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

Much like the flea meds that work systemically to make it your pet’s body toxic to parasites, the pet just doesn’t live long enough to have “long term effects” like bone loss, heart problems, certain cancers and organ failure.

You’ll notice Off! doesn’t make handy-dandy seasonal mosquito pills.   Not that I’m scared of heartworm… I just hate mosquito bites.

If dogs lived for 80 years like us, maybe we’d do something else.  Lopping off the old meatball hamper just seems a lot simpler than hiding daily birth control in a wad of cheese.