We’ve already discussed the topic of spay for the girls, now it’s time to discuss the boys. There are many misconceptions when it comes to this procedure. A neuter is performed on male animals, during this procedure the testicles are surgically removed. Although the testicles are removed, the penis and scrotum (pouch that holds the testis) remain. Many people believe there are no benefits of getting your pet neutered and see it as a cruel procedure. This is incorrect, there are many benefits of getting your male neutered which we will cover today.

As we all know, male animals are able to mate all year round. Leaving a male animal intact can cause an unwanted pregnancy for intact females if left around the intact male. This is not only a problem in stray animal communities but also for owners if they were not planning to breed or raise a litter. Animal shelters are crowded and able to house less and less animals due to the fluctuating populations, especially in cats. It’s hard to find homes for animals already in this world, if you are not planning to breed neuter your male. Intact males are also known to have behavioral problems, due to the testosterone in the body; they are seen as more aggressive and  participate in behaviors such as marking their territory. These behaviors can be more extreme when other intact males are present which can lead to fights. These behavioral problems are not seen in every intact male but for the pets that have this issue neutering can and will change and in some cases get rid of these problems. 

Not only does neutering your male get rid of unwanted pregnancies and behavioral problems, it also eliminates cancer probability. Testicular cancer and perianal tumors are common for intact males when they reach an older age. This is due to the constant formation of sperm cells and secretion of sex hormones. These tumors form when cells grow abnormally and create a mass that can either be cancerous (malignant) or benign (non-cancerous). This leads to enlarged testicles or a tumor in the scrotum, this can be uncomfortable or painful for your pet. If the tumor is cancerous this can lead to more issues such as cancer spreading to other organs or in extreme cases death. These tumors can also be found in the anal area, they are called perianal adenomas. This is also common amongst intact males. The treatment for both of these diseases is surgical removal of the testicles, a neuter, and chemotherapy if the cancer has spread. Overall, if you are not planning to breed it is recommended to get your pet neutered to eliminate cancer from forming to eliminate need of chemotherapy or possible death.