Spaying and neutering can prevent cancer. Neutered dogs do not have testicles and therefore cannot develop testicular cancer. In females, spaying prevents ovarian cancer, pyometra (infection in the uterus) and reduces the chances of developing breast cancer. If preventing these health problems is important to you, neutering your dog would be the way to go. Spayed and neutered animals are less likely to roam (which is a serious danger) and cannot add to pet overpopulation.
Neutered and spayed animals do not become lazy or inactive, contrary to popular opinion. It cannot affect personality or behavior, either. As long as an animal receives reinforcement for a behavior it will continue that behavior, even if the reinforcement is irregular. Spaying and neutering does not cure a dog of behavior problems. Only behavior modification programs and training can alter behavior.
With surgery there is always some risk, no matter how common a procedure is. Anesthesia is the biggest risk. But since your dog is going to be anesthetised for his teeth cleaning, you're already taking a risk. If you wish to neuter your dog but want to calm your worries, speak to your vet. Your vet should make sure your dog is healthy enough to undergo surgery and anesthesia. Please keep in mind that thousands of dogs are altered every year with very few encountering problems.
I think the best course of action is to do some research into the pros and cons of spaying and neutering. Decide what is most important to you. Then, make your decision. You're the only one who can decide what's best for your dog, so it's important to be informed and carefully weigh your options.
Some things to consider:
- It is possible to prevent an intact dog from breeding its entire life. It requires a greater level of responsibility, however. One has to be vigilant, supervise their dog, and make sure there is no way the dog can escape. Preventing unwanted breeding is very important. Millions of homeless pets are euthanized every year in the U.S. alone because there are not enough homes.
- Some dogs do not tolerate intact dogs. Altering your dog can open up more possibilities for play with other dogs.
- Some areas require non-working, non-showing dogs be altered. You can be fined for not altering your pet or for not getting proper permission to have your pet unaltered. It's important to pay attention to and follow local pet laws.
- Older dogs are routinely neutered and spayed too. Aside from shelters altering older dogs many breeders choose to alter their retired show dogs to prevent cancer.
- If you look at dog bite and dog attack statistics, most of the dogs involved are unaltered. The majority are unaltered males.
- Having testicles, ovaries, or a uterus does not a guarantee you will develop health problems. Your other dog lived a long time while intact and so do many others.
Also, you mentioned possibly breeding your dog. Please keep in mind how difficult and expensive breeding dogs is. It's not something to be undertaken lightly.
Some links on breeding:
Breeding/Breeding Information
Breeding Responsibly - Finding a responsible breeder - Bringing up puppy
So you want to be a breeder?
Is Your Dog Breeding Quality?
Just One Litter (justonelitter.com)
Cyber-Pet "Pet Overpopulation"
Good luck in your research and I hope your dog's teeth cleaning goes smoothly. :]
I guess I'll never know.
Kermit the iguana. (The Kerm/ kermo/ grumpygills)
Fish:
RIP
