
Why Your Dog Might Be Vomiting
No sound will get a dog owner’s attention quite like…
Once you adopt your dog, one of the first recommendations someone will give you is to spay or neuter. But recent research has found evidence that spaying, or neutering may increase the risk of cancer. Basically, what researchers have found is spaying and neutering reduces the risks of some cancers while increasing the risk of others.
Reducing Breast Cancer in Female Dogs
Spaying female dogs reduces their risk for breast cancer. The sex hormones released by a female dog may increase the risk for mammary cancer. The risk for breast cancer can be significantly reduced by spaying a female dog before she enters her first heat (first heat generally occurs around 6 months of age).
Reducing Testosterone-Based Tumors in Male Dogs
Neutering male dogs reduces their risk of developing testosterone-based tumors. Conditions like perianal adenomas (non-cancerous butt tumor) are stimulated by testosterone. Neutering reduces a male dog’s testosterone levels therefore reducing risk.
There are some breeds who are more likely to develop ‘butt tumors’ than others including:
Reducing Testicular Cancer in Male Dogs
Neutering your male dog also eliminates the risk of him developing testicular cancer (since he no longer has testicles).
The Other Benefits to Spay/Neuter
Of course, there are other benefits to spaying and neutering including:
There’s Always a Catch
There is a catch here.
Unfortunately, spaying and neutering increases the risk of developing the aggressive types of cancer including:
Unfortunately, there isn’t enough evidence to be ‘for or against’ spaying and neutering in veterinary medicine. And, it’s completely your decision whether to spay or neuter your dog. But now you know the facts and can complete some research on your own, too.
With a Routine Care Coverage plan with PetFirst, the costs to spay and neuter your pet is included in your coverage. Get a quote today.