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Neutering your dog is a significant decision that you will need to make, so it’s important that you understand the pros and cons as well as being prepared to help them bounce back from their operation in no time. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide for dog owners considering whether they should neuter their dog.
See what they’ve been up to today with a PitPat dog activity monitor.
Before digging into the reasons for and against neutering, you need to understand exactly what neutering is. Essentially, neutering means the removal of your dog’s sexual organs, making them unable to produce puppies. The procedures are slightly different for each sex.
Neutering a male dog, also called castration, involves a straightforward surgical procedure where their testicles are removed.
Neutering a female dog, also called spaying, involves a surgical procedure where their ovaries and uterus are removed.
Whilst a surgical procedure may seem invasive, it’s important to recognise that this is usually a very safe, successful operation that is one of the most common procedures that your vet will carry out.
There are plenty of good reasons to have your dog neutered, and these vary for male and female dogs.
Whilst the reasons to neuter your dog are extensive, there are a few reasons where it might not be appropriate to neuter your dog. These include:
There are no verifiable health benefits for your dog if they have a litter. In fact, having a litter of puppies is a risky business for your dog and the hard work of raising them for their first 8-12 weeks before they can go to new homes will fall to you.
Are you prepared for sleepless nights? Cleaning up after the puppies 12 times a day? Ensuring you have proper licenses to breed? Finding good homes for all the puppies? Expensive vet bills? It is very much a full-time job and not for the faint of heart.
Delaying spaying your dog until they’ve had a litter can have negative consequences – providing them with less protection from cancers, womb infections, and phantom pregnancies than if they are spayed early in life.
For some dogs with sexually motivated behavioural issues neutering can have a positive impact, especially if they are still young. Ultimately though, their wonderful personality stays the same, and neutering may not help all behavioural issues you will face as an owner.
Most dogs are up and about just a few hours after surgery if all went well, though they may be quieter than usual for a day or two. Your vet may provide pain relief medication and recommend that you limit exercise whilst their wound heals, usually taking about 10 days.
You can use a PitPat dog activity monitor to keep track of their daily exercise and even adjust their normal goal to something more appropriate whilst they are healing.
Neutering itself won’t cause your dog to put on weight, but they will have a slightly lower calorie need, so it’s important that you adjust their diet to reflect this. You should discuss your dog’s new calorie needs with your vet, then monitor their weight with the free PitPat app to ensure your dog stays a healthy weight.
The cost of the procedure will depend on your vets, the size of your dog, their age and other considerations. Prices vary, so it’s always worth speaking to your vet for an accurate quote.
If cost is a concern, the PDSA and other charities can offer low cost or even free procedures to those receiving financial support.
The age you should neuter your dog will depend on their sex and breed. Ultimately, you should follow your vet’s advice on when to neuter your dog – this can range between 3 months and 3 years.
For female dogs, many vets will recommend waiting until after your dog has her first season – again, it’s always best to seek your vet’s advice on this.
If your dog is older, it is worth discussing with your vet whether neutering is still a good option for your dog – their age means there could be an increased risk of going under the knife that may not be worth the risk.
Whatever you decide to do, PitPat can help. We take into account whether your dog is neutered or not when recommending their activity goal, and the PitPat app enables you to keep track of their weight and exercise as they rehabilitate.
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