Everything You Need To Know About Spay & Neuter In Dogs
If you have owned an animal, or if you know anyone who has, chances are you have heard of the terms spay and neuter. Spay is a term that describes the ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of the ovaries and other portions of the female dog reproductive tract. Neuter is a term that describes castration, or the removal of the testicles of a male dog. Veterinarians perform these surgical procedures which, among other benefits, render dogs incapable of reproducing.
The Premier Veterinary Care medical team have extensive experience successfully performing spay and neuter procedures on countless male and female dogs of all breeds and ages. While all general anesthesia procedures carry a small risk of complications, spay and neuter procedures are considered safe and are strongly recommended by all major veterinary organizations including the ASPCA and the Animal Humane Society.
We believe in compassionate dog care and therefore are adamant about educating people on why spay and neuter procedures are integral components of responsible dog ownership. We have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions here to help you learn more about this very important service.
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A Responsible And Caring Spay And Neuter Clinic
For most people the thought of their puppy undergoing a surgical procedure under anesthesia can be frightening. We understand that this can be scary for caring dog owners and want to assure you that your puppy will be cared for by the most capable and caring medical professionals.
From the time your puppy enters our doors, he/she will be treated with compassion and concern for its comfort. Our nurses will treat your puppy as their own. All puppies will receive pain medications before the procedure begins. Our anesthesia and patient care protocols will be tailored to your puppy’s breed and size. While your puppy is under anesthesia, our veterinary staff will monitor a number of vital signs including body temperature, blood pressure, oxygenation, EKG, heart rate, breath rate, and anesthesia depth. The surgery will be performed by our veterinarians who have many years of surgical experience.
Postoperative nursing care and pain management medications will be administered to your puppy to ensure that their recovery is comfortable and they remain closely monitored until we feel it is safe to send them home. Your puppy’s assigned veterinary technician will review postoperative instructions with you at that time so you can feel comfortable bringing your puppy home to complete his/her recovery.
Reasons For Spaying And Neutering
There are many valid reasons to spay and neuter your dog, according to AmericanHumane.org. Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters annually, due to the sheer fact that there are not enough willing adopters. Spay and neuter procedures ensure that you are not adding to this number.
For any purebred dog owners who believe that purebred equals profit or desirability, please understand that (according to AmericanHumane.org) approximately 25% of all shelter animals are purebred. Unfortunately, there are just not enough good homes for needy dogs, purebred or not.
From health perspective, the spay procedure dramatically reduces the incidence of of mammary cancer, one of the most common cancers in female dogs, by 88% if performed before the first estrus (commonly called heat) cycle. Even in dogs that have had their first estrus cycle or more, spay still is significantly preventative for mammary cancer. Spay also helps to prevent skittish and fear aggressive behavior the hormonal changes commonly cause after sexual maturity.
For males, the neuter procedure prevents testicular cancer, enlarged prostate and other prostate related disease, the development of benign but unsightly and often unhygienic tumors around the anus called perianal adenomas. Neuter also will reduce the incidence of aggression and other undesirable male behaviors, such as marking, mounting, and escaping.
Do I Have To Spay Or Neuter My Dog?
At this time, there are no states with compulsory spay and neuter laws. However, spay and neuter procedures will insure that no unwanted puppies are produced and will make it easier to train your puppy and maintain his/her physical and mental health long term.
Over the years, many dog owners have come to us with misconceptions about the effects of spay and neuter procedures on dogs. While these misconceptions generally have no factual basis, a couple of them are prevalent enough that we would like to address them for you here:
Misconception #1: Spay and neuter procedures cause dogs to become overweight
Neutering a male dog will reduce the levels of testosterone in their body which have a positive impact on weight control. However, it is very possible to keep neutered and spayed dogs very fit simply with portion control and a regular exercise program. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your dog to pack on the extra pounds, even if not spayed or neutered. Keeping your dog fit is very much in the control of its owner.
Misconception #2: Spay and neuter procedures will cause severe changes in demeanor
Although aggressive tendencies in both male and female dogs may be reduced through neutering, the fear that you will be getting back a dog with a significantly different personality after surgery is just not true.
