Spaying and Neutering: Top 5 Myths

As a responsible dog owner, you know you should “fix” your new pooch if you’re not planning to breed. But you’ve also heard stories about how neutering can make your dog fat or change his personality. So should you go ahead with the procedure? In a word, yes. These stories are not only largely untrue, but medical research has proven time and time again that neutered or spayed dogs enjoy a healthier life.

MYTH #1: My pet will get fat and lazy.

FACT: Too much food and too little exercise make a dog fat. Since grown dogs are less active than puppies, you need to adjust your feeding routine when your puppy reaches maturity, which is around the same time as neutering. If not, he will put on weight.

MYTH #2: A dog should go through one season before being spayed.

Medical research actually indicates the opposite. Spaying before the first season dramatically reduces your dog's chance of developing mammary gland cancer later in life. In fact many vets now sterilize dogs as young as eight weeks of age.

MYTH #3: I don't want my male dog to feel like less of a male.

As hard as it is to believe, neutering your dog won't cause him to lose his identity or suffer an emotional reaction. And it won't change his basic personality. If anything, it may improve certain behaviors such as roaming, fighting, leg-lifting in the house and biting.

MYTH #4: I want my dog to be protective.

A dog's personality is formed more by genetics and environment than by sex hormones. This procedure will not affect his natural instinct to protect his home and family.

MYTH #5: Spaying/neutering is a "waste" of a purebred.

Here's a little known fact: one out of every four pets brought to animal shelters around the country is a pure bred. There are just too many unwanted dogs out there - mixed breed and purebred.