Benefits of Spaying Female Dogs By Kelly Marshall At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Responsible pet owners choose to spay their female dogs for a variety of reasons, including the protection of a dog's overall health and to control pet overpopulation. While the miracle of birth is fascinating to many and most are particularly fond of new puppies, the fact is that pregnancy and birth can cause a variety of health issues in dogs. Also, cute puppies grow into adult dogs and without a proper home being available for these dogs, allowing female dogs to breed only increases the likelihood that her offspring will fall prey to unfortunate circumstances caused by pet overpopulation.

Health Issues

Pregnancy and birth are not always the safest occurrences for some dogs. As a result of either, the risk to a female dog's health is increased as mammary gland infections and uterine infections may occur. While many believe that placing a dog on birth control pills or having them undergo a hysterectomy solves the problem of reproduction and is enough to ensure a dog's optimal health, this is simply not true. Often, birth control pills and hysterectomies (which do not remove the full reproductive tract) actually contribute to poor health in animals.

The following is a list of increased risk factors that may occur when spaying a dog is avoided in favor of other methods used against reproduction:

• Like most synthetic medications, birth control pills can cause unwanted side effects and cannot be used permanently. Thus, a dog can still become pregnant.

• A hysterectomy, also known as a tubal ligation, leaves a female dog's ovaries intact and allows the dog to still produce hormones that are produced in the ovaries, and to experience semi-annual heat cycles. While this appeals to many pet owners, many do not realize that allowing the presence of hormones and heat cycles increases the likelihood that a pet will try to escape the house or yard during mating season, which also increases the risk of them being hurt or lost.

• A hysterectomy also still allows a female to participate in regular mating habits. This, combined with the hormones she produces, more easily attracts male visitors to the owner's yard, which can be a danger to the family, other pets and increases the amount of pet waste in a yard.

• By allowing the dog only a hysterectomy and keeping hormone production in tact, owners also greatly increase the likelihood of the following in their pets:

1. Uterine infections
2. Mammary cancer
3. Tumors in the ovaries or uterus
4. Coat problems (Due to hormonal imbalances)
5. False pregnancies and other hormonal imbalances (Many of which are characterized by uterine swelling, engorged mammary glands and behavioral changes)

Spaying a female dog involves the complete removal of ovaries and the uterus, which prevents hormone reproduction, hormone imbalances, heat cycles and mating rituals, as well as unwanted pregnancies.

Overpopulation

Pet overpopulation is a real problem in communities all across the globe. Unwanted dogs are more likely to be abused or neglected, and finding homes for unwanted pets is a difficult task. Without suitable homes for these animals, many are euthanized, as an attempt to control unwanted pet populations. Responsible pet owners who understand the importance of these issues opt to spay their female dogs in order to prevent them from reproducing.

To safeguard against the many common health perils in female dogs that are allowed to reproduce or who are given limited forms of birth control and prevention, spaying a female dog is the best and safest option owners can bestow on their beloved pets.

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