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Puppy spaying and neutering:
Puppy spaying and neutering (or desexing) helps to keep your dog healthy - and reduces the
number of unwanted dogs killed in pounds and shelters. Many people don't realise that by desexing their dog, they can help their dog avoid a number of illnesses and cancers in later life. And of course it helps to keep unwanted dogs out of shelters and council pounds, where they may face death if they can't find a home.
On this page: What do the terms 'puppy spaying', 'neutering' and 'desexing' mean? Why should I spay or neuter my puppy? But my puppy's personality will change, or he'll feel deprived, or she'll gain weight ... At what age should my puppy be spayed? What happens when my puppy is desexed? What do the terms 'puppy spaying', 'neutering' and 'desexing' mean?Puppy spaying and puppy neutering are terms used to describe an operation performed on a male or female dog to make them unable to have puppies. In male dogs, the word 'neuter' is often used to describe the removal of the dog's testicles (or castration). In female dogs, the word 'spay' is often used to describe the removal of the dog's ovaries and uterus. You'll also often hear the words 'dog desexing' used because the term covers both procedures. Why should I spay or neuter my puppy?There are many, many excellent reasons for desexing your puppy! Prevent unwanted breedingThe very best reason for puppy spaying and neutering is to reduce the number of unwanted puppies flooding pet shelters and council pounds. Far too many of these puppies are killed (euthanased) because they can't find homes. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 3-4 million pets (including cats) are killed in pounds and shelters each year in the United States; nearly 8000 in the United Kingdom, according to a 2007 survey by Dogs Trust; and about 200,000 each year in Australia according to Dogs Across Australia. Figures are approximate because most countries don't have any centralised records of the numbers of dogs killed. How do puppies end up in shelters and pounds?Most of shelter and pound puppies come from backyard breeders - people who didn't get their dog desexed but allowed them to breed. Often, people who have a female dog that becomes pregnant don't know who the father was. This makes the puppies less likely to find homes because buyers usually prefer to know what breeds have gone into their puppy. So the backyard breeder finds they can't sell all the puppies and the ones left over go to the pound. People who buy from backyard breeders often have a casual attitude to dog ownership. They don't think too hard about the different breeds that might be in the puppy - they just buy something that looks cute. If it turns out later that the dog is unsuitable because it's too big or hard to train or hard to groom, the unwanted pup goes to the pound. In all these cases, it's not the puppy's fault that it ends up in the pound - and, all too often, dead at a young age - it's the fault of the people who carelessly brought it into the world. See Puppy Adoption for information about adopting a puppy. Unless you
have the time and money to become a registered breeder,
please get your puppy desexed. Protect wildlife and livestockFeral dogs - dogs that are abandoned or allowed to roam free in the countryside - are a growing problem worldwide. Feral dogs carry diseases (there's nobody to medicate them against puppy worms or vaccinate them against dog illnesses) that can be transmitted to wildlife and livestock. Feral dogs also prey on vulnerable wildlife species and cost farmers thousands of dollars in injured or killed stock. By desexing your puppy, you'll be helping to reduce the likelihood that unwanted dogs will be dumped or allowed to roam. Save money!Many local councils and local governments offer substantial discounts on compulsory dog registration if the dog is desexed. Some councils even specify that all puppies must be microchipped soon after birth - even if you intend to give them away! So by spending a little now on puppy spaying or neutering, you could save money in the long run! Reduce behavioural problemsDog that are desexed early in life avoid many of the annoying behaviours you can find in 'entire' dogs. They are often more calm and easier to train.A desexed male dog will tend to be less aggressive towards other dogs and towards people. A desexed male dog will also be less likely to want to urinate over everything to mark his territory. He will also be less likely to want to mount your leg to try to mate with it! A desexed female dog will not come into season every 6-12 months. Coming into season (or 'on heat') is when female dogs prepare for mating and pregnancy. An undesexed female will have a bloody discharge at this time and will often actively seek out male dogs to mate with. All the neighbourhood entire males will also do almost anything to get to a female who is in season - this can lead to dog fights and to injuries if the males leap fences and try to cross busy roads to get to the female. Phantom pregnancies are a common problem in female dogs that have not been desexed.
