Spaying in Dogs

What is spaying or ovariohysterectomy?

Spaying is the common term used to describe the surgical procedure known as an ovariohysterectomy. In this procedure, the ovaries and uterus are removed. In this procedure, an incision is made just below the belly button (umbilicus) and the ovaries and uterus are removed completely to sterilize a female dog, or just the ovaries (ovariectomy), depending on your veterinarian’s technique.

Why should I have my dog spayed?

It is recommended that all non-breeding female dogs be spayed. Several health benefits are associated with spaying your dog. Spaying helps to reduce the pet overpopulation crisis, although there is emerging evidence to support delaying the surgery in large-breed dogs. Advantages of spaying include:

  • Prevention of heat or estrus.
  • Prevention of fatal uterine infection known as pyometra.
  • Prevention of breast cancer. Dogs spayed before their first heat have less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer.
  • Elimination of the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer.
  • Elimination of the hormone fluctuations that cause false pregnancy following the heat cycle.
  • Female dogs in heat experience an urge to escape to find a mate. Spaying eliminates this unwanted and dangerous behavior.
  • Reduction in separation anxiety or fearful elimination.
  • Spayed dogs generally live longer than those that are unspayed.

Are there other benefits to spaying my dog?

The operation may be performed to help in the treatment of several medical conditions, including:

  • intractable false or phantom pregnancy
  • irregular or abnormal cycles due to ovarian cysts
  • diabetes
  • uterine infection (pyometra) or cancer
  • dystocia (difficult birthing) or post-cesarean-section surgery

What are the potential disadvantages of spaying?

Spaying is the best option for the overall health and longevity of your dog. Some studies have suggested an increased risk for certain health conditions. Potential disadvantages include:

  • Spaying large-breed dogs before bone growth is complete has been associated with an increased risk of cruciate ligament tear (knee injury) and the development of certain cancers.
  • Spaying before maturity may be associated with an increased risk of certain behaviors such as noise phobia.
  • Spayed dogs may be at risk for urinary incontinence, which primarily affects middle-aged and older female dogs.
  • Spaying a dog will reduce her metabolism; however, obesity is the result of overfeeding and lack of physical activity. Obesity in dogs can be prevented by regulating your dog’s diet and caloric intake and ensuring daily exercise.
  • Spaying does not cause a change in personality, intelligence, playfulness, or affection.

It should also be noted that allowing a dog to have a litter of puppies before spaying does not have a calming psychological effect.

When should I have my dog spayed?

There are many factors to consider when determining the optimal time to spay a dog, including health, behavior, and your pet’s environment. Spaying before the first heat protects against breast cancer, decreases the risk of bleeding after surgery, and provides a faster recovery. Large breed dogs may benefit from spaying at an older age. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to spay your pet.

Is there any alternative to surgery?

There is currently no alternative to surgery.

Are there any dangers associated with the surgery?

Spaying is considered a major operation and requires general anesthesia. With any anesthetic, the risk of serious complications, including death, is always possible. With modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, the risk of complications is very low.. See “Anesthesia for Dogs” for further information.

What happens when I leave my dog for this procedure?

The veterinarian will examine your pet and pre-anesthetic blood tests will usually be performed. If everything is acceptable, your pet will be anesthetized. Most pets will have an intravenous catheter placed to administer the anesthetic and to provide fluid therapy during the surgery. After your pet is anesthetized, a breathing tube will be placed in her trachea (windpipe) to allow the delivery of oxygen and gas anesthetic directly into the lungs.

Are there any post-operative precautions I should take?

Dogs must be kept quiet in the post-operative period to encourage healing and help prevent complications. Most dogs can resume normal activity 5–10 days after surgery. Until then, leash walks, lots of rest, and no swimming, bathing, or running is advised.

Elizabethan collars (E-collars) or alternatives are often recommended to prevent your dog from being able to lick at her incision. Many veterinarians use absorbable sutures so that you do not have to return to have them removed.

Neutering in Dogs

What is neutering?

Neutering (also known as castration) is the common term used to describe the surgical procedure during which both testicles are removed to sterilize (make infertile) a male dog, therefore stopping its ability to reproduce.

Why should I have my dog neutered?

Neutering should be considered if you are keeping any male dog as a pet. Shelters are overwhelmed with unwanted dogs. Reducing this overpopulation problem starts with spaying and neutering our dogs.

Remember that Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, Dogs for the Disabled, and police dogs are routinely neutered, and this does not impair their ability to perform their duties.

