Top ten reasons to neuter your male pet.

By DR. NORETTE L. UNDERWOOD

With all the unwanted pets I want to talk about why you should neuter your male dog. During the next several weeks I will be doing a series on population control and how you can help with this problem.

Prevent unwanted litters. Nearly four million pets are euthanized in the United States each year. Often, owners of male dogs fail to realize their pet's contribution to the litters of puppies being born daily. Remember...it takes two to tango.

Eliminate the risk of testicular cancer. This seems pretty straightforward...no testicles, no risk of testicular cancer. Do not forget, if your pet has only one testicle that has dropped, your veterinarian will need to find and remove the second testicle, otherwise there is a large risk of testicular cancer.

Reduce the risk of prostate enlargement, abscesses, or cancer. Without testosterone's influence, the possibility of prostatic problems diminishes greatly. In dogs, an enlarged prostate can cause difficulty urinating or even cause constipation.

Reduce the risk of perineal hernias. A hernia is a tear in a body wall. In this case, body fat, or even organs, can migrate through a tear in the muscle wall and end up under the skin, along the side of the anus. This is an uncomfortable condition and can only be corrected with surgery. Intact male dogs are at high risk of developing this condition.

Decrease the urge to roam. Intact male dogs and cats love to patrol their "territory". Whether they are just checking out the neighborhood or looking for girls, the chances of getting into a fight or being hit by a car are much higher for intact dogs. Neutered dogs are generally content to stay home.

Reduce aggressiveness. Neutered pets tend to be better behaved than their intact counterparts. And, a neutered dog is not very likely to mount your boss' leg when he comes over for dinner.

Decrease odors in your home. Almost everyone is offended by male tomcat urine or embarrassing urine stains around furniture. Neutering your pet can minimize odors and remove "marking" behavior.

Decrease fighting behavior. Besides breeding, male tomcats are known for getting into fights, often resulting in severe lacerations and large abscesses. Male dogs also tend to have scars as a result of battles. Wounds equal veterinary care equals $$.

It might be medically necessary. If your dog has a perineal hernia, enlarged prostate or certain types of tumors around the anus, neutering will help resolve the issue and improve his prognosis.

Avoid spreading bad genes. Preventing unwanted litters was already mentioned, but a secondary effect of neutering is to stop the spread of genes for hip dysplasia, hereditary heart issues, and other genetic problems.

A female dog and her mate and their offspring can create 67,000 dogs in 6 years. Wow.

If you have questions about neutering your pet or about population control specials and benefits of neutering, contact Dr. Norette L. Underwood of the Trumann Animal Clinic at catdoc56@pcsii.com or 870-483-6275.

Please spay and neuter your pet.