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Anonymous
As with any surgical procedure, immediate complications of neutering include the usual anesthetic and surgical complications, such as bleeding and infection. These risks are relatively low in routine spaying and neutering; however, they may be increased for some animals due to other pre-existing health factors.
Neutered dogs and cats of both genders have an increased risk of obesity. Theories for this include reduced metabolism, reduced activity, and eating more due to altered feeding behavior. Stump pyometra may still occur in spayed females. Spayed female dogs sometimes develop urinary incontinence, and castrated males display a fourfold increased incidence of prostate cancer over intact males. Neutered dogs have also been known to develop hormone-responsive alopecia (hair loss). Neutered dogs of both genders are at a twofold excess risk to develop osteosarcoma as compared to intact dogs, as well as an increased risk of hemangiosarcoma, a three fold increased risk of hypothyroidism, and an increased risk of adverse reactions to vaccinations.
In addition, neutered male dogs are at higher risk than intact males of developing moderate to severe geriatric cognitive impairment (geriatric cognitive impairment includes disorientation in the house or outdoors, changes in social interactions with human family members, loss of house training, and changes in the sleep-wake cycle) .
As compared to intact males, male neutered cats are at an increased risk for certain problems associated with feline lower urinary tract disease, including the presence of stones or a plug in the urethra and urethral blockage.
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