I've said this before, and I'll say it again.

[conuly]

The opposite of spay is castrate. Not neuter. Neuter is a gender-neutral term that covers both spaying and castrating. Get it right!

Comments

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

I think most people realize that "neuter" applies to both animals. At least, I hope so. The problem is that, when speaking of neutering pets, "castrate" is an incorrect term because it typically implies the removal of the testicles, something that does not happen when one neuters a male animal. Most people associate castration with gelding or complete removal of the testicles, so it's not an appropriate word to use. Since "spay" can only be used for female animals, people began saying "spay or neuter" to cover both sexes. True, though - they could have just said, "Neuter." And some do!

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

* Amend that to, something that does not always happen when one neuters a male animal.

[ladydiana.livejournal.com]

Every vet I have known that has neutered a male animal has castrated them entirely. Testicles & all.

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

How odd! I've never heard of totally removing the testicles of a dog. Every dog I've ever had neutered had its "balls," so to speak, they had merely been drained of testosterone and the gland had been removed.

Usually, neutering a male dog is a much smaller, faster procedure than neutering a female one. This suggests that the testicles aren't actually removed. As for farm animals, though, I believe the testicles are removed.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Adding to that - a man who has a vasectomy is neither castrated nor gelded.

Yes, this has been a point of contention more than once.

[xmorningxrosex.livejournal.com]

but but...didn't Bob Barker always say "spay or neuter"? :P

[conuly]

Bob Barker is wrong.

[ahsirakh.livejournal.com]

Not wrong, merely redundant.

[chem-nerd.livejournal.com]

But most guys aren't going to want to talk about castrating their pets. The more gender-neutral term is a way of not having to think about the realities.

[adiva_calandia]

I told everyone we got our cat emasculated.

[conuly]

Then just say "neutered". Spaying is neutering.

[celticess.livejournal.com]

My cat ages ago that got fixed basically had a vastectomy and his gland removed. He still had his testicals and still could of got laid if he wanted. He'd just be shooting blanks.

[conuly]

Most people don't do that, though.

[celticess.livejournal.com]

Well I actually asked about castration as I thought that was what they do. But I guess the vets where I am have adopted some policy on duing tube coterizations/ties and vastectomies. They did say the cats still get urges and can do it. They just don't have babies. I think when my current cat got out she got into it with a male. No idea if my male cats got it on though. *shrug* But lets just say I washed Angel right after she came in from being out last time she snuck out... :P

[adiva_calandia]

I remember reading a Garfield story that was a take off on Sam Spaid (sp?), and the sexy damsel in distress asked, "Are you Spayed?" Which is a silly joke, since no, he wouldn't be, he would be CASTRATED! Or neutered. I understood that even when I was 9 or 10.

[squittycat.livejournal.com]

I'm a little apprehensive about the use of the word "opposite" here. I mean, your meaning is clear, but... uhmm.... is there a better word?

"Gender complement" perhaps? Dunno.

[conuly]

I know, opposite should mean "restoring the genitals" but... *shrugs*

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

That doesn't bother me as much as when someone says "spaded" for neutering a female or uses "spayed" as present-or-future tense. The operation is horrific enough for the poor critter without references to garden shovels. :-p

*points to my silly horse* Gelding = castrated, also called "gelded" in most large farm animals...and most also have specific terms for a castrated male. A lot of times, also, a large female animal isn't neutered unless there's a significant reason to, since usually the removal of a hormonal male and the security we would hope to have in fencing is adequate enough to forego a much more complicated procedure than in a small animal.

But yes, I do also firmly believe it's in everyone's best interest that an animal, if NOT good breeding quality, be neutered if it lessens the reproductive risk and tendency toward difficult behavior. Heck, if it were so simple in humans (what with our crazy over-active hormonal systems and baby-rabies society and other issues) I'd have opted for a spaying for myself. :-p

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

Neuter is a gender-neutral term

So, you're saying that "neuter" is neuter?

