Spaying or neutering your dog can yield many health and behavioral benefits. In this post, our Perry vets discuss spaying and neutering, and how it can benefit your puppy.
When Should I Spay or Neuter My Dog?
Spaying or neutering is a common surgical procedure that can be done at almost any age, as long as your dog is healthy. That said, the most common age for puppies to get fixed is between six and nine months.
What is Spaying?
When a female dog is spayed, a veterinarian will remove the dog's reproductive organs so that the dog will be unable to have puppies.
What is Neutering?
When a male dog is neutered, a veterinarian will surgically sterilize the dog by removing the testes. Neutering prevents a dog from being able to father puppies.
What are the benefits of spaying or neutering my dog?
Spaying
Having your female dog spayed before her first heat can help her to live a healthy, long life by preventing serious health issues, including breast tumors and uterine infections.
If the surgery is done while your female dog is young, your female dog won't go into heat. Female dogs who are not spayed will typically go into heat every six months, for between two and four weeks. While your female dog is in heat, she will excrete a bloody vaginal discharge and may seem jumpy, clingy, or edgy.
Neutering
You can help to prevent testicular cancer and certain prostate problems by neutering your dog early. Male dogs that are neutered are less likely to roam or try to escape from home searching for 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.
Cost
In the long run, spaying or neutering your puppy could save you money by avoiding costs associated with litters of puppies, treatment for illnesses that could have been avoided by fixing your dog, and treatment of injuries due to roaming and fighting.
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 replying on shelters. Fewer unwanted puppies will help to reduce the number of animals living on the streets, and fewer euthanizations.