The Facts About Neutering
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Here is this week's blog from Katie!
Today I'll talk about neutering your dog. The term neuter is the male/female term for removing the reproductive organs from a pet. Female neutering is called spaying, or ovariohysterectomy. The male form of neutering is castration. Often for females we say spay and for males we say neuter. That will be the case in this blog.
In a spay the ovaries, Fallopian tubes and uterus are all removed. This makes a female dog unable to reproduce as well as eliminates her heat cycle and breeding instinct behavior.
In castration or "neutering" of a male dog the testes are removed. This makes him unable to reproduce and eliminates male breeding behaviors.
So why should you spay or neuter your pets?
Every year millions of unwanted dogs are euthanized. Unwanted litters can be a monetary and time consuming drain on a family. Complications of pregnancy or whelping (giving birth) can be very costly. Not all puppies thrive after birth and not all female dogs are good moms. There is the likelihood of having to bottle feed puppies or the chance of illness or death for the mother and/or puppies. Finding good, responsible, forever homes for puppies can be difficult at times.
Handling the mating instinct behaviors in an unneutered pet can be troublesome for a family. Behaviors such as running away (to seek a mate), mounting other pets, family members or objects in the home, marking their territory with urine, aggression and excessive vocalizing can all be mating behaviors that are hard to deal with in a family pet.
There are health benefits for your pet also. By spaying your female dog it decreases the chance for certain cancers, specifically breast cancer (mammary tumors). It also takes away the chance for uterine infections ( pyometra). In male dogs it prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of other problems such as prostate disease.
Is there a risk to spaying or neutering?
While the reproductive hormones that cause mating behaviors can be undesirable for pet owners, these hormones also effect your pet's overall health and growth and can be beneficial. Removing the ovaries and testes takes these hormones away and can result in some health issues such as urinary incontinence and some types of cancers ( for example bone cancer). Some studies show that waiting till a pet is fully mature, can reduce these risks.
While spaying and neutering are both major surgical procedures, they are also the most common surgeries performed by veterinarians. Any surgery is not without risks however. Your veterinarian will give your pet a thorough examination before undergoing the procedure and many veterinarians recommend bloodwork and other testing to ensure there are no unseen problems that could cause a complication during surgery. Talk to your veterinarian about the best plan for your pet. Your veterinarian will help you decide the best age to get your pet altered based on their breed, size, growth and temperament.
What can I expect after spaying/neutering my pet?
After the surgical procedure your dog will need to be kept calm and quiet for 7-14 days. They will have an incision that needs to be monitored for any redness, discharge or swelling. You will have to prevent your pet from licking or scratching at the incision while it heals. Often, your dog will feel great within a day or two and keeping them quiet will be the hardest part!
Some people are afraid that altering their pet will change their personality. Generally, any changes seen are usually for the better. An unspayed female dog's hormones may cause her to display guarding behavior. The fluctuating hormone levels can cause her to be irritable or stressed and this can cause her to act out. Once she's spayed her behavior tends to be more level and consistent. Neutered male dogs show less tendencies to aggressive behaviors and are overall calmer and happier. In 74% of male dogs and 59% of female dogs, behavior problems were reduced simply by spaying and neutering.
Talking to your veterinarian about spaying or neutering your dog is the best course of action. In most cases the benefits outweigh the risks.
Do you have a question for Katie? Submit your question(s) to info@homemadepuppies.com.
Don't forget to catch Katie's blog from last week: https://www.homemadepuppies.com/the-truth-about-hypoallergenic-dogs
