Do you have a new puppy? Take a look at the answers to common spaying and neutering questions first-time dog owners have.
1. What Is a Spay and Neuter Procedure?
These surgical procedures sterilize your pet, making it impossible for your female dog to get pregnant or your male dog to impregnate another pup. The most common spay procedure is known medically as an ovariohysterectomy. The veterinarian will remove the dog's uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes to completely eliminate the possibility of pregnancy. Vets neuter male dogs through orchiectomy surgery. The veterinarian surgically removes the dog's testes.
2. Why Spay or Neuter Your Dog?
While puppies are cute, your family may not want to raise litter after litter of new dogs. According to Humane Canada, Canadians surrendered nearly 30,000 dogs to shelters in 2018. One of the easiest ways to decrease this number is to reduce the overall dog population. Spay and neuter procedures can help individual pet owners to stop dog overpopulation.
Along with overpopulation problems, spaying and neutering procedures can change your dog's behaviour. If your male dog is overly aggressive or always on the lookout for a mate, a neuter surgery can impact their attitude. While this procedure won't completely eliminate all behaviour issues, it may help to mellow your dog.
Male dogs aren't the only sex to benefits from this type of reproductive procedure. The spay surgery will eliminate your female dog's heat cycle. This can reduce unwanted mate-seeking behaviours and will stop the potential heat-related mess. The procedure can also benefit your pup's health. Spayed female dogs are less likely to develop breast tumours and aren't at risk for serious uterine infections.
3. Who Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet?
Only a qualified, licensed veterinarian should spay or neuter your dog. Like any other veterinary surgery, these procedures require specialized knowledge, experience, and equipment to perform these procedures.
4. Are Spay and Neuter Surgeries Painful?
Both spay and neuter procedures require anesthesia. Your dog's veterinarian will administer special medication to make your dog sleep through the surgery. The anesthesia makes the spay/neuter painless for your pup. Even though your dog will sleep through the surgery, they may have some discomfort in the post-operative period. The vet may send home a pain medication to manage soreness. Discuss your dog's after-care needs with the vet before you leave the animal hospital or surgery center.
If you have more questions, contact clinics that provide pet spaying and neutering.