Should
you neuter your dog? The Pros & Cons
Dog
owners can have pretty passionate opinions on whether or not to neuter their
dog. For those who aren’t sure, it’s probably
not helped by the fact that there doesn’t seem to be overwhelming evidence in
favour of either camp. Some dog owners
hope neutering might modify behaviour but the author of this really good
feature on YourDog.co.uk doesn’t seem to think so. They say that behaviour in entire (not
neutered) male dogs in adolescence does change but they say if properly
managed, testosterone-driven aggression is rare. There are swings in testosterone levels anyway
so a dog’s mood and energy can change from time to time.
This article
details the various neutering options available for male and female dogs, the
health implications for neutering or not including propensity to develop
tumours, urinary incontinence in neutered females, does neutering affect
behaviour and more. I was really
interested to see that in Sweden routine neutering is banned. Owners of larger or more active breeds are
recommended to wait until the dog is 12-18 months old before neutering. Personally, I’m a fan of neutering but it’s
obviously up to dog owners to do what they think is best for their dog.
Raw food
v processed food?
Which is
best to feed your pet – raw or commercial pet food? Pets do seem to love raw food and its purity
and naturalness really appeal to some pet owners. In this blog from Pete the Vet, he says best
diet for animals is the one they thrive on.
He talks about the benefits of both raw and processed pet food and says
that he looks for scientific evidence at all times.
Processed
pet food is cooked, nutritionally complete and safe. If it says ‘complete pet food’ then it’s
obliged to provide all the essential nutrients that your pet needs. Some cats
can get more urinary tract infections from commercial pet food as they’re
taking in less moisture – hence the advice to always have water available for
your pets.
If your
pet has an allergy to an ingredient in commercial pet food, raw food may solve
the problem. However, raw food can carry
bacteria - while Pete emphasises that health-related incidents are rare - he
advises people to be aware of the pros and cons and health risks – both to
animals and their owners – of feeding raw food.
There
can be trends in pet food – just as there are with human food – and Pete
observes that some can be fads with no scientific evidence as yet to back them
up e.g. grain free pet food. But, whatever
diet you choose for your pet, Pete says it should meet 3 requirements – it should
be nutritionally complete, palatable (so your pet enjoys it) and, of course, it
should be safe.
(photo: PetMD.com)
Preventing
cancer in your pet
None
of us want to think about our beloved 4-legged pals getting cancer but this
article is worth reading as it lists symptoms to look out for as well as preventative measures we can
take. Cancer is the leading cause of non-accidental
death in pets according to this article on PetBusiness.com. The most common pet cancers include lymphoma, skin cancer,
osteosarcoma (bone cancer), mammary gland and soft tissue sarcomas, while the
most common spot to find tumours is the skin.
Symptoms we should be on alert for include swelling, lumps, rapid
weight and/or appetite loss and low energy.
Preventative measures include neutering, regular check-ups with the vet,
exposure to carcinogens and protection from the sun’s rays. More info here ….
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