When to Spay or Neuter and other General Vet Care

[DogGoneGood]

When to Spay or Neuter and other General Vet Care
by Shara Slorstad
2008

Spay and Neuter:
Spaying is the process of surgically removing the ovaries and uterus (ovario-hysterectomy) of a female dog.
Neutering is the process of surgically removing the testes of a male dog.

Reasons for spaying or neutering your dog can vary. I personally believe that the only dogs that should remain in tact (not spayed or neutered) are those that are intended to be in a well thought out breeding program and/or those who are involved in conformation (showing). Both of my dogs are neutered and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

You may need reasons to convince you why to spay or neuter your dog, so here they are.

Benefits of Neutering:
Neutering decreases penis-sheath discharge and floor-spotting. Male hormones can also make a dog more likely to jump up on people and engage in dominance behavior. Neutering reduces this behavior as well as preventing a great deal of the urge to "roam". Dogs that are less apt to roam are also less likely to be hit by a car. Unnuetered males can also tend to be more overly protective and aggressive. Additionally there is a dramatic reduction of anal cancer (adenoma), prostate cancer, prostate infections, testicular cancers, and sheath infections. Also, neutered males will not be stressed and upset by the scent of bitches in season, be less likely to show unnecessary aggression towards family and friends, and are less tempted to wander or be distracted from their work. The neutered male will not develop testicular cancer, and the risk of prostate cancer is greatly lowered.

Benefits of Spaying:
Benefits of spaying include not having to worry about accidental breeding, the stress and inconvenience of confining a bitch in season, risky "miss-mating" shots, and unwanted puppies. The spayed bitch will not develop uterine infections or tumors of the reproductive system as do so many older unspayed dogs. These can be potentially life0threatening if not caught in time. Additionally, many of these conditions have symptoms which resemble a season and are difficult to differentiate without veterinary assistance - the problem is, some owners think their bitch is in season and do not seek veterinary care until it is too late.

When to spay or neuter may vary, depending on who you talk to and what your reasons for spaying or neutering are. Most vets wont spay or neuter before 5 months of age, although some will. Many shelter or rescue programs have puppies spayed or neutered fairly early just to assure that it will be done. There are some risks to neutering or spaying too early, however they aren’t completely understood yet. It is thought that spaying or neutering too early can affect healthy development in a growing puppy because they need certain hormones to grow. I don’t spay or neuter my puppies earlier than 6 months old. As a general rule I like to wait as long as possible, and keep the age at which they are spayed or neutered somewhere between 6 months and a year.

The problem with waiting longer is that you need to be on top of keeping or dog contained for a longer period of time. It is said that it is good to let a female dog go through at least one heat cycle, but then again I’ve also heard the complete opposite. Personally I like to let them have one heat cycle before they are spayed. Generally females will start there first heat cycle somewhere around about 6 months old. If you have a female dog in heat you will need to keep her contained until it is completely over to prevent her from becoming pregnant. It is best to keep this as a general rule the whole time up until she is spayed because quite often a female can go into heat without any sign at all.

If you have a male dog you will want to keep him contained at all times because you will never know when any female dogs in your area may go into heat. Males can travel long distances to find a female in heat and will go through great lengths to get to her. They can scale fences and get out of containments you never expected them to before. I’ve even heard of dogs mating through chain link fences, so it is best to not use a chain link fence to keep your dog
Contained (unless it is a chain link fence inside of another fence.

When you spay or neuter your puppy is completely up to you. If you are still unsure, talk to your veterinarian about it. He will tell you the youngest age he will do a spay or neuter and he will also be able to answer any other questions you may have about the procedure and how it affects your puppy.

Parasites:
A large concern of a lot of puppy owners is parasites. Depending on where your puppy came from, he may have contracted a parasite before you even got him. It is always important to have your puppy checked out by your vet as soon as possible when you first get him.

Worms are the most common parasite found in dogs and young puppies. Signs of worms in dogs may vary, but may include a stark, dully coat, bloated, round, swollen belly, pale gums and anemia, licking around the anus, scooting or dragging their butt along the floor, and vomiting. Puppies may also cry when picked up if their belly is full of worms and may seem uncomfortable when resting. In serious worm infestation, you may see worms in the stool or vomit. Immediate veterinary care is a must if you suspect your puppy has worms. He will need a prescription and vet care to get rid of them; they will not go away on their own! They will get worse before they get better, and could even kill your puppy! Even dogs or puppies kept indoors can pick up worms when they go out for a walk (eggs can be picked up on their paws and then licked and ingested).

Many types of worms can be transmitted between the mother and puppies while the puppies are still unborn. This is another reason why you should get your puppy checked out for worms because, while they may have had no immediate exposure in their environment, their mother could have and transmitted the worms to the puppies.

Vaccinations:
Vaccinations:
Just as in ourselves, infectious disease occurs in dogs and cats when they come in contact with harmful viruses and bacteria. As a pet owner, you want to do all you can to ensure a long and healthy life for your pet and your pets life, and therefore it is important to start the vaccine regime at about 8 weeks of age. Most vaccines require boosters and it is vital that you adhere to the schedule set out by your veterinarian. Without boosters, the immunity received by vaccination will decrease and leave your pet susceptible.

Click here for information about vaccines.