There are many health and behavioral benefits to spaying or neutering your dog. Today, our Vancouver vets discuss when you should get your dog fixed and the spay and neuter process.
When to Spayed or Neuter Your Dog
As long as your dog is healthy, spaying or neutering can be done at almost any age. The most common age for getting puppies fixed is six to nine months.
Spaying Procedure
When a female dog is spayed, the vet removes the dog's reproductive organs so that your dog is unable to have puppies.
Neuter Procedure
When a male dog is neutered, your vet surgically sterilizes your dog by removing the testes. Neutering prevents your dog from being able to father puppies.
Benefits of Having Your Dog Fixed
Spaying your female dog before her first heat can help her to live a long and healthy life by preventing serious issues such as uterine infections and breast tumors.
Spayed female dogs won't go into heat if the surgery is done while they are young. Female dogs who are not spayed typically go into heat every six months, for approximately 2 - 4 weeks. While your female dog is in heat she will excrete a bloody vaginal discharge and may seem edgy, clingy, or jumpy.
You can help to prevent testicular cancer and certain prostate problems by neutering your male dog early. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to roam or try to escape from home in search of females. Reduced roaming can help to protect your dog from injuries due to fights with other males, or even traffic accidents.
When male dogs are left unneutered, they are more likely to spray urine in the house to mark their territory, mount other dogs or people, and be more aggressive to other dogs.
Less Pet Overpopulation
The importance of reducing the number of unwanted puppies cannot be overstated. Shelters across the USA are filled with homeless and unwanted dogs. If all pet owners spayed and neutered their dogs, there would be fewer dogs in shelters. Fewer unwanted puppies will help to reduce the number of animals living on the streets, and fewer euthanizations.