You Want Me To Do WHAT To My Dog?!!

You’re the proud owner of a male dog but haven’t yet had him castrated (call it what you’d like: neutered, desexed or sterilized) and you haven't decided yet whether or not it’s something you want for your pooch and/or you (perhaps you want to breed?). So, before making your decision on what to do with your male dog it’s worth putting in a call to your trusted vets in Dubai or at least do a little research yourself. (This discussion focuses on male dogs but much of it is also pertinent to female dogs and of course cats too.)

Firstly, it’s generally accepted that neutering offers a highly effective way of controlling the amount of strays and unwanted animals in the environment. While no exhaustive studies on this topic have been undertaken in the UAE that we know of, we do know that in the USA, 3 million strays are euthanized in shelters per year, whereas in the 1980’s this figure was closer to 15 million!  (You can read more about this here: www.humanesociety.org/about/hsus-transformational-change.html#.UykT0faT5IE.) This dramatic reduction has been attributed to active animal spay/neuter campaigns promoted by the Humane Society of the United States. But because no similar formally recognized and supported governmental programs exist here in the UAE (aside from the tireless work of the rescue organizations operating here), it’s through informing pet owners at any and every opportunity that a difference can be made here. So, if you happen to get a dog from a rescue group, it's most likely that they will have already castrated him as part of an understandable and valid "for the greater good of the population" approach to this subject.

On the other hand, pedigree dog breeders and people who work regularly with their dogs will possibly come with a different view to castrating male dogs. Indeed, there are certainly health benefits to both choices, and nothing stands out obviously enough to sway the debate in one direction or the other. So, below are a few points from both sides of the matter for your consideration:

• Some dogs, due to their heritage and upbringing, might be more likely to be aggressive or difficult to train and would therefore benefit from castration because this removes the main source of testosterone in the body.
• One of the most common reasons for rehoming and euthanizing dogs is behavioral problems, and castration is a very useful tool in curbing unwanted testosterone driven behavior. Castrated dog are less likely to wander, fight, mark their territory and are often more easily managed in a family environment.
• Castration also eliminates the risk, albeit small, of dying from testicular cancer, and also reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostatic problems.
• Conversely, castration increases the risk of hypothyroidism and obesity, and obesity in turn causes further health problems. Obesity can, however, be managed by you with diet and exercise.
• And large breed dogs are more prone to bone cancer, with castration before maturity increasing that risk by a moderate degree.

In the end, and if you're not a serious breeder, we do recommend you go with the behavioral gains of castration, both because the medical issues are relatively minor and the lifestyle benefits for you and your dog can be significantly positive.