Low risk of infections, less hormonal imbalances, greater life expectancy; there are many advantages to spaying your dog. If you have any queries about this procedure, this DogAppy article will answer them all.
For people with pet dogs, the importance of spaying cannot be stressed enough. It is absolutely imperative for a dog owner to spay their dog, as this avoids a lot of unwanted and unnecessary complications in the future. Spaying is, by no means something that is to be taken lightly or ignored. In fact, it is very important for the safety of the dog, as it has various health benefits associated with it.
It is the female dogs that need to be spayed, and not doing so, can have some serious repercussions in the future that will have you holding your head. To avoid such a situation from cropping up, you should spay her as soon as possible. The sooner you get down to doing this, the better it will be for everyone involved. Ideally, it should be done before she is 6 months old and her first heat period strikes. If your dog is past the ideal time and you haven’t spayed her, you still need not worry. It is not the end of the world. Make an appointment immediately and get round to it.
What to Expect After Spaying?
Spaying refers to removal of the uterus and ovaries. It sounds a little extreme, but when dogs are in heat they just manage to find one another no matter what, and that results in the birth of unwanted babies. By spaying your dog, you can prevent this from happening. For male dogs, the corresponding procedure is known as neutering. The most important advantage of this procedure is the prevention of mammary cancer or breast cancer. The sooner you spay your dog, the lower the chances of dog cancer being contracted. Thus, it is ideally in your best interest to spay your dog before her first heat period comes along.
Some more advantages are as follows.
- Female dogs that are spayed do not go through intense hormone changes, and as such, they are less moody and temperamental.
- Pyometra is a very dangerous infection of the uterus; spayed dogs do contract it.
- Spayed dogs tend to roam less often and are generally more docile and well-behaved.
Spaying Your Dog While on Heat
Now this is a doubt that most people have, and the truth is that some vets agree to doing it, while some don’t. There are obviously more complications to spaying her while on heat, but if you are really eager then you must go ahead with it. The best scenario would be to wait till the heat period passes along, but then that can be slightly risky. Visit your vet for an expert opinion and if he is willing to go ahead with the surgery, it’s probably best to adhere. The decision also depends on the number of male dogs in your neighborhood. If the number is high then you should not waste any time.
Side Effects
Since this is an invasive surgery, there are bound to be some side effects of the same. There is going to be an open wound on the dog with stitches, so the idea is to minimize physical activity as much as possible. The dog will most likely feel sleepy and lethargic after the surgery. About one week of rest should be adequate to make a full recovery. If your dog is very active and playful, consult your vet and administer some antihistamine. Complications are rare, and are most likely to arise if the instructions given by the vet are not followed properly.
The dog should be strictly kept indoors and the doctor prescribed dosage of painkillers and antibiotics should be given regularly. You must pay a visit to the vet after about 9 days or so. He will inspect the wound and see, if there are any unwanted complications. If all precautions are taken, the recovery is usually quick and painless.
Cost of Spaying
The cost depends on a variety of factors like the age, size, weight, and medical history. The sooner the spaying procedure is done, the lower will be the cost. On an average, the charge can be anything between US$50 – US$150. It is important to go to a vet with whom you have had prior dealings, or a vet whom you know personally. It will help you get additional information and will also enable a greater degree of personalization of the case.
At the end of the day, it is fair to say that by spaying your dog, you are increasing its lifespan. It doesn’t just prevent the birth of unwanted puppies, but also keeps several diseases at bay. It is very risky for a female dog to have pups at a young age, as it can lead to complications in the future. It also reduces hormonal swings and moodiness, which are otherwise quite common. If you are keen to see your dog have babies then you can pass up this procedure, but this will require a lot of extra care and attention. It is an essential act though, that must be done at some stage in the dog’s life―the sooner the better.
