Spaying or neutering your puppy helps prevent unintended pregnancies and reduces undesirable behaviors. These procedures may also lower the risk of specific diseases in your dog. Our Exeter veterinarians guide you through the essential information regarding these operations.
Why should I get my dog fixed?
If you have a new puppy, you may be considering whether to have them spayed or neutered. This is especially relevant if your dog will be on a leash during walks or confined to your garden or backyard.
Indeed, there are several reasons to have your dog spayed or neutered, such as notable health advantages, behavioral improvements, and potential financial advantages.
Benefits of Spaying Female Dogs
Across the United States, animal shelters are filled with dogs. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (the ASPCA) estimates that 3.3 million dogs are a part of the shelter system in America each year.
Health Benefits of Spaying Your Dog
Spaying your female dog before she reaches her first "heat" can help curb diseases like uterine infections and breast tumors, both of which can cause cancer.
Financial Benefits of Spaying Your Dog
Preventing the birth of unwanted puppies is good for your pocketbook. While there is a fee for spaying, this fee is relatively low when compared to the cost of caring for a pregnant dog, calling a vet for the birth of the puppies, and caring for newborns.
Deciding Not To Spay Your Female Dog
When female dogs aren't spayed, they go into a reproductive stage often known as "heat." This stage can cause male dogs to be attracted to your pup for up to 18 days. This can lead to unwanted visits from male dogs while out for walks or in your yard and can also result in an unwanted litter of puppies.
Benefits of Neutering Male Dogs
As with spaying female dogs, when you neuter your male dog, you help to reduce the population of unwanted dogs in the United States.
Health Benefits of Neutering Your Dog
By neutering your dog, you are helping to eliminate the risk of tentacular cancer for them and are able to significantly curb the risk of prostate diseases (which can be quite serious). Neutering also helps to prevent undesirable behaviors and conditions like perineal tumors and hernias.
Behavioral Benefits of Neutering Your Dog
Neutering can help to curb your dog's desire to roam and may help to reduce behaviors such as mounting and aggression towards other dogs.
Deciding Not To Neuter Your Male Dog
There are a number of different undesirable behaviors that are typical of a male dog that hasn't been neutered. These include increased territorial behavior, being over-protective of toys and people, aggression towards other dogs and roaming (particularly when seeking female dogs).
When to Get Your Puppy Fixed
Typically, puppies are spayed or neutered between five to nine months of age. Adult dogs can also be spayed or neutered. Consult your vet to find out when you should get your dog fixed.
What to Expect When Getting Your Puppy Fixed
Your veterinarian will furnish you with detailed pre-surgical guidelines, including instructions for restricting your pet's food and water intake before the scheduled procedure.
Following the surgery, your veterinarian will supply you with post-operative guidance to aid your dog's comfortable recovery. Depending on the timing of the procedure, pain medication may also be provided for your dog.
In general, female dogs require more time to recover after spaying compared to male dogs after neutering.
Upon a female dog's spaying, she becomes sterile and cannot have puppies.
It's important to note that male dogs are not immediately sterile after neutering. It may take up to six weeks for them to be considered sterile safely.