If neutering or spaying an animal is necessary to prevent unwanted babies, why not just give them a hysterectomy or vasectomy instead? Do the remaining hormones still have other negative effects?

Question

If neutering or spaying an animal is necessary to prevent unwanted babies, why not just give them a hysterectomy or vasectomy instead? Do the remaining hormones still have other negative effects?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Spaying and neutering have the added benefit of reducing or preventing several kinds of cancers too. If the testicles and ovaries are removed, they can’t develop tumors. Unspayed female dogs have a 25% chance to develop mammary tumors, compared to 0.5% rate for spayed dogs and 12% rate of breast cancer for humans.