Female Dogs
Why have your
bitch spayed?
If you have decided not to breed with your bitch, spaying early on in life has several benefits, the greatest of which is protection against mammary cancer. In fact, spaying before the first season totally eliminates the risk of mammary cancer later on in life. Spaying also eliminates the risk of cancer, cysts or infection of the uterus and ovaries, all potentially life threatening conditions. It also prevents the twice yearly attention of male dogs and the depressing condition of false pregnancy that many bitches suffer from after the season.
When is the best time to have
a bitch spayed?
We recommend that bitches are spayed around six or seven months of age, before they come into season. In some cases we may decide to postpone the operation until after the dog's first season, or if you have an older bitch, the spay operation should be performed 2.5 to 3 months after the end of the previous season.
What does the operation involve?
The operation involves the complete removal of both ovaries and the uterus through an incision along the midline of the bitch's abdomen. The wound is usually repaired with stitches inserted under the skin (the stitches will dissolve), so in many cases there will be no sutures to be removed. Your dog will be provided with painkilling medication so she will not feel sore afterwards. She will usually return home on the same day of the surgery. Post operative checks are performed following the surgery to ensure your dog has made a complete recovery.
What changes may arise afterwards?
Your dog will no longer come into season after being spayed. A neutered bitch's requirement for food is less as the metabolic rate is reduced, so some reduction in food will be required.
Are there any
disadvantages?
In some cases a spayed bitch may develop urinary incontinence in later life. This condition usually responds to hormone replacement therapy or medication.
Some individuals of certain breeds (eg Cocker spaniels and Red Setters) may show an alteration in coat texture and colour.
Male Dogs
Why have a male dog neutered?
We do not recommend the routine neutering of male dogs, although there are several reasons for doing the operation. The most important of these in older dogs are cancer of the testicles, prostate or anal area which respond well to castration. Another reason is one or both testicles being retained in the abdomen, resulting in a greatly increased risk of testicular cancer. The most common reasons, however, are related to behavioural problems, e.g. an overactive sex drive, excessive urine marking, roaming and some forms of dominance over other family members.
What does the surgery involve?
The operation involves the complete removal of both testicles via a small incision in front of the scrotum. The dog will usually return home on the same day that surgery is performed. He will be provided with painkilling medication so he should not feel sore after the operation. You will be provided with instructions for your dog’s care on the day of the operation. He will need to return to the surgery after 2 or 3 days for a check-up and removal of skin sutures (if present) a week after that.
How quickly does castration work?
Within four weeks of the operation a male dog will be unable to fertilise a bitch and behavioural problems should improve over the same time scale. However, castration is NOT an alternative to good training and specific behaviour modification.
When should the operation be performed?
As part of the treatment for undesirable behaviours (a training program is just as important) we like to perform the operation before the problem becomes ingrained. In most cases, this means performing the operation between 6 and 12 months old. Castration is most commonly recommended in older dogs for medical rather than behavioural disorders.
