Desexing, or spaying and neutering, is a crucial practice in the management of dog populations, particularly in our island settings where resources are limited, and uncontrolled breeding can lead to serious problems, writes Dr Rose Hasegawa, medical director Te Are Manu Vet Clinic.

Desexing not only helps in controlling the dog population but also offers significant health benefits for the animals.

One of the most pressing issues in many communities is the overpopulation of dogs. A single female dog, if left unspayed, can produce an overwhelming number of puppies over her lifetime. On average, a dog can have two litters a year, with each litter comprising anywhere from four to six puppies, although larger litters are not uncommon. Over a 10-year period, this can result in up to 120 puppies from one dog alone. When you consider that her offspring can also reproduce, the numbers quickly spiral out of control.

This exponential growth contributes to an increase in stray or unwanted dogs, leading to challenges in managing these populations. Stray dogs can suffer from malnutrition, disease, and injuries, and they may become a public health concern. Outreach programmes like our Puna desex clinics, play a vital role in curbing this population explosion, preventing the suffering of countless animals and reducing the burden on local resources – like the SPCA.

Beyond population control, desexing provides numerous health benefits for dogs. Spaying female dogs significantly reduces the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers and virtually eliminates the risk of potentially life-threatening uterine infections, such as pyometra. Moreover, spaying before the first heat cycle greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumours, which are often malignant.

For male dogs, neutering decreases the likelihood of testicular cancer and prostate problems. Neutering also reduces undesirable behaviours linked to testosterone, such as aggression, roaming in search of a mate, and marking territory with urine. These behaviours can lead to injuries from fights or accidents, which are common in unneutered dogs.

In addition, desexing can contribute to a longer and healthier life for dogs. Research indicates that desexed dogs tend to live longer than their intact counterparts, possibly due to the reduced risks of certain diseases and behaviours that can lead to injury or death.

As you may have seen, our Puna Desex clinics are back up and running. Thanks to the sponsorship provided by the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, we can provide free dog desexing to the Rarotonga community again. Last month we had a good turnout in the Tupapa community, and this Tuesday we had our Matavera clinic. Our monthly clinics will continue so we encourage the community to take advantage of the convenience of a desex clinic close to home whilst you can.