Introduction

Neutering a male dog can sometimes be a difficult decision for many pet owners. Without a doubt, neutering male dogs causes a drastic drop in testosterone levels, and some pet owners feel that the quality of their dog’s life is affected as a result. However dogs do not think like people, and a male dog does not miss his testicles or mourn the loss of sex. While it may be difficult for pet owners to neuter their male dogs, neutering is highly recommended due to the positive benefits that are gained through this procedure.

Benefits of Neutering Male Dogs

One of the main benefits of neutering male dogs is decreasing the amount of unwanted puppy populations. In the United States alone, millions of unwanted puppies are euthanized, dumped, abused, left to starve, and abandoned every year. The suffering of these unwanted puppies can be ended through responsible neutering.

Male dogs themselves benefit from neutering as well. Dogs can develop prostate cancer, and neutering the dog helps reduce this cancer risk. Non-neutered dogs have the urge to reproduce, and so they will do anything they can to try to reach a female dog. Unwanted behaviors such as ripping holes in walls, digging under fences, climbing over fences, and running away can often be avoided by neutering the dog.

Non-neutered males also have a tendency to become aggressive. In nature, this tendency helps the male dog to gain an advantage and reproduce. In domestic situations this type of aggression is dangerous to the dog, other animals, and other people in the household especially children. If you are trying to decide whether or not to neuter your male dog, please review all of these potential benefits. Talk with your veterinarian about the surgery and what you can expect. If you have any additional doubts, please visit a humane society today so that you can see, firsthand, the pet overpopulation problem.