Dear Abby: I have a real problem. My husband and I decided to breed our cocker spaniel last year. When Sadie had her five puppies, we decided to keep a male we named Ernie. Well, Ernie is now a little over a year old. Males seem to mark their territory wherever they go, and that’s my problem.
I have had numerous arguments with my husband because I insist we should get Ernie neutered not only because of his urinating everywhere, including the house, but also to reduce the risk of cancer. My husband says he just can’t do that to his dog! He thinks Ernie will lose his drive to play ball and walk all the time. He actually phoned the vet when he caught Ernie urinating on the plant in our living room. Then he canceled the appointment because he “just couldn’t do that to Ernie.”
Am I wrong to want to get our dog fixed before he wets the entire house? I love Ernie, and I really don’t think he’s going to know the difference being neutered or not.
Ernie’s Mom in Clearwater, Fla.
Dear Ernie’s Mom: I took your problem to my veterinary expert, Dr. Erwin David, who told me that your idea about neutering Ernie is correct. Neutering has a 50 percent chance of eliminating “urine-marking behavior in male dogs. And in the 50 percent of cases that fail to respond to neutering, hormone injections can be helpful.”
He also told me that neutering has other health benefits: It eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of prostate disorders. Keeping that in mind (not to mention a serious pet overpopulation problem in the United States), male dogs that are not intended for breeding should be neutered. He closed his letter to me as follows: “Not surprisingly, the opposition to neutering male pets invariably comes from male members of the household. However, neutered male dogs can be just as active as intact ones if their exercise programs are maintained.”
Dear Abby: I tried to quit smoking several times, but wasn’t able to. How I wish I had never started! I am 47, and was placed on a respirator last May, after having smoked for 31 years.
Please send all the young people who want to smoke to visit me. They can watch me wait for the respirator to give me enough breath so I can get a few words out. They can see that my mobility is limited to 12 feet of blue tubing. They can see all the medical equipment I rely on to keep me alive. They can talk to my husband, who is constantly by my side, and learn how his life has been affected. We should give up trying to get smokers to quit, and crusade to prevent kids from starting.
Gail H. in Georgia
Dear Gail: Your speech may be limited, but your letter shouts the dangers of tobacco loud and clear. Parents should begin letting children know that smoking is unhealthy and undesirable as soon as their children are old enough to understand and recognize what smoking is. Later on, the schools should impress upon them the many reasons why they should not smoke.
