I Should Have Neutered My Dog

I have a senior dog named Pepper. He is a 15-year-old blue roan Cocker Spaniel, and he is my baby. I got him when I was 10 years old, and at that point in my life I unfortunately was unaware of the risks of not neutering your pet. I wish I had known these risks because I would have 100% opted for the surgery to avoid the health issues he is currently facing at this point in time.

In 2012, at eight years of age, Pepper developed hepatoid anal gland adenomas, as noted by the veterinarian during his physical examination. Intact males are more prone to these tumors, and the main way to treat these adenomas are with a neuter surgery, as per the veterinarian. I learned so much information in that appointment, such as “the incidence of these tumors is between 8 and 13 years of age” and one of the breeds at increased risk of these tumors is the Cocker Spaniel.

When the veterinarian suggested I have Pepper neutered, I still declined this procedure because my family and I wanted to breed him. Again, I was young and still did not understand the risks that would take place later on in his life. The attending veterinarian gave me the option to surgically remove the tumors, but he could not guarantee that they would not grow back. This is the option my family and I had chosen, and in hindsight I wish I had him neutered.

In 2018, we noticed that the lump on his rear end had started to grow again. Pepper was 14 years old. Additionally, he had started to excessively urinate around the house. Uncontrollable bladder is common in elderly pets, but I didn’t know if it had anything to do with the adenoma that returned. The tumor grew so much that it finally burst in 2019; there was an awful smell that accompanied our home, and he left blood anywhere he sat.

I am not young and naïve anymore, so instead of putting it off, I made the decision to bring Pepper in for a physical exam. The veterinarian suggested to run a urine test, and the results came back confirming the doctor’s suspicions of the excessive urination being related to the lump. Some expensive tests and expensive medications later, Pepper is finally comfortable and the hole has sealed on the lump.

Because there is a higher risk for dogs going under anesthetic after a certain age, surgery is not a good option for him anymore. He is living his best and most comfortable life right now, with so much love from me and his family. Since he did not get neutered (a one-time expense), this resulted him in some uncomfortable pain in his senior age (with many large expenses). I will definitely be neutering/spaying my next pet.

A neuter surgery may be expensive, but it is very much worth it. It saves money for problems that will most likely arise later in your pet’s life, which will ultimately cost more than the neuter procedure itself. It will also devoid him of any associated pain, and will let your pet lead a comfortable life. Working in the veterinary industry for over 8 years, as well as experiencing this unfortunate situation, has really put things into perspective. I should have neutered my dog. 

- Ania L.