If you or your family received a new male puppy or kitten, you need to pay special attention to this article.  When the new male puppy or kitten reaches about six months of age, it is time for them to be neutered.  There are many long and short-term benefits to neutering your male dog or cat.  They can be categorized as either medical or behavioral.

If a male dog or cat is left unaltered, as it ages, the testosterone that the testes produce causes the prostate gland to enlarge.  This can be uncomfortable to the animal and possibly interfere with defecation.  Furthermore, the prostate is very likely to become infected, which cannot be permanently cleared up without neutering.  The neutering causes the prostate to shrink, thus relieving the older dog or cat of these conditions and preventing them if the animal is neutered at a young age.   Unfortunately neutering does not prevent prostate cancer, but it does decrease its likelihood and prevents certain types of hernias and tumors of the testicles and anus.

While the medical benefits from neutering may go unnoticed because these benefits are preventative in nature, if the male is neutered, the owner will likely see immediate behavior changes.  Roaming, fighting and urine marking should eventually or immediately stop with most dogs or cats.  The animal’s playfulness, friendliness or socialization with humans should not change, nor should its activity level or appetite.  A male dog should not gain weight or be less interested in activity.

There are also indirect medical benefits from neutering.  In a neutered male, since the source of aggression, (i.e., the testosterone), has been removed, there should be fewer injuries to the pet related to fighting; therefore, the likelihood of spreading disease is reduced.  Since neutered pets roam less, they are also less likely to be hit by cars.  Finally, a neutered male dog should be a better watchdog, since he is less prone to being distracted from his job.

If you have a non-neutered dog or cat, please feel free to stop in for a tour of our facility, Dr. Doolittle’s Animal Hospital.  We have state-of-the-art equipment and use the latest surgical, anesthetic and pain management procedures.  We will be glad to explain the surgery and recovery process and answer any questions you may have.