People often ask should I neuter my dog? And vets will often answer, yes, you certainly should.
There are many benefits to neutering your dog, both male and female.
Neutering your female dog
The neutering of a female dog, or to have her “spayed” as it is more commonly known, is a routine procedure, performed by veterinary practices on a daily basis. The procedure involves removing the ovaries and the uterus of the dog, so she wont come into season anymore and will be unable to have pups.
Neutering your male dog
The neutering of your male dog, or as most people know refer to it as “castration”, is another operation that vets perform daily. For male dogs it includes the removal of both testicles.
Neutering, for both male and female dogs are performed under general anaesthetic, carefully monitored by a qualified veterinary nurse. This will mean that your dog will come to the vets in the morning, to be admitted by the vet or vet nurse. They will have a health check before their procedure, and then they will stay at the vets for the whole day usually, to make sure they are fully recovered after their operation.
Caring for your dog after neutering
After your dog has been neutered, they will need closely monitoring for a couple of days after the operation. They will still feel a little bit groggy after the general anaesthetic and might feel a little bit sick. It is normal for them to sleep more than usual in the first 24 hours, and they may not want to eat. You will need to make sure they don’t lick the area, so your dog may need to wear a buster collar (lampshade), or a kong collar (inflatable collar), or the most comfortable option is the pet t-shirt. This is like a Babygro for dogs.
What are the benefits of neutering?
For females
The risk of a uterine infection, called a pyometra is eliminated. This is a painful condition, and be life threatening if left untreated. If a female gets a pyometra, she will need to be spayed as a matter of urgency.
Eliminates the risk of ovarian cancer, and the younger a female dog is spayed, the chances of her getting mammary cancer are greatly reduced.
Stops an unplanned/unwanted litter.
For Males
Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
Stops the urge to roam. A male dog can smell a bitch in season for miles around and will do his best to find her, and who knows what trouble he could get into along the way.
Getting a male neutered earlier is beneficial, as some behaviours may be related to testosterone levels, therefor, delaying neutering may make these behaviours harder to get rid of.
Should I let my female have a litter?
There are no benefits to your bitch by letting her have a litter of pups. She doesn’t care if she is ever a mum. Dogs don’t have the bond with their pups the way we do with our children. In fact, after about 4 weeks, they have had enough of them. There can also be a risk to your dog during pregnancy, and if she needs a caesarean section, this can be extremely costly.
Ask a professional.
Talk to your vet or veterinary nurse about neutering. They will be able to reassure you if you have any concerns about the procedure. They know that your dog is a part of your family and you have their best interests at heart, but they also know that this is a scary thing for an owner. You don’t know if your dog will be stressed or scared, or if they will be ok under general anaesthetic, but remember, your vet performs this operation every day, they know what they are talking about and are happy to answer any questions you have, even if they seem silly to you.