Spay vs Neuter
[Edited on Nov 27, 2013] Animals are born with a predetermined sex that confirms whether it is a male or a female, yet people have discovered the possibility of changing this natural status of animals. Both spaying and neutering commonly mean the removal of reproductive organs from an animal, so that its reproductive capacity is neutralized. Usually, the main objective of life are breeding and feeding, but feeding becomes the priority when the breeding potential is lost. When the reproductive organs are removed from an animal, the respective hormones are not generated inside the body, and the place where food and shelter is available would be the home for the animal. Therefore, the working capacity could be increased for a domestic animal if it is spayed or neutered. Despite the possible views of the public regarding spaying or neutering, this practice has been there for hundreds of years for the benefit of the man. However, there is a difference between the two terms, spay and neuter, which has majorly been based on the common reference of those.
Spay
Spaying is commonly used to refer the removal of reproductive (sexual) organs from a female animal. When a female being spayed, the usual terminology is changed in some animals such as chicken and ferret into Poulard and Sprite respectively. Spaying has some advantages such as increased affection towards the owner throughout the year, significantly small chances of having mammary tumours, and absolute no risk of associated problems in pregnancy. In addition, the risk of having pyometra and ovarian cancers will be zero after a spaying has been performed. However, the spayed female dogs often show the urinary incontinence, where the urination occurs without knowing. Additionally, spaying could influence the female dogs to have hypothyroidism. However, the science and technology has revealed methods of overcoming those problems. Despite some few possible problems from spaying, the owners tend to perform spaying in order to achieve a stronger and more active animal than the earlier stage. There are many methods to perform spaying, in addition to surgical removal, such as hormones and vaccines.
Neuter
In Latin, neutering means that there is no determined sex in a particular animal. Neutering is the removing of reproductive (sexual) organs from a male animal, which is mainly carried out through the surgical removal of the testes or by other means of sexual inhibition techniques. Usually, males are neutered (often used as castrated) to achieve an increased working capacity in working animals. Neutered male often shows an increased submissiveness and obedience, which is due to the reduction of secreting the male-specific hormones such as testosterone. When the testes are removed or made dysfunctional, the production and secretion of testosterone hormone becomes almost zero. Therefore, the masculine characteristics are suppressed; instead the desirable behaviours would be resulted. However, there may be some increased risks for prostate cancers, some cognitive disorders, and urethral sphincter incontinence problems especially for male dogs. One of the main objectives of neutering is to control the birth rates, but increasing of working capacity and decreasing the aggression could also be achieved. The commonly used names for neutered male animals are as follows; Barrow for pig, Bullock for cattle, Capon for chicken, Gelding for horse, Gib for cat and ferret, Ox for cattle, Stag for cattle and sheep, and Wether for sheep and goat.
What is the difference between Spay and Neuter?
• Both terms mean the removal of reproductive organs from an animal, but spaying is used for females while neutering is used for males.
• Therefore, the male specific advantages and disadvantages come with neutering while those for females come with spaying.
• Usually spaying increases some aggression, but neutering decreases the aggression.