DENVER -- January 28, 2010

I went to see my veterinarian, Dr. Dean Vicksman, for my final puppy shots last week. As we were leaving he said "See you in two months, Mars." I stopped, confused. "But I thought I got the last of my puppy shots today," I said. "Not that I don't love you, Dr. V, but why do I have to come back?"

Marianne and Dr. Vicksman exchanged looks. I had a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. "OK, something's up! Tell me!" I demanded.

"Well, Mars," Marianne began. "When you are six months old we're going to come back to Dr. Vicksman for a little teeny tiny surgery."

I gasped. "WHAT? Why? Am I sick?" I suddenly felt woozy and lay down on the floor.

Dr. Vicksman knelt down beside me and rubbed my ears. "Mars, it's nothing serious. You're going to be neutered is all."

"Neutered?!" I wailed. "Oh my Dog, NEUTERED?!" I paused. "What is neutered, anyhow?"

Marianne gently rolled me over and began rubbing my tummy. "CCI has its own breeding program, but only a few dogs get chosen for it. You are not one of the few, so you'll have a tiny little operation that will ensure you don't become a daddy dog."

"I don't really want to be a father," I said, "But why do I have to have the surgery?"

Marianne looked at Dr. Vicksman. "Do you want to take it from here?"

He laughed and said "Sure. OK, Mars, here are the top ten reasons that responsible pet owners get their dogs and cats neutered."

1. To prevent unwanted litters. Nearly 4 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!

2. To eliminate the risk of testicular cancer. This seems pretty straightforward -no testicles, no risk of testicular cancer!

3. To 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.

4. To 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.

5. To 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 pets, while neutered animals are generally content to stay home.

6. To reduce aggressiveness. Neutered pets tend to be better behaved than their intact counterparts.

7. To decrease odors in the home. Almost everyone is offended by tomcat urine or embarrassing urine stains around furniture. Neutering your pet can minimize odors and stop “marking” behavior.

8. To 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 = veterinary care = $$$.

9. To 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.

10. Finally 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.

"OK, I mostly understand," I said getting to my feet. "But will it hurt?"

"You might be a little sore for a day or two, but you're young and healthy and you'll heal quickly," Dr. Vicksman said. "And I bet you can ask Marianne to buy you a new toy or special treat to help you feel better."

I looked hopefully at Marianne and she nodded. "Yes, I think we can manage that," she said.

Dr. Vicksman said, "I'll be talking about this more on the 7News 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning newscast, on 1/30/10. I'll also talk about Neuticles." He grinned, and I started to ask but Marianne said she'd explain Neuticles to me later and hustled me out the door. Hmmmm.

Chow for now!

Mars

Questions or comments for Mars? Send him an e-mail!

Would you like more information about Canine Companions for Independence or perhaps be a puppy raiser? Call 1-800-572-BARK or go to CCI for details.