{"id":1667,"date":"2013-01-28T22:56:34","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T22:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.net\/blog\/?p=1667"},"modified":"2013-01-28T22:58:43","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T22:58:43","slug":"neutering-prevents-pet-overpopulation-and-safeguards-pet-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.animalhealthfoundation.org\/blog\/2013\/01\/neutering-prevents-pet-overpopulation-and-safeguards-pet-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Neutering prevents pet overpopulation and safeguards pet health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Spaying or neutering a pet is an important preventive health measure as well as a means of limiting the number of homeless pets, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus, who notes the AVMA’s Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership<\/a> encourage owners to help keep the pet population under control. During a neuter operation, a veterinarian removes a male dog’s testicles, the main source of reproduction and testosterone, thereby preventing the dog from siring puppies and protecting it from testosterone-related problems including behavior issues and health threats such as prostate cancer, Dr. Hohenhaus points out. WebMD\/Tales from the Pet Clinic blog<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

By Ann Hohenhaus, DVM<\/em><\/p>\n

Dexter, a new dachshund patient of mine, was in last week for another round of puppy shots.\u00a0 He will soon be six months old and it was time for me to discuss the next step in his preventive health care plan:\u00a0 neutering.<\/div>\n

Neutering meets the guidelines<\/strong><\/p>\n

The American Veterinary Medical Association has developed guidelines for responsible pet ownership<\/a>.\u00a0 One of the guidelines obligates pet owners to control their pet\u2019s reproduction through spaying and neutering; subsequently helping to control pet overpopulation in their community.\u00a0 Neutering is the common term for castration of a male dog or cat and spaying refers to removal of the ovaries and uterus, or in some cases just the uterus, of a female pet.<\/p>\n

Lifesaving responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pet overpopulation<\/a> is a serious issue in the United States today.\u00a0 According to the Humane Society of the United States, over 4 million unwanted pets are destroyed annually.\u00a0 For every puppy or kitten prevented by neutering an adult pet, there is one less homeless and unwanted puppy or kitten euthanized in an animal shelter.<\/p>\n

The traditional surgery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surgical removal of the testicles is the current standard of care in both dogs and cats.\u00a0 This surgery renders a male dog or cat unable to reproduce and also removes the major source of the male hormone, testosterone.\u00a0 Removing the source of testosterone eliminates mating behavior in males and also plays a role in eliminating other unwanted dog behaviors.\u00a0 In both the dog and cat, neutering involves a small skin incision through which the testicles are removed.\u00a0 Cats typically go home the same day, but dogs may stay overnight to recover from anesthesia and for incisional monitoring.<\/p>\n

My recommendation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dexter\u2019s owners were concerned about the surgery.\u00a0 They asked if he could just have a vasectomy instead of the traditional neutering surgery.\u00a0 Because my job is to make the best medical recommendations for the specific health concerns of each of my patients, I recommended the traditional surgery for Dexter.\u00a0 It provides him with the greatest number of health benefits.\u00a0 The surgery prevents unwanted litters of puppies and also prevents prostatic disease, testosterone-induced tumors and behaviors linked to testosterone production.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spaying or neutering a pet is an important preventive health measure as well as a means of limiting the number of homeless pets, writes veterinarian Ann Hohenhaus, who notes the AVMA’s Guidelines for Responsible Pet Ownership encourage owners to help keep the pet population under control. 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