Since the 1970s, this surgical procedure has become the most common procedure performed on companion animals. Gonadecomties are performed frequently because they help prevent reproductive tract diseases in both female and male …show more content…
Some of the most common reproductive tract diseases to appear in companion animals are pyometra and mammary neoplasia in females and benign prostatic hyperplasia and testicular neoplasia in males (Howe, 2015). With gonadectomies, diseases such as ovarian tumors and cysts no longer occur. Gonadectomized in dogs and cats are no longer susceptible to disorders facilitated by ovarian hormones, such as vaginal hyperplasia or uterine disease (Reichler, 2009). However, gonadectomies are more complicated, time consuming, and associated with morbidity (larger incision, more intraoperative trauma, increased discomfort) for the animals (Van Goethem et al., 2006). Keep or take …show more content…
Although, obesity does occur in both neutered and intact animals and can be influenced by a number of factors such as diet, breed, and activity level (Reichler, 2009). Gonaectomies affect the animal’s ability to regulate food intake (Van Goethem et al., 2006). Inactivity and increased food intake for the animal contributes to 38% of weight gain (Salmeri et al., 1991). There is no significant difference in weight of either spayed or intact animals where they are exercised regularly and their food intake is controlled (Leroux, 1983). Approximately 21.4% of all dogs were overweight but gonadectomized females were twice as likely to become obese compared to intact females (Edney and Smith, 1986). Dogs that have had a gonadecomty before six months of age showed a lower percent of obesity compared to dogs having a gonadecomty after six months of age (Spain et al., 2004). Unlike dogs, gonadectomized cats are 3.4 times more likely to become obese than intact cats (Nguyen et al. 2004). Obesity can be prevented by watching the diet and exercising the animal regularly. Cat diets that are high in dietary fats make gonadecotomized animals gain more weight because they are sensitive to dietary fats (Backus et al., 2007). However, if cats are feed low dietary fat diets or controlled diets obesity can be controlled (Nguyen et al., 2004). Obesity is not really the issue with gonadecomties but controlling the weight of the