I know that it is a good idea to have my dog neutered or spayed to help control the pet population, but what are the health benefits to my dog? First the terminology: females are spayed, males are neutered, and the generic term for either condition is altered. An intact pet is one that has not been surgically altered. The spayed/neutered pet population enjoys a wide variety of health benefits. Here is a top ten list of positive reasons to fix your pooch.

1. Avoid primary diseases of the reproductive tract. In females, the potential for infections or cancers of the uterus and ovaries is eliminated. In males, there is no risk of testicular cancer. This is because these organs are surgically removed during the surgical spay (ovariohysterectomy) or neuter (orchidectomy).

2. Avoid diseases in other organs. Female dogs that are spayed prior to their first heat cycle are protected against mammary (breast) cancer. This protection diminishes with each cycle the female goes through. Male dogs that are neutered have a drastically reduced rate of prostate infections and cancers. This is due to the far lower hormone levels altered pets have compared to intact pets.

3. Have a better companion. Dogs that have been altered are more affectionate, easier to train, and more focused on their owners than on other dogs. Having a pet that thinks you are the center of the universe allows for a closer relationship with your furry friend.

4. Keep your dog close to home. Intact dogs, especially males, are hormonally driven to roam and seek a sexual partner. Dogs that roam are far more likely to be injured. Wounds from fighting, trauma from being hit by cars and other injuries are far more common in the intact pet population. Fixing your pet will reduce the urge to leave the nest to seek out canine companions.

5. Enjoy good dog behavior. Dogs that are altered have fewer habits that owners find annoying. Greatly reduced marking behavior (urinating often to stake out their territory) is noted in both sexes. Owners do not have to deal with heat cycles in females, and male humping is reduced.

6. Give your dog the gift of longer life. On average, the spayed or neutered dog will live about two to three years longer than their intact counterparts. Since a dog’s life is already much shorter than a human’s, every year counts. The cost of medical care is reduced since many diseases and disorders are eliminated.

7. Lose the aggression, keep the protection. Statistically, dogs that are altered are far less likely to bite. Many owners cite the need to protect their home as one reason for choosing a dog as a pet. Fortunately, dogs that are altered are still protective of their homes and loved ones. They will guard their territory, but are far less likely to be involved in a bite incident that could get you or your pet in big trouble.

8. Fixing your pet will not make it fat or lazy. It’s a popular myth that after spaying or neutering dogs become fat couch potatoes. While dogs do have a decrease in their metabolic rate as a result of their lowered hormonal impulses (not to mention the fact that they are often transitioning from crazy puppyhood to a more mellow adulthood), keeping your pet well exercised and on a proper diet will prevent excessive weight gain. Overfeeding, lack of exercise, and failure to switch your dog off puppy food when appropriate is what really leads to weight gain after surgery.

9. Avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Just like in people, not all pregnancies in dogs go as planned. Complications of pregnancy and delivery can be costly for owners, and are easily avoided by neutering or spaying prior to sexual maturity. Sexually transmitted diseases for dogs also exist and can add to health care costs.

10. Dogs don’t miss what they’re missing. Unlike people, dogs do not mourn the loss of their reproductive organs, although owners will sometimes attribute such feelings to their dog. They are unaware that they have these structures, and do not comprehend that they have been surgically removed. Dogs also do not long to be parents. Males do not father their young, and usually do not even recognize them. Females mother their young for only a few weeks, unlike the many years we humans put in. People who feel that they are depriving their pets of an experience are basing their assumptions on human emotions, not canine ones. Spayed female dogs will not have to endure the stress of pregnancy, lactation (nursing) or weaning when the pups are removed to their new homes. Some pregnancies do not go smoothly, and surgical removal of the pups via C-Section may be necessary. Pregnancy is one of the most stressful events in any pet’s life and is easily avoided.