Spaying and neutering can solve many problems. Consider the female. Spaying her before her first heat decreases her chances of mammary cancer by 8%, and spaying her before the second heat decreases it by 25%. Remember the dog on the front porch as you pulled up in the dive way? Odds are that he was an intact male and he could smell your girl in heat in the house. He may have come from a mile away to get to her. Unwanted puppies are typically the result of an unplanned pregnancy. With age, the likelihood of developing a uterine infection increases. Should this occur, an emergency spay and medical treatment may be necessary.

Now consider the male. Once he reaches 6 months of age, his urinary tract is sufficiently developed, and it is best for him to be neutered. What happens if he is not neutered at six months? The male is highly driven to find any female in heat up to a mile away. He will dig, chew, and jump anything in his way. Unfortunately, the intact male is the most common dog to be hit by a car. Should they find that intact female, they just add to the overpopulation problem. Intact males are also at risk for prostate disease and testicular cancer. Yes, it’s true that he develops a boxy head and more muscling, but are the looks really worth it? If they are, then you may decide to neuter him at one or two years of age, but don’t wait too long if you’re not planning on breeding him. Once his breeding days are over, it’s best to remove his source of testosterone before it gets him into trouble and your pocketbook.