Just about every week, I see at least one or two clients at my clinic who have new puppies. I really enjoy these visits. The new pet owner is intensely interested in learning the latest information on how to keep her or his adorable little family member healthy and happy.
I plan a little extra time for these visits because I know our discussion will cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from diet to vaccinations to housebreaking, and more.
When we reach the vitally important topic of spaying /neutering, I often sense some hesitation on the part of these new puppy parents. Sometimes they tell me they are planning to breed the dog when it’s mature. Some hope to sell the puppies and make a lot of money. Others are just so happy with their new dogs that they want to make carbon copies of them. And some believe that if a female dog is allowed to have a litter, she’ll be a healthier or nicer pet. These reasons may sound compelling, but they really don’t have much merit.
So at the risk of sounding like a kill-joy, I usually tell people – “Don’t do it!”
First, let’s address the medical reasons. It has been scientifically proven that if a female dog is spayed before her first heat cycle (first heat usually starts between eight and twelve months of age), she has an extremely low risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Breast cancer is a common cancer in dogs and can be very difficult to control. If allowed to go through even one heat cycle, Poppy’s risk for this potentially lethal cancer is much greater. A spayed female dog also has zero risk for uterine or ovarian disease. Another point to consider is pretty obvious: Spayed female dogs don’t go through troublesome heats every few months like their non-spayed counterparts. This will make your life with Poppy easier.
Male dogs benefit from neutering, as well. Neutered males have a greatly reduced risk of various prostate gland diseases, not to mention zero risk for testicular cancer. They are also less likely to display unpleasant behaviors such as inter-dog aggression and run-ning away from home to wander the neighborhood. A dog trainer acquaintance of mine tells me that neutered male dogs are more easily trained than non-neutered dogs.
Beyond these medical reasons, there are compelling ethical issues to consider. Tens of thousands of dogs are euthanized each year in the Bay Area. Most of them are perfectly healthy dogs who simply lack loving homes. If there are not enough people to care for the dogs that are already born, why bring any more into the world? Maybe these appalling statistics are what make me such an impassioned proponent of spaying and neutering our pets. I think our animal friends deserve better.
If your boyfriend thinks it would be easy money to breed Poppy, he might want to think again. Professional breeders, the ones who actually make a profit, tend to be experienced and knowledgeable about the ups and downs of the business. For instance, they know how to choose the right breeding stock so as to minimize expensive mistakes. And remember, if you have trouble selling the puppies, they are likely to end up at your local animal shelter, with tragic results.
Don’t get the wrong idea; I find a new litter of puppies just as cute and fun as anyone else. I just can’t get the image out of my mind of those thousands of unloved dogs who are tragically “put to sleep” each and every year because too many puppies are being bred in our community.
In short, Poppy definitely can be a healthy and happy dog without ever becoming a mother. I hope you’ll decide to spay her as soon as possible.
Dr. John Huebner practices companion animal medicine at Redwood Veterinary Hospital in Vallejo. Send your comments or pet health questions to Dr. Huebner at 731 Admiral Callaghan Lane, Vallejo, CA 94591, or e-mail him at rdwdvet@yahoo.com.
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