[conuly]

Yup. I was waiting for somebody to catch that :)

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

So...I've been neutered? :/

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

I think most people realize that "neuter" applies to both animals. At least, I hope so. The problem is that, when speaking of neutering pets, "castrate" is an incorrect term because it typically implies the removal of the testicles, something that does not happen when one neuters a male animal. Most people associate castration with gelding or complete removal of the testicles, so it's not an appropriate word to use. Since "spay" can only be used for female animals, people began saying "spay or neuter" to cover both sexes. True, though - they could have just said, "Neuter." And some do!

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

* Amend that to, something that does not always happen when one neuters a male animal.

[ladydiana.livejournal.com]

Every vet I have known that has neutered a male animal has castrated them entirely. Testicles & all.

[theshiversbaby.livejournal.com]

How odd! I've never heard of totally removing the testicles of a dog. Every dog I've ever had neutered had its "balls," so to speak, they had merely been drained of testosterone and the gland had been removed.

Usually, neutering a male dog is a much smaller, faster procedure than neutering a female one. This suggests that the testicles aren't actually removed. As for farm animals, though, I believe the testicles are removed.

[atdelphi.livejournal.com]

Adding to that - a man who has a vasectomy is neither castrated nor gelded.

Yes, this has been a point of contention more than once.

[xmorningxrosex.livejournal.com]

but but...didn't Bob Barker always say "spay or neuter"? :P

[conuly]

Bob Barker is wrong.

[ahsirakh.livejournal.com]

Not wrong, merely redundant.

[chem-nerd.livejournal.com]

But most guys aren't going to want to talk about castrating their pets. The more gender-neutral term is a way of not having to think about the realities.

[adiva_calandia]

I told everyone we got our cat emasculated.

[conuly]

Then just say "neutered". Spaying is neutering.

[celticess.livejournal.com]

My cat ages ago that got fixed basically had a vastectomy and his gland removed. He still had his testicals and still could of got laid if he wanted. He'd just be shooting blanks.

[conuly]

Most people don't do that, though.

[celticess.livejournal.com]

Well I actually asked about castration as I thought that was what they do. But I guess the vets where I am have adopted some policy on duing tube coterizations/ties and vastectomies. They did say the cats still get urges and can do it. They just don't have babies. I think when my current cat got out she got into it with a male. No idea if my male cats got it on though. *shrug* But lets just say I washed Angel right after she came in from being out last time she snuck out... :P

[adiva_calandia]

I remember reading a Garfield story that was a take off on Sam Spaid (sp?), and the sexy damsel in distress asked, "Are you Spayed?" Which is a silly joke, since no, he wouldn't be, he would be CASTRATED! Or neutered. I understood that even when I was 9 or 10.

[squittycat.livejournal.com]

I'm a little apprehensive about the use of the word "opposite" here. I mean, your meaning is clear, but... uhmm.... is there a better word?

"Gender complement" perhaps? Dunno.

[conuly]

I know, opposite should mean "restoring the genitals" but... *shrugs*

[fjorab-teke.livejournal.com]

That doesn't bother me as much as when someone says "spaded" for neutering a female or uses "spayed" as present-or-future tense. The operation is horrific enough for the poor critter without references to garden shovels. :-p

*points to my silly horse* Gelding = castrated, also called "gelded" in most large farm animals...and most also have specific terms for a castrated male. A lot of times, also, a large female animal isn't neutered unless there's a significant reason to, since usually the removal of a hormonal male and the security we would hope to have in fencing is adequate enough to forego a much more complicated procedure than in a small animal.

But yes, I do also firmly believe it's in everyone's best interest that an animal, if NOT good breeding quality, be neutered if it lessens the reproductive risk and tendency toward difficult behavior. Heck, if it were so simple in humans (what with our crazy over-active hormonal systems and baby-rabies society and other issues) I'd have opted for a spaying for myself. :-p

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

Neuter is a gender-neutral term

So, you're saying that "neuter" is neuter?

[conuly]

Yup. I was waiting for somebody to catch that :)

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

So...I've been neutered? :/