Spaying or neutering your dog has many health and behavioral benefits. Today, our San Diego vets will explain more about the procedure and how it can benefit your puppy.
When should I spay or neuter my dog?
Spaying or neutering can be done at almost any age, but the most common age for puppies is between six and nine months old if they are healthy.
What is spaying?
When a female dog is spayed, the vet removes the dog's reproductive organs so that your dog cannot have puppies.
What is neutering?
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.
What are the benefits of spaying or neutering my dog?
Spaying
It is recommended to spay your female dog before her first heat as it can help her to live a long and healthy life by preventing serious issues such as uterine infections and breast tumors.
Female dogs spayed at a young age won't go into heat. On the other hand, female dogs that are not spayed typically go into heat every six months for approximately 2 to 4 weeks.
During this time, your dog may experience a bloody vaginal discharge and may seem restless, clingy, or jumpy.
Neutering
Neutering your dog at an early age can help prevent testicular cancer and certain prostate problems. Male dogs that have been neutered tend to stay at home and are less likely to wander off in search of female dogs.
This can help protect your dog from injuries caused by fights with other males or traffic accidents.
When left unneutered, male dogs tend to mark their territory by spraying urine in the house, mounting other dogs or even people, and displaying more aggression towards 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
Reducing the number of unwanted puppies is extremely important and cannot be emphasized enough. Shelters all over the USA are overwhelmed with homeless and unwanted dogs. If every pet owner spayed or neutered their dogs, it would significantly decrease the number of dogs that end up in shelters. This would also lead to fewer unwanted puppies, which would help decrease the number of animals living on the streets and reduce the need for euthanization.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.