Why do humans with no ovaries or testicles need to take hormone supplements to stay healthy, but animals who have been neutered are seemingly fine and often live longer than their intact counterparts?

Question

Just something that occurred to me when thinking about my elderly cat, who’s spent almost 16 years without her uterus or ovaries to no apparent detriment.

In: Biology

Answer 1

My female dog is on estrogen supplements as she loses control of her sphincter and has incontinence issues without them. She was fixed at around 2 years old and the issues from lack of estrogen appeared just 6 months later. Vet said it was common for female dogs.