Having your dog spayed or neutered yields many benefits for their health and behavior. In this post, our West Chester vets share some facts about spaying or neutering and how this procedure can benefit your pup.
What is spaying?
When a female dog is spayed, a veterinarian will remove the dog's reproductive organs so your four-legged friend will be unable to have puppies.
What is neutering?
When a male dog is neutered, the dog's testicles are surgically removed. This procedure prevents your dog from being able to father puppies.
What are the benefits of having my dog spayed or neutered?
Spaying or neutering your dog has many health benefits depending on which procedure your pooch will undergo. Cost also factors into many pet parents' decisions.
Spaying
If this procedure is performed while your female dog is young, this will keep your young pup from going into heat. Booking this common procedure for your dog before her first heat occurs can help her live a long, healthy life free of serious health problems such as breast tumors or uterine infections.
Female dogs who are not spayed typically go into heat every six months for about three or four weeks. During this period, she will excrete a bloody vaginal discharge. She may seem edgy, jumpy or clingy.
Neutering
By having your dog neutered early in life, you can help prevent health issues such as testicular cancer and prostate problems. Neutered dogs are also less likely to try to escape from home or roam in search of fertile female dogs. By reducing the chance that they'll roam, you help protect your dog from injuries due to fights with other males, traffic accidents, and other incidents.
When male dogs are not neutered, they are more likely to engage in undesirable behaviors such as mounting other dogs or people, being aggressive to other dogs and spraying urine in the house in an attempt to mark their territory.
Cost
Long term, having your puppy spayed or neutered could help you save money by avoiding costs related to treatment of illnesses that could have been prevented by fixing your dog, litters of puppies and treatment of injuries as a result of fighting or roaming.
Less Pet Overpopulation
The importance of reducing the number of unwanted puppies cannot be overstated. Shelters across the USA are filled with homeless and unwanted dogs. If all pet owners spayed and neutered their dogs, there would be fewer dogs replying on shelters. Fewer unwanted puppies will help to reduce the number of animals living on the streets, and fewer euthanizations.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.