ISSUES REGARDING CASTRATION IN DOGS
Politically correct conventional wisdom is not necessarily biologically correct. Also, old wives tales regarding testicles and behavioral matters are often just that.
The only true justifications for castrating dogs are 1) aggressive behavior toward other dogs in the same household, and 2) perianal adenoma in old dogs.
Aggression to other dogs in situations outside the house is pretty normal dog behavior. Appropriate behavior. Since your dog will be on lead or inside a secure fence at all times, there should be no problem with dogs outside your household. However, if male house mates fight, and both need to stay with you, castration of one or both may solve the aggression problems. If you fault your dog for being aggressive to acquaintances while being walked on lead, you should not. He is guarding you. That simple. Honorable behavior. If you fault your dog for aggression in a 'dog park' where he is running free, or on the beach, or in the woods, well shame on you; you're the one at fault for risking his life in such an uncontrolled situation. Dogs that can manage such encounters without aggression are fine, but you cannot automatically expect a dog to have friendly relations with animals from outside his own 'pack'. It goes against his whole evolution.
Perianal adenomas, benign but messy tumors in old dogs may be treated by castration.
In terms of your dog's health, two overriding concerns are present. Castration at an early age will cause the dog to become overly tall, as the growth plates in the long bones will not close at the appropriate time; additionally, the dog will lack breadth of chest. The combination of these two factors sets the stage for your dog to have painful orthopedic problems. The OFA has published articles on this subject. An early age means below 1 year in small and medium sized dogs, and below 2 to 2.5 years in large and giant breeds.
The statement that your dog will not automatically gain weight is rubbish. Removing sexual hormones will change his metabolism and make your dog more sluggish, resulting almost inevitably in weight gain. Also, muscle tone will decline after castration, and the classic result of this is a fat dog in poor muscle tone that ends up having a cruciate ligament rupture in the knee. Can you avoid the consequences to weight and condition? Sure in the ideal world it's possible, but in the real world, the overwhelming proportion of owners do not succeed in this endeavor.
The second concern regarding your dog's health is highly malignant prostate cancer. Virtually all malignant prostatic tumors in dogs occur in castrated dogs. Castrating your dog puts him at risk for one of the worst cancers he can get. While you remove the very slight risk of testicular cancer in castrated dogs, that's a small matter; the incidence of testicular cancer is so minimal. Also, almost all testicular cancers in dogs are benign. If we find a testicular tumor, we normally remove the testicle with the mass and leave the remaining one intact. The relative incidence and severity of the tumors of the prostate relative to tumors of the testicle makes the decision to keep your dog intact a virtual no-brainer. The information on the incidence prostatic malignancies was obtained through a very large study of the records at veterinary colleges. These findings have been published for several years.*
Infection or inflammation of the prostate may occur in intact male dogs that are chronically exposed to bitches in heat. These are often worrisome to owners who seem to confuse prostatitis with the more serious prostate cancer. Prostatic infections are easily treated, and not, per se, a reason for castration.
So, the bottom line is:
1. Never castrate your dog because it is Politically Correct
2. Only castrate your dog if his home life is at risk due to dog-to-dog
aggression, or if, at the age of 11 years or so, he develops a perianal adenoma.
Mary C. Wakeman, D.V.M.
©2003 for BREEDERVET
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Neutering
Judy,
Dont know what PETA's plans are, wont even go there. But since the majority of dog owners have them for "pet" only, we try to give them the best foundation for a successful long term relationship with their dog. Training is by far the most effective method of eliminating the possibility of behavior issues, but running a shelter, you should know the average person doesnt know that. Never have, never will. I am not knocking the average person, it is just the way it is. People just want a sound, friendly pet, they dont want to get into dog behavior, aggression issues, pack order, dominance etc.
I also know a lot of well mannered, social intact dogs but they are owned by people who have a higher skill level then the average person. There are always exceptions but I deal with the average dog owner everyday, all breeds, all ages of dogs, all levels of owner skills and these owners are not willing to nor are they prepared to deal with the issues that can arise from intact adolescent male dogs.
Lynn K
Re: Neutering
The dog should not have to be surgically sterilized as a preventative measure. Unfortunately people are taught this as it has been the theory Peta has pushed for years.I have seen many dogs get aggressive "after" neutering that were not aggressive prior. I have also seen the health problems involved with early neuter. I run a shelter for 20 years that was pro neuter for Population control.Irresponsible breeding is caused by irresponsible owners. I have intact males that are wonderful with every kind of animal.Good breeding and Training Owners is the best way to be pro-active.To assure that you will not have problems, be pro-active, train, train, train.
Humane Groups are now spaying and neutering at 6 Weeks of age.All part of Peta's plan to eliminate pets.
Neutering
I have read so many articles regarding neutering, pro and con, all kinds of reasons, excuses, outcome results, I can only go on what I see. Genetics, exercise, proper nutrition play a huge part in the development of any animal. Littermates turn out differently, neutered or intact. Many people I know that breed dogs swear it has no impact on the outcome of their pups. Who knows for sure.
What I do know, intact dogs can and do develop behaviors that are not acceptable in pets. The average pet owner does not have the skill level nor the understanding of how to deal with it. Thats where I come in. These people pay my paycheck, personally, I wish I never had to see them. When it comes to pets/companion dogs, it is far easier to be proactive not reactive.
Lynn K
Thanks for sharing..
very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Somthing I learned...
I just finished an article for TC Dog Magazine. It's due on the news stands next week. One thing I learned in researching this article was that neutering males will cut down on aggression if done early, but may not work if done when the dog is older than two years.
The lack of testosterone in dogs neutered will end the biological reasons for aggression, but by then, aggression may be evident because then dog has learned aggression as a behavior. In other words, aggression has become a bad habit.
These older dogs will probably need some retraining to lessen or eliminate their aggressive behaviors.