If it’s performed sooner, these veterinarians reasoned, surgical gonadectomy (aka, spaying and neutering) … So if you're like me and you know that you're not going to breed your dog, spaying and neutering there are a lot of pros, there are some cons … First, a veterinary technician checks over the history of the patient and takes the vital signs prior to any procedures or medications. Hello .I hope you don't mind me saying but Your dog seems very young to be neutered. Kibble or Canned Dog Food. Copyright © 2000-2020 by Michele Welton. Depending on who you speak and in which country you find yourself, you will notice that veterinarians will give different advice on the best age to neuter your dog. A dog who is NOT spayed is also called intact. The loss of reproductive hormones appears to upset the endocrine system. Even older dogs can still learn to be house trained. Should You Get Pet Insurance? Even if a dog appears to be pain-free, the medication should be given as directed–it is much easier to prevent pain than to treat it! When faced with a pest problem, pet parents often wonder if groomers remove fleas. 1. Spaying and neutering helps your dog from getting pregnant. For many reasons, which I'll tell you in a moment. You might be wondering, "Should my female dog have one litter before being spayed?". Spaying an older dog. Get the 411 on Flea Grooming Services, Back to the Dog Park: How to Stay Safe Outdoors as States Reopen. If you have a female dog please see our blog about spaying here. There is a lot of confusing information out there on castrating dogs so here I have condensed it all down. In order for this to be able to heal well quickly and safely, your dog needs to have 2-3 very quiet weeks. So yes, you can neuter an older dog—with a happy and healthy outcome! Although veterinarians usually prefer to spay and neuter dogs when they are young, neutering or spaying older dogs, or any age dog for that matter, can be done with some careful planning. If your dog is spayed before 2-1/2 years old, she is less likely to develop mammary tumors (about half are malignant). Extra weight leads to debilitating joint disease, arthritis, heart disease, pancreatitis, and diabetes. The operation involves making an incision through the abdominal muscles. Neutering helps in reducing aggressive … Remember, your dog can develop health problems if spayed too early. Now having said all of that, there's no such thing as a no risk procedure or no risk surgery procedure. I enjoy seeing my puppy patients grow up and mature as they age. If the dog is a year old and still has a problem surgery needs to take place to go in and find the culprit! A dog who is allowed to breed must first be tested and cleared of certain health problems known to be hereditary. To help you train and care for your dog Pros of spaying. Although it is a little more complicated to perform a major procedure on a senior dog, it is routinely done safely with a little pre-planning and care. So that you can make the right, informed decision for you and your dog. Depending on the individual dog's situation some vets leave a bit more time after six months old for the dog to mature. For spaying older dogs, the veterinarian removes the ovaries and the uterus through a single incision near the dog’s belly button. The surgery is dangerous when a middle-aged or elderly dog is already sick from the infection. Some dogs have complications while they are pregnant or … Within 10 to 14 days, they should be completely recovered and nearly back to their pre-operative state. But there are already more than enough puppies in our world. In my practice, we administer something called “balanced anesthesia.” This is a combination of very small doses of multiple different medications. Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons. After spaying or neutering an older dog, side effects are usually minimal. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. Unfortunately, I have also had to perform these surgeries on senior dogs on an emergency basis after a health problem has emerged. First, let's look at the positives – the advantages of spaying your female. If you have this done for your senior dog, you can rest easy knowing that your “golden oldie” now has a significantly reduced chance of developing conditions that may require an emergency surgery, which is always a much riskier prospect in a senior animal. Your dog can die trying to give birth, or shortly after birth from infections. Can you spay or neuter an older dog? Reduction of certain health risks. Adopting an Older Dog vs a Puppy: Pros and Cons. We got Waldo checked in as an outpatient. Apparently the reproductive hormones offer some protection against this cancer, because spayed females are twice as likely to develop hemangiosarcoma of the spleen and five times as likely to develop hemangiosarcoma of the heart, compared to unspayed females. I don't want to cause my dog any pain; she is already two years old, and very attached to our family (spending a nigh in an animal clinic would be extremely stressful for her). The moral is.... Don't spay or neuter before your dog's reproductive hormones have had time to do their valuable work. Use commands, schedules, and observation effectively with this housebreaking guide from Pet Central. Getting a dog will change your life! Yes, some evidence has been coming to light that spaying could potentially increase the risk for certain cancers, including lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and bone cancer. I could still remember his first puppy visit. If the lab work and exam are both satisfactory, at this point the dog usually receives a pre-operative sedative. Once your … So no, you shouldn't breed your dog – even once. In most cases, yes. Let's take a look at some of the positive things, and negative ones, that you need to take into account before you make a decision. Post-operative care is critical for the senior dog. Risks of spaying an older dog Anesthetic and surgery risk. There isa lot of information available weighing up the pros and cons of neutering and it might be an idea to check out information online if you haven't already. The infection spread through her bloodstream, and even with antibiotic treatment, Caina died. Here's How To Tell. Your female does not – absolutely does not – need to have puppies in order to be happy or healthy. Most veterinarians use a dissolving suture so there is no need to have sutures removed post-operatively. Another way parents can help with the healing process is by giving their dog all medications as directed by the veterinarian. While this may seem like a straight forward question, it is actually far from it! Is your dog Spay/Neutered? Spaying and neutering dogs isn’t just about population control, and it isn’t something just done to puppies, either. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. Back then, he was a little golden ball of fluff rolling excitedly around my exam room floor and play-nipping at me as I tried to examine him. Less than 5% are serious, and the death rate is less than 1%. First, a couple caveats. Spaying or neutering your dog has its pros and cons. Though spaying or neutering an older dog has side effects, sometimes it's used to treat or prevent illness. But I believe I would still spay, and then cross my fingers. Sure, maturity can reduce the risks of developing intact-dog-related health issues. Breeding is simply not worth it. The pros of spaying/ neutering are preventing overpopulation, more behaved pets, and reduced risk of acquiring certain cancers. But on this present visit I was concerned, to say the least, when I palpated a thickened area associated with his right testicle. When my husband and I adopted them from one of our local rescue groups we didn’t have to make the decision about spaying or neutering as that was already done. But a lot of that evidence, while suggestive, remains preliminary at this point. All rights reserved. So the next question is, "Should female dogs be spayed?". Spaying Can Stop Health Defects Spaying is an effective tool to stop congenital defects before they can be passed on through inheritance. As I sit here writing this my two rescue dogs, Briscoe and Kensi, are keeping me company. I am surprised that a vet would prefer a traditional spey. No part of this website may be copied, displayed on another website, or distributed in any way without permission from the author. Spaying offers partial protection against breast cancer. A senior dog recovering from a surgery likely needs extra TLC, including perhaps a little extra help on the stairs as well as some coaxing to eat. On the other hand, the cons of spaying/ neutering are hypothyroidism and weight gain, hip dysplasia, and risks associated with anaesthesia. Although we like to place catheters in all of our surgical patients, they are critical in senior patients, who tend to have a slightly harder time maintaining their blood pressure while sleeping. Spaying your dog will also prevent your dog from developing a life-threatening condition called “pyometra”. Healing process is by giving their dog all medications as directed by the technician. Nearly 1 in 4 intact females act as though they 're going have. 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