| By :
Mark Etinger
Unless you are interested in breeding your male dog, most veterinarians recommend neutering your pet at the approximate age of six months. Neutering has multiple benefits for your dog, your family, and society as a whole, but many pet owners are understandably worried about the expense of the operation. Fortunately, people who protect their pets with pet health insurance and other health plans are often eligible for a veterinary discount to cover some of the expenses. Why should you neuter your dog? To begin, neutered animals experience a number of health benefits. Neutering leads to decreased testosterone levels, which reduce the chances of several serious diseases and illnesses. With neutering, your dog has an extremely low risk of developing perineal hernias and penile tumors and absolutely no risk of developing testicular cancer. Having your dog neutered through your pet health plan can benefit your family as well. Dogs with lower testosterone levels experience fewer territorial or aggressive behaviors. This means your pet will be less interested in "marking his territory" inside your house. Neutering can even decrease a dog's aggression toward humans and other pets. For safety, you dog will now be less inclined to run away, as one of the main reasons pets stray from home is to mate. Last, neutered animals are less vulnerable to pet thieves, who usually target purebreds for the purposes of breeding. As if these pet healthcare and safety reasons weren't motivation enough, another major benefit of neutering your pet is that it will help control pet overpopulation. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 3 to 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters every year because they are unable to be placed in homes. By neutering your dog, you are eliminating the possibility of offspring and doing your part to help solve this serious problem. These are all good reasons to neuter your pet, however for many owners the decision to neuter an animal comes down to a question of price. Fortunately, a pet health care plan can help you afford your pet's operation, as well as assisting with the necessary followup care. Basic neutering operations typically cost between $45 to $135 when performed at inexpensive animal clinics; the price is further determined by the size of the animal. Of course, not all clinics are created equal, and some employ the "assembly line" method of treating animals, meaning that individual dogs don't always receive the care that they deserve. This is why many pet owners choose more expensive pet hospitals and clinics, where neutering can cost as much as $200 to $300. If you can find a good cheap clinic in your area, you might consider paying the extra money with the help of a pet health plan. With the right coverage, owners are often able to receive immediate veterinary discounts, which means no more waiting for reimbursement checks in the mail.
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