Undesexed females can also go through phantom pregnancies. This means she can go through all the symptoms of being pregnant such as a swelling abdomen, change in food preferences, producing milk and attempting to mother toys and humans. She may even go through a phantom whelping - trying to give birth to puppies. This can be a very distressing time for both the dog and you as the owner, and will mean a trip to the vet for advice and possible medication. Puppy spaying will prevent this altogether. Prevent illness later in lifeDesexed dogs are also less likely to suffer from a number of common illnesses, particularly cancers and tumours. Cysts and pus in the uterus are common problems in undesexed female dogs. These can be fatal. Desexing completely prevents them. Prostate problems are common in male dogs. Desexing completely prevents them. Cancer of the mammary glands is common in female dogs and often untreatable. Desexing your female dog before she has her first season will prevent 99% of these tumours. Tumours and cysts of the ovaries and testicles are completely prevented by puppy spaying and neutering. But my puppy's personality will change, or he'll feel deprived, or she'll gain weight ...People sometimes worry that, after puppy spaying or neutering, their puppy will undergo some sort of terrible personality change. Well, the only personality change will be that he will be a little calmer and easier to handle. Aside from that, all his endearing qualities will remain exactly the same! He'll be just as clever and playful as before. People also worry that by desexing their pet they will be depriving the animal of its natural urges. This is particularly a worry for some people - mainly men! - with male dogs. But dogs aren't humans. They will be none the wiser about their lack of reproductive abilities and the operation can even relieve the sexual frustration some dogs can experience if they are left entire but are expected to live a 'civilised' life in the suburbs instead of running about with a pack in the wild. My dog will gain weight ...Dogs often metabolise food more slowly after being desexed. The solution is simple though - feed them a little less! It would be better to let her have one litter first ...There is absolutely no need to allow your female dog to have a litter of puppies before desexing her. In fact, desexing before your dog's first season (at about 6 months of age) has significant medical advantages, such as reducing the likelihood of mammary tumours later in life. If you want the fun of having cute puppies around, think about where they might end up (shelters and pounds) and think of the cost and the time involved - and think again! Medically speaking, it is better to have your female dog spayed before her first season. It's too expensive ...The cost will vary depending on the age and size of the dog but puppy spaying is one of the cheaper operations your pet will have. If you can't afford puppy spaying or neutering, how will you be able to afford regular vaccinations, worming, vet visits and any life-saving operations? Not to mention good quality food and boarding kennel fees or dog minders for the next 10 years or so? If you're really worried about the cost of desexing,
why not try puppy adoption? When you buy a puppy from a shelter or pound, it will be wormed, vaccinated and desexed - all for a very low fee! At what age should my puppy be spayed?The best age for a puppy to be spayed or neutered is around 5-6 months. Puppy spaying should be done before your female puppy's first season. But it's never too late to have your dog desexed. The operation can be done at any age, even to dogs well past their prime. TopWhat happens when my puppy is desexed?Both males and females will be desexed by your vet under a general anaesthetic. In both cases, it is usually possible for you to drop your puppy off at the vet in the morning and collect them in the afternoon. You will usually be given some pain medication for your puppy. You should go back to the vet after a few days for a check up and to remove stitches if necessary. Male dogs usually recover very quickly but female dogs need to be kept reasonably quiet for a few days. Sometimes this is easier said than done! If dogs don't actually feel any pain or discomfort, they often assume they are well and bounce around as normal, forgetting they've just had an operation! More puppy care at PuppyPrimer.comTry to stop your puppy licking at the wound too much as it could disturb the stitches. Your puppy should be completely recovered in a couple of weeks.
Desexing your puppy is one of the most important
things you can do as a responsible pet owner.
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