Neutering has many advantages for the long-term health of your dog, including:

  • reduces the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate that comes with age) and prostatitis (prostate infection)
  • reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases such as perianal adenoma (benign tumor around the anus) and perianal hernias
  • eliminates the risk of testicular cancer, the second most common cancer in intact (unneutered) dogs
  • removes hormonal behaviors such as mounting and marking
  • reduces certain types of aggression
  • reduces the likelihood of separation anxiety or fearful elimination
  • reduces the likelihood of roaming, which can result in motor vehicle accidents or other traumas
  • neutered dogs generally live longer lives than unneutered dogs

Is neutering done for any other reason?

Neutering may be used in an attempt to treat certain forms of aggression, such as inter-male aggression. In older dogs, the operation may be performed to treat testicular tumors and some prostate gland conditions. It is also used to control hormonal (testosterone-dependent) diseases such as perianal adenomas.

What are the potential disadvantages of neutering?

The consensus at this time is that neutering will increase the lifespan of a dog. Some scientific studies have suggested increased risks of certain health conditions. Potential disadvantages to neutering can include the following:

  • Neutering a dog will reduce his metabolism; however, obesity is the result of overfeeding and lack of physical activity. By regulating your dog’s diet and caloric intake and ensuring regular (at least daily) exercise, you can prevent obesity in neutered or intact males.
  • Neutering large-breed dogs before bone growth is complete has been associated with an increased risk of cruciate ligament tear (knee injury).
  • Neutering before maturity may be associated with increased risk of certain fearful behaviors, such as noise phobia.

Despite these studies, neutering is considered the best option for the overall health and longevity of your dog. Neutering does not cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness, or affection.

When should I have my dog neutered?

There are many factors to weigh when determining the optimal time to neuter a puppy, including breed , health , behavioral , and your pet’s environment. Talk to your veterinarian to determine the best time to neuter your pet.

Is there any alternative to surgery?

Some facilities may offer vasectomies, which involve clamping of the spermatic cord so no sperm can be released. This procedure prevents unwanted pregnancies in female dogs, but all other risk factors of intact males remain. A sustained-release implant containing Deslorelin (brand name Suprelorin®) is available in some countries, but not currently approved in the United States. It causes temporary infertility. You should discuss with your veterinarian to determine if there are any new therapies appropriate for your dog.

What surgical complications could arise?

Complications are rare during castration surgery; however, as with all surgical procedures, there is always a small risk. Potential complications may include:

Anesthetic complications. Any dog can have an unexpected adverse reaction following the administration of any drug or anesthetic. Such cases are impossible to predict, but fortunately, are extremely rare. Protective measures can allow early detection and treatment of anesthetic complications should they arise (e.g., placing an IV catheter; monitoring of heart rate, blood pressure, oxygenation).

Another potential danger associated with anesthesia arises if the dog is not properly fasted prior to anesthesia. Anesthetized patients lose the normal reflex ability to swallow. During swallowing, the epiglottis, a cartilage flap at the entrance to the windpipe, closes and prevents food or water from entering the lungs. If there is food in the stomach, the dog could vomit while under anesthesia or in the early post-anesthetic period, allowing the food to enter the lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Illness will increase the risks associated with anesthesia. Pre-operative blood work is a useful screening test that may detect pre-existing problems that could interfere with the pet’s ability to handle anesthetic drugs. If there are any signs of illness including sneezing, eye discharge, vomiting, or diarrhea, the procedure should be postponed until your dog has recovered. To minimize the risks to your dog, it is essential that all pre-operative instructions are strictly followed and that you report any signs of illness to your veterinarian prior to an operation.

Post-operative infection. This may rarely occur internally or around the incision wound. In most cases, the infection can be controlled with antibiotics.

What happens when my dog undergoes this procedure?

Your pet will be examined by a veterinarian and pre-anesthetic blood tests will usually be performed. If everything is acceptable, your pet will be anesthetized. Most pets have an intravenous catheter placed to administer the anesthetic and to provide fluid therapy during the surgery. After your pet is anesthetized, a breathing tube will be placed in his trachea (windpipe) to deliver oxygen and gas anesthetic directly into the lungs.

During the surgery, both testicles are removed through small incisions in the scrotum (pouch of skin containing the testicles). Many veterinarians use absorbable internal sutures so you do not have to return to the hospital to have them removed, but your veterinarian may still recommend a followup visit to ensure your dog is healing appropriately.

Injectable pain medication and local anesthetic will be given during the procedure, and your dog will likely go home with several days of additional pain medication to ensure they stay comfortable.

Are there any post-operative precautions I should take?

Rest and restriction of activity are the primary post-operative care you should provide. Most dogs can resume normal activity five to ten days after surgery. Until then, leash walks, lots of rest, and no swimming, bathing, running, or climbing stairs is advised. Many veterinarians will recommend your pet wear a protective device such as an Elizabethan collar (E-collar) or alternatives to the E-collar to prevent your dog from being able to lick at his incision.