All About Neutering & Spaying Dogs – Guide
The US is full of unwanted dogs. Rescue centers all across the country are bursting at the seams, unable to find homes for the thousands upon thousands of unwanted dogs that are desperately looking to be loved and cared for in return for loyalty and friendship. By allowing our dogs to continue mating, we’re simply adding to a problem that, in our educated times, shouldn’t exist.
Only by neutering dogs and spaying bitches can we do our part to ensure that more dogs aren’t left to stray or are delivered to rescue centers when they’re no longer wanted.
Neutering Dogs
Many owners, especially male owners, are loath to have their dogs neutered – or castrated as it’s also known – believing that it’ll remove something important to them. Yes, the dog’s testes are removed but dogs have no understanding of sex for pleasure – they act purely on a reproduction drive so the loss of libido isn’t going to affect them in the same way as it would a human.
The fact is, apart from preventing unwanted litters, neutering dogs can give them a better quality of life. Unless you have a purebred dog with excellent bloodlines and believe that mating him will produce puppies that can improve the breed, neutering the dog will actually be doing him a favor.
Dogs that have been neutered suffer less inter-male aggression than those who are entire, urine marking becomes less frequent, they’re less prone to roam and mounting less of a problem.
Some owners are worried that neutering dogs will lead to them being less playful, less likely to guard their property and less likely to enjoy off-leash exercise. None of this is true. Neutered dogs lead as fulfilling lives as their entire counterparts, in fact it could be argued that neutering dogs will help them lead more fulfilling lives as they are likely to feel frustrated whenever they encounter the smell of a bitch on heat.
Dogs can be neutered from the age of 6 months but it’s advisable to have the castration carried about before he reaches sexual maturity (generally around 18 months although this differs depending on breed). Surgery is quick and easy and prevents the development of prostate problems or testicular cancer in older dogs.
Spaying Bitches
Bitches should be spayed before their first season so generally before they reach 6 months.
While spaying bitches is a more expensive and complicated procedure than neutering dogs, the cost is still far lower than the cost of raising a litter of pups, especially if the bitch needs veterinary assistance during the birth.
While many owners believe that it’s kindest to let a bitch have one litter of puppies before spaying her, this is untrue. Pregnancy and birth puts a lot of pressure on a bitch and some bitches can die whilst whelping their pups. I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s nothing kind about that. By allowing a bitch to have one litter of pups you’ll not only be putting her life at risk but also be adding to the ever increasing problem of unwanted dogs. It’s better to be a part of the solution than a part of the problem.
Spaying bitches has other advantages, too. Bitches tend to have more even moods rather than the mood swings they often experience due to hormone changes during their heat periods. Entire bitches also have a far greater risk of developing mammary (breast) cancer. They can’t develop Pyometra, either. This is an infection of the uterus that can be fatal.
It’s a common myth that spaying bitches leads to them putting on weight. This is untrue. A dog’s weight is determined by the amount of food it eats and the exercise it receives. If your bitch puts on weight, you simply decrease her calorie intake.
An argument often used against neutering dogs and spaying bitches is that it’s unnatural. Well, that’s true enough, but our dogs live very unnatural lives anyway. How many domestic dogs have lives that resemble that of his ancestor, the wolf? Very few, and those are generally dogs who are left to stray.