Neutering A Dog
The generally accepted age for neutering a dog is 6 months. Recently, clinical evidence has suggested that male dogs of certain large breeds may benefit from waiting to neuter until the dog has reached 10-11 months of age. However there are a number of other factors such as aggressiveness, potty training and reproduction that must also be taken into consideration. While these updated guidelines have given us cause to extend the acceptable age for neutering some large breeds of dogs, the recommendation to eventually neuter the dog remain.
Neutering a dog consists of the following surgical steps:
- Pre anesthetic exam
- Pain medication is administered
- Our veterinary team will induce your dog into a safe state of general anesthesia
- The assigned veterinary technician monitors vital signs including breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, state of anesthesia, oxygenation levels and body temperature, constantly reporting these parameters to the doctor.
- The surgeon makes a small incision in the front of the scrotum
- Each testicle is removed and the blood supply and vas deferens (spermatic cord) are tied off
- The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures
- Postoperative medications are given and postoperative care continues until your dog completely recovers from the anesthesia
- We will keep your dog hospitalized until he completely recovers and is safe to send home with after care instructions
Home Care Instructions For Recovering From Neutering Procedures
Your assigned doctor and veterinary technician will provide post-operative instructions for you to follow at home. This home care includes a continuation of pain management to minimize post op discomfort. Some of the steps you can take at home to help facilitate a safe and comfortable recovery include:
- Providing your dog with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals
- Preventing your dog from running and jumping for 7-10 days following surgery
- Preventing your dog from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by monitoring your dog, utilizing his crate, and utilizing an elizabethan collar if licking can not be prevented otherwise
- Avoiding bathing your dog for at least ten days after surgery
- Checking the incision site daily to confirm proper healing
- Looking for any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, contacting your veterinarian
- Call us if your dog is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting, and has diarrhea, or if you have any other concerns following surgery
Spaying A Dog
The generally accepted age for spaying a dog is at 6 months. Spaying a dog once she is an adult is acceptable as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of postoperative complications in older dogs, as well as in dogs that are overweight or that have existing health problems. Therefore, spaying a dog when she is still a puppy is preferable, but still strongly recommended even in adult female dogs.
Spaying a dog consists of the following surgical steps:
- Pre anesthetic exam and pain medication are administered
- Our veterinary team will induce your dog into a safe state of general anesthesia
- The assigned veterinary technician monitors breathing and heart rate blood pressure, anesthetic plane of anesthesia, oxygenation levels, and body temperature; and constantly relays this information to the doctor throughout the procedure
- The surgeon makes a small incision near the umbilicus on the abdomen
- The ovaries and parts of the uterus are removed
- The veterinarian closes the incision with sutures
- Postoperative medications are given and postoperative care continues until your dog completely recovers from the anesthesia
- We will keep your dog hospitalized until she completely recovers and is safe to send home with after care instructions
Home Care Instructions For Recovering From Spaying Procedures
Your assigned doctor and veterinary technician will provide post-operative instructions for you to follow at home. This home care includes a continuation of pain management to minimize post op discomfort. Some of the steps you can take at home to help facilitate a safe and comfortable recovery include:
- Providing your dog with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals
- Preventing your dog from running and jumping for 10-14 days following surgery
- Preventing your dog from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by monitoring your dog, utilizing his crate, and utilizing an elizabethan collar if licking can not be prevented otherwise
- Avoiding bathing your dog for at least ten days after surgery
- Checking the incision site daily to confirm proper healing
- Looking for any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, contacting your veterinarian
- Call us if your dog is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting, and has diarrhea, or if you have any other concerns following surgery
Make Your Appointment To Spay Or Neuter Your Dog Today
Scheduling an appointment with our veterinary team for spay and neuter procedures is as easy as picking up the phone, or sending us an email. Our experienced veterinary staff is here to help answer any questions or quell any concerns you might have, as well as to help schedule a surgical appointment for your canine companion at our spay and neuter clinic.