Physiological and BehaviouralEffects of Neutering Domesticated Animals

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this thesis is to analyse in detail the physiological and behavioural effects of neutering domesticated animals i.e., cats and dogs. Scientific journals and articles were compared and evaluated based on these effects to determine whether neutering leads to problematic issues in the long term to justify solving current, theoretical,and perhapssingular issues. Key results found that neutering may lead to the development of neoplastic diseases such as: haemangiosarcomas, adenomas, mast cell tumours, lymphomas, osteomas, melanocytic tumours, and orthopaedic disorders like hip and elbow dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament disease. Most undesirable behavioural issues seem to be reduced suchas urine marking, aggression, roaming and fighting. There was limited research undertaken on the feline species asides from behavioural effects. Some research was outdated or contraindicated others. What this thesis will discuss is did neutering begin as a recommendation solely to prevent or decrease over population and throughout the years this became the norm and biased to veterinary medicine without fully considering the long-term effects on the health of the animal, and if it really is in their best interests.Keywords:neutering, neoplasia, obesity, orthopaedic, epilepsy, urogenital, prostate, tumour, susceptibility, ovariohysterectomy, mastectomy, ovariectomy.