2021 ANIMAL STORIES MAGAZINE

Page 52 2021 PET MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS JANUARY 21, 2021 At the same time, other types of cancer risks can increase after the animals are “fixed.” Avoiding Pyometra is a big argument for spaying female dogs. Pyometra is an infection of the uterine tract. The dog can become very ill from this infection and emergency surgery is generally required in order for the dog to return to good health. The advantage to spaying a young dog is that it is healthy and at the appropriate age to recover quickly from the surgery. Other concerns after spay or neuter, dogs on the average experience a 30 percent reduction in their baseline metabolism - Firstvet.com – Neutering female dogs – advantages and disadvantages . After spaying your dog may also experience a change in coat condition. Hair or fur may become fuzzier, richer, or rougher after surgery. An article written on the Dog Blog opposes a popular belief that spaying or neutering will calm down an over active or aggressive dog. Should I Neuter My Dog? The Pros and Cons of Neutering - “Owners (who) want to calm down unruly or aggressive males, castration does not do this; training does! In fact, when neutering male dogs, testosterone-mediated aggression can turn into fear-based aggression; testosterone actually increases a dog’s confidence levels making them feel calmer in certain situations.” The article also discusses findings of a study published in July of 2020 regarding the appropriate age for specific breeds. The popular belief is that all dogs should be spayed or neutered at a young age. Researchers from the University of California, School of Veterinary Medicine found that within certain breeds spaying or neutering too young can lead to serious issues with bone health. As an example, the study showed that Border Collies should be spayed or neutered after they turn one year old. For Bulldogs, one should wait until the dog is “physically mature” and beyond two years old. The same is true with cocker spaniels. The study looked at all sides of the spay/ neuter process and its impact on dogs. The end result gives readers and veterinarians much to think about when considering the process. The final take away though was that the pros do outweigh the cons in that the life span of dogs will be longer when spayed or neutered. A fixed pet that no longer has an aggressive sex drive is calmer, healthier and usually more affectionate toward its humans. One caution for pets post-spaying or neutering is to watch for weight gain. Spaying and neutering causes the metabolism to drop. If your cat is getting chubby make dietary adjustments before it gets out of hand. In summary, there are few potential negatives to having your cat spayed or neutered. On the other hand there are more factors to consider for your dog - breed and timing. Continue p