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Spaying or neutering your dog is a common practice. According to American Pet Products Association National Pet Owner Survey 2021-2022, approximately 80% of owned dogs are neutered. Since the 1970s, there has been a push in the United States for dogs to be spayed (for males) or spayed (for females) in order to control the overpopulation of dogs in shelters. But it is ultimately up to each owner to make the final decision to “fix” their pup.
Many factors come into play when you decide to spay your dog, but the main one is your intention. Have you always wanted to raise your dog? Do you plan to present it at a dog show? In these cases, you would not want to neuter the dog. However, sterilization has many benefits, including health benefits.
If you decide to sterilize your dog, you must make sure you have the best pet insurance to help with the cost.
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How much does dog sterilization cost?
The cost of neutering a dog depends on a few factors, including your location and your pet’s overall health.
What is the average cost of neutering a dog?
The average cost of neutering a dog varies greatly as there are many establishments offering neutering services. Some clinics may offer this service for free or at a low cost, while private veterinary practices may charge more.
Here is a breakdown of the average cost* of neutering a dog at various clinics and practices:
*These figures were compiled after comparing costs on a wide range of pet health websites. Costs in your area may vary.
Other vet visit costs
Pet owners can face different types of costs at the vet, including:
Additional Factors That Can Increase Neutralization Costs
There are a handful of factors that can impact the overall cost of neutering your dog, including:
- Location. Depending on where you are, the price of neutering your dog can vary. If you live in a city with a high cost of living like New York, the price may be higher than in a small town due to increased overhead and higher rent and property taxes.
- Your dog’s age and health. Spaying a dog requires the use of anesthesia, which can make dogs with certain health conditions susceptible to serious complications. Dr. Lindsay Butzer, DVM and veterinarian at Clint Moore Animal Hospital in Boca Raton, Fla., says dogs with medical conditions and older dogs need more pre-op testing than other dogs to “ensure ‘they are all safe and sound’. anesthesia.” Additional protocols may result in an increased price.
- Your dog’s weight. More anesthesia may need to be administered if your dog is a particularly heavy breed, such as a German shepherd, which may cause the price to increase. After the procedure, the veterinarian may prescribe pain medication for your dog to relieve any discomfort; the price of the medication will vary depending on your dog’s weight.
Does pet insurance cover sterilization costs?
Since this is considered an optional procedure, many pet insurance companies do not cover the cost of sterilization; instead, most policies focus on paying for accidents and illnesses. However, some pet insurance companies may offer an additional wellness plan that will cover spay/neuter costs.
examples of pet insurance companies that cover neutering and neutering with wellness plans include:
Benefits of neutering a dog
There are many benefits to choosing to spay your dog, including:
- Population control. Neutering a dog guarantees that it will not produce a litter. This not only frees you from extra work and financial burden, but also prevents more dogs from ending up in the animal shelter system.
- A solution to behavioral problems. Castration can solve the problem of roaming (when an intact dog does everything it can to leave the house in search of a mate) and marking (when an intact dog tries to attract a mate while urinating.) Some dog owners report that their dogs urinate all over the house. to achieve this.
- Health benefits. Neutering your dog prevents him from developing testicular cancer. The procedure may also reduce the risk of hernia, a painful and common condition in intact dogs. Specifically, it may help prevent the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate, another common disease in intact dogs.
- Increased lifespan. According to a 2013 study by Banfield Pet Hospital, neutered dogs live 18% longer than intact dogs. Additionally, a 2013 study by the University of Georgia found that the average life expectancy of unneutered dogs was 7.9 years, compared to 9.4 years for their neutered counterparts.
Disadvantages of neutering a dog
Some studies suggest that neutering a dog may have some downsides, but it’s important to note that research on these outcomes is inconclusive.
According to United States Humane Society“Studies on this topic are mostly retrospective in nature, that is, they are based on existing research data. Therefore, even if they assess associations between a cause and an outcome, they cannot establish causality with certainty.
Each breed, and especially some giant breeds, has its own risks when it comes to neutering. Risks for 35 breeds can be found in a 2020 study Frontiers of veterinary science study.
Here are the potential risks associated with neutering your dog:
- Health problems. In a 2013 study PLOS A, sterilized gold scavengers were three to four times more likely to develop cancers like lymphosarcoma. They were also more likely to experience joint problems like hip dysplasia.
- Personality/behavioural changes. Your dog could potentially act differently. The belief that neutering reduces aggression in dogs is a widely debated topic; However, large sample studies suggest an increase (rather than a decrease) in aggression.
- Weight gain. Several studies have shown that neutering your dog can put him at a higher risk of obesity, as a change in hormone levels can slow down his metabolism. However, with proper care and nutrition, your dog will be able to maintain a normal weight.
It should be noted that many veterinarians feel that the benefits of neutering a dog far outweigh any potential harms. Be sure to discuss the benefits and risks with your veterinarian to make the most informed decision.
“If you’re not planning to breed your dog, you should neuter him,” says Butzer.
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