Spaying and neutering, also referred to as sterilizing, is recommended to maintain your dog’s well-being and health. In some cases, it is even mandatory. In this article, learn more about the importance of sterilizing dogs.
Why should I sterilize my dog?
Many reasons can justify sterilizing your dogs. In this section, we’ll list a few of them.
Preventing unwanted pregnancy
To begin with, sterilization prevents unwanted births. Not all owners want to have puppies in their homes, as this involves many constraints. For example, caring for puppies requires not only an investment of time and space, but also money. In addition to playing with them, you need to provide them with the comfort and care they need for their well-being, and even compensate for the lack of attention from their mother.
Reduce instinctive reactions
Sterilizing your dog is a way to ensure you have a well-balanced pet. The procedure reduces and can even eliminate instinctive behaviors that are not ideal. Sex hormones often cause behavioral changes in male dogs. Even if you and your dog are really close, the scent of a female in heat will always be more powerful. Male dogs who have not been neutered tend to run away, and some of them end up getting lost. Some individuals are also victims of theft by criminals who use female dogs in heat as bait.
During certain periods of her cycle, a female dog may also behave aggressively towards other dogs. In addition, some may experience false pregnancies and show signs of hostility towards those around them.
The benefits and the importance of sterilizing a male dog
Neutering a male dog has a lot of benefits. Among them, we can note the improvement of their behavior, as well as the possible prevention of certain diseases.
A requirement for category 1 dogs in France
Since January 1999, French legislation has required the sterilization of first category dogs, which are “attack dogs”. It is, therefore, imperative for owners to comply with the French legislation as soon as their animals reach puberty. After the procedure, it is recommended that a sterilization certificate be obtained from a ve.
Preventive measures
Some male dogs are more prone to developing hormone-related diseases, but neutering can prevent these risks. For example, benign prostatic hyperplasia is the most common. It is caused by an imbalance in testosterone production in dogs, leading to prostate enlargement. Clinical symptoms are not systematic in animals with hyperplasia. In the long term, if no treatment is administered, inflammation, cysts, or abscesses may develop. Neutering is performed as a preventive measure. It is also a means of preventing anal gland abscesses, perineal hernias, and testicular or perianal tumors.
A therapeutic solution
Sterilization is a therapeutic solution in certain cases. It is used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. In addition, if a hormonal disorder causes feminization syndrome combined with a testicular tumor, sterilization is included in the treatment. Dogs with one or both testicles that have not descended into the scrotum are fifteen times more likely to develop testicular tumors than other dogs.
Behavior improvement
For a difficult male dog, neutering offers many benefits. It curbs the animal’s sexual urges, making them calmer. They are, therefore, less likely to run away and mark their territory less. They will no longer chase female dogs in heat. Once they have lost their urge to roam after being sterilized, they will no longer pose a threat on the roads. Stray dogs can cause serious accidents. Lastly, a male dog that has been neutered has a longer life span because they are less prone to disease.
The benefits and importance of sterilizing a female dog
Sterilization also has specific benefits for female dogs. These include a reduction in false pregnancies, a lower risk of mammary tumors, and a reduced risk of pyometra.
Reducing nervous pregnancy
Spaying your dog prevents sexual behavior, as well as the risk of unwanted pregnancy and litters. You will no longer have to deal with bleeding or changes in your pet’s behavior due to heat cycles. A spayed dog will also not be prone to false pregnancy or pseudopregnancy lactation, a common condition caused by excess hormones. Female dogs adopt behavior similar to that of a mother expecting a litter of puppies and even produce milk. This problem tends to recur in some dogs after each heat cycle.
Lowering the risk of breast tumors
About a quarter of unspayed female dogs develop mammary tumors as they age, while two-thirds of survivors develop a second tumor. Female dogs spayed before their first heat rarely develop breast cancer, and the risk of tumors decreases with each cycle. However, if a female dog is spayed after her third heat, she will be at no less risk than if she had not been spayed. False pregnancies can greatly contribute to the formation of mammary tumors.
Lowering the risk of pyometra
Another benefit of spaying female dogs is that it reduces the risk of pyometra, a dangerous infection of the uterus that can be fatal. In addition, they are also less likely to develop ovarian tumors and cysts.
At what age should I be sterilizing my dog?
It is recommended to have your male puppy spayed before they sexually mature, generally around 6 to 12 months. This procedure can, however, be done at any moment of their life, particularly to treat prostate conditions or tumors in the testicles. For females, you may consider spaying before puberty, starting at 6 months for small dogs and between 10 and 12 months for larger breeds. Spaying can also be performed later, after the dog has had one or more litters or heat cycles.
What is the procedure for sterilizing a dog?
There are two types of sterilization. Permanent surgical sterilization is the most common, but there are also temporary solutions such as implants. However, we recommend that you discuss the latter with your vet, as they are not suitable for all dogs. General anesthesia is required in both cases. The practitioner will need to carry out a full assessment of your pet’s health beforehand to ensure that it is able to tolerate the anesthesia.
Spaying a female dog
There are two main methods for spaying a female dog. Ovariectomy is a procedure that involves removing only the ovaries. Depending on the case, you may choose to remove the uterus as well: this is called an ovariohysterectomy. For both options, an incision will be made on the abdomen, along the white midline. During an ovariectomy, after making an incision, the vet will remove the ovaries and then perform two ligatures to block the ovarian vessels. In an ovariohysterectomy, the process is the same, but ligatures will also need to be made around the uterine vessels and fallopian tubes before removing everything, including the ovaries.
Neutering a male dog
For male dogs, an incision is made just above the scrotum. The vet performs two ligatures: one at the testicular vessels and another at the vas deferens. Part of these vessels and the vas deferens are then used to release the testicle. Once both testicles have been removed, the connective tissue and skin are stitched together.
As you can see, sterilizing your dog has significant advantages. However, it also reduces your pet’s energy requirements, which is why it is important to adjust their diet and lifestyle after the procedure.