What are the negative effects of neutering a dog

When we joyfully welcome our dog as a member of the family, its lively figure and warm companionship have become an indispensable beauty in life. However, when considering the major decision of dog sterilization, we need to comprehensively and deeply examine the potential negative impacts it may bring, as it concerns the health and happiness of dogs, and every factor is closely related to our deep love for dogs.

Physiologically speaking, sterilization surgery has a significant impact on the hormone levels of dogs. After female dogs are sterilized, their ovaries and uterus are removed, and the secretion of estrogen and progesterone in their bodies abruptly stops. The rapid changes in this hormone may trigger a series of health problems. For example, a dog's metabolic rate may slow down, leading to weight gain. Dogs that were originally energetic and agile may gradually become round after sterilization. This is not just about cute weight gain, excessive weight gain can put a heavy burden on a dog's joints and increase the risk of developing arthritis. Imagine a dog walking and running with heavy steps due to joint pain. Once jumping happily, every step now seems difficult. How can we not feel sorry for it. Moreover, hormonal changes may also affect the urinary system of dogs, making them more susceptible to diseases such as urinary incontinence. For male dogs, testosterone levels significantly decrease after sterilization. This may lead to abnormal bone development in dogs, especially in dogs that are sterilized during their puppy stage. The bone growth plate may close prematurely, affecting the final bone development, resulting in a smaller body size and relatively weaker bone strength in adulthood compared to normal unsterilized dogs.

Sterilization surgery itself also carries certain risks. Any surgery comes with the possibility of infection, and dog sterilization surgery is no exception. If the wound is not properly cared for after surgery, bacteria can easily invade and cause infection symptoms such as redness, swelling, and suppuration of the wound. Dogs may experience restlessness, decreased appetite, and even affect their normal living conditions due to wound pain. During the surgery, anesthesia accidents may also occur. Although modern anesthesia techniques have become relatively mature, each dog's constitution is different, and their response to anesthetics is also varied. Some dogs may be allergic to anesthetics, experiencing serious reactions such as difficulty breathing and abnormal heartbeat, which is undoubtedly a huge risk during surgery. When we anxiously wait outside the operating room, our hearts are in our throats.

On a psychological level, sterilization may also have negative effects on dogs. Dogs' behavior is largely driven by hormones, and changes in hormone levels after sterilization can affect their behavioral patterns. Female dogs may become quieter, gentler, and lose their lively and active nature. It, which used to enjoy running and interacting with its owner at home, may become lazy and lose interest in toys and games. After male dogs are sterilized, there may be personality changes, such as becoming timid and cowardly. Dogs that were once brave, confident, and daring to explore their surroundings may develop fear of unfamiliar things after sterilization, and may not approach them easily. They may even exhibit withdrawal behavior when encountering other dogs. This personality change may affect the relationship between dogs and their owners, as well as other pets, making the originally harmonious coexistence pattern somewhat subtle.

Dogs' social behavior may also be affected by sterilization. In the world of dogs, hormone pheromones play an important role in social interactions. After sterilization, the hormone pheromones emitted by dogs may change, which may cause other unsterilized dogs to have abnormal reactions to it. For example, at dog gatherings, unsterilized dogs may experience reduced interaction and even rejection behavior due to changes in the pheromones of sterilized dogs. This can make sterilized dogs feel isolated and affect their mental health. Moreover, neutered dogs may also lose interest in social activities due to hormonal changes, actively reduce contact with other dogs, and gradually become withdrawn.

In addition, dogs that have been sterilized may experience increased separation anxiety. Due to hormonal changes affecting the emotional stability of dogs, they may exhibit more anxiety and unease when their owners leave home. They may express their inner unease by barking, gnawing on furniture, and other behaviors in an attempt to attract their owner's attention. This not only brings troubles to the owner's life, but also reflects the pain and helplessness in the dog's heart. Every time we go out, we see the anxious look in the dog's eyes and hear its restless barking, and our hearts are filled with worry and reluctance.

Dogs are our most precious companions in life, giving us endless love and companionship. When considering sterilizing a dog, we cannot only focus on the benefits of sterilization and ignore the potential negative impacts. We need to communicate fully with the veterinarian, taking into account factors such as the breed, age, health status, and living environment of the dog, to make the most suitable decision for the dog. Because every choice we make carries a deep sense of responsibility and love for our dogs, we hope that dogs can spend every beautiful time with us in a healthy and happy state, and let this companionship be more long-lasting and beautiful under our careful care.