they age, if they have never had a litter or even an estrous cycle (heat).
As if these medical reasons for pet sterilization weren’t enough, there are also social reasons for having these procedures done on your pets. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem in Palm Beach County, and for the state of Florida and the U.S. as a whole. Every year, millions of unwanted animals are euthanized in animal shelters. By not spaying or neutering your pet, and allowing them to reproduce, you greatly contribute to this ongoing problem. There is no way for you to guarantee that every puppy or kitten you bring into this world will get a good home. And, by not being able to control whether those puppies and kittens get sterilized, you cause many, many more generations of animals to be born that likely will end up being euthanized. Dealing with all of these unwanted animals, is not only emotionally taxing, but is a great financial burden in that millions of dollars are spent each year by communities to manage homeless animals.
Enjoy your Mother’s day and the joy that motherhood brings. But please remember to make the responsible and compassionate decision to spay and neuter your pets. This one procedure can help your companion to live a longer and healthier life.
Dr. Karpf is the co-owner of The Visiting Vet, a housecall service for dogs and cats serving Palm Beach County. For an appointment, please call 561-252-8874.