Today (28 February) is World Spay Day.vet, Dr Scott Miller, talks about the procedure, and highlights some common misconceptions.
Should I spay/neuter my dog?
Spaying is the removal of the ovaries (and in most cases uterus) of a female dog to sterilise them. Similarly, neutering is the removal of testes from a male dog. Whether or not you should spay or neuter your dog is up to you and your vet. But here are some good reasons to consider why you may choose to do so:
• Controls populations and reduces numbers of unwanted puppies
• Quells breeding instinct and stops seasons in female dogs
• Reduction of potential uterine infection in female dogs
• Reduces chances of your dog getting cancer later in life – mammary and ovarian cancer for female dogs and testicular and prostate cancer for male dogs
Some medical conditions can lead to spaying being recommended, such as:
• Phantom/false pregnancy
• Treating abnormal cycles in female dogs
• Pyometra (uterine infection)
Common misconceptions about spaying/neutering
When it comes to procedures like this where you might be unsure of the detail and anatomy, it’s no surprise misconceptions occur, leading owners feeling hesitant about their dog undergoing such procedures.
For example, some people may be hesitant to sterilise their dog because they feel it will leave them feeling ‘empty’ without a litter, but this is not the case. Their hormones will affect how they feel, but dogs don’t have the capacity to feel broody outside of heat. And some may say their male dogs will feel ‘emasculated’ without their testicles, but dogs do not need them to maintain masculine brain characteristics as they develop these early in life.
It is also a misconception that spaying or neutering will change a dogs personality – it’s not true. Spaying does not cause a change in personality, intelligence, playfulness, or affection. Your dog will be just the same as it was before the procedure, but maybe less vulnerable to sexually motivated attention or aggression.
Post surgery care
Although this seems like a daunting surgery, most dogs will return to normal 5-10 days post-op. In that time, make sure to allow your dog lots of rest; no running or swimming is advised. And for walks, gentle pathways with a leash on is good for them a few days after the procedure.