Spaying Or Neutering Your Dog

Spaying or neutering your dog is often a tough decision for a pet owner.  If you are looking for more information about spaying and neutering, here is some material that may help you.

Benefits of Spaying

• Prevents pregnancy and complications related to pregnancy
• Eliminates the heat cycle
• Prevents male dogs from trying to get at your female
• Reduces the urge to roam
• Reduces the possibility of disease in the reproductive system
• Reduces the chance of mammary neoplasia or breast cancer

Benefits of Neutering

• Reduces destructive or aggressive behaviour related to wanting to get out and find a mate
• Reduces the urge to roam
• Eliminates sexual frustrations
• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
• Reduces the urge to fight with other dogs
• Reduces the urge to mark territory

At What Age Should You Spay Or Neuter Your Dog?

Some veterinarians and animal shelters recommend spaying prior to a dog’s first heat cycle which is between 4 and 6 months of age for some breeds.  This is normally around the time when puppies have completed all of their shots.  This is also the time when it is easiest for vets to perform the surgery.

Spaying or neutering between 4 and 6 months is also recommended as, just like people, dogs can recover faster when they are young.  Most puppies will bounce back and want to play right after the procedure as if nothing has happened, but be sure to keep them calm and confined until you have done a follow up appointment with your vet.  You must keep in mind that if you allow your recently spayed or neutered dog or puppy to continue being active following surgery, you could end up with the incision getting infected or inflamed.  This will end up being more painful to your dog than the surgery itself.

Lastly, you should note that according to some people, neutering a male dog before the age of 1, increases the risk of the dog developing osteosarcoma.  This is a form of bone cancer which is more common to occur with medium to larger breed dogs.  Ideally for a medium to larger breed male dog it is recommended to get them neutered between 12 months to 16 months.  Anytime after that is fine as well but as mentioned above, the older the dog or puppy gets the longer the recovery time will be.

Valid Reasons Not To Spay Or Neuter Your Dog

• If you plan on breeding
• If you plan on showing your dog as show dogs must be intact or they cannot be shown

Invalid Reasons Not To Spay Or Neuter Your Dog

• Some people worry about complications during the procedures which is quite normal, however there is more risk of your dog being injured or hurt while driving around in the car with you with no protection whatsoever.
• Some people also have a preconceived notion that their dog will gain weight after the procedure but this generally relates to lack of exercise and the dog’s metabolic rate.
• Another thought that many people believe is that a male dog will be less likely to protect or guard as their level of aggression has been reduced by reducing his testosterone.  This is also not true as a male will always have this ability but may be less aggressive in other aspects, such as being less aggressive toward other dogs for instance.