Neutering Young Pets

Question Will neutering my puppy at a young age stunt his growth?

Answer

Dogs' size is mostly determined by their genetics, not their hormones. Neutering does dramatically reduce the amount of testosterone in a male pup's system, which may give him a bit less muscle mass in the long run, but won't affect his height or the size of his frame. Actually, studies have shown that dogs spayed or neutered early (at 16 weeks or younger) tend to be slighter larger than those altered later in life. So no, you won't change your dog's growth by neutering him as a puppy. Plus there are a lot of advantages to neutering your pup.

Spaying Older Pets

Question Is there a problem with spaying a dog that's several years old?

Answer

While spaying or neutering pets before they reach adulthood is best for them, you can certainly have them spayed as adults. They'll still experience the benefits of being altered, including lower chances of reproductive tract diseases, less behavioral problems and no unwanted puppies and kittens.

As with any surgery, your dog should have some basic bloodwork performed beforehand to rule out any conditions that could make anesthesia dangerous. With these tests, the risks associated with routine surgeries like spays and neuters are small, even in older pets.

Is there such a thing as birth control for female dogs without having to have them spayed?

Answer There are oral products on the market that your veterinarian can prescribe for birth control in your dog. The down side is that the drug's literature says that it shouldn't be used in animals intended for later breeding. That seems curious, since most dogs that are going to be kept intact are generally kept that way for breeding purposes.

If you are not going to breed your dog, there is medical benefit in spaying before the first heat additional to lifetime reproductive control. It has been well-documented that females that are spayed before their first heat have almost no chance of ever developing mammary cancer. Please discuss these options with your attending veterinarian as both options have their benefits and risks.

False Pregnancy

Question

My female dog was in heat when she was spayed. Now she is collecting her toys and treating them like puppies. Is she having a false pregnancy?

Answer

What you describe is a classic case of false pregnancy. Because of the way a female dog's reproductive cycle works, it is very common for a false pregnancy to follow spaying during a heat period. Basically, the pituitary gland in the brain assumes the dog is pregnant causing the changes in behavior. The good news is that is will subside without treatment soon, usually within a week. Be careful of her behavior because some female dogs become very protective of their imaginary puppies.

Should I have my dog spayed?

Question

I have a two year old, female Rottweiller mix, that is not fixed yet. She is a sweet, obedient animal, and I am concerned about the behavioral changes that occur when an animal has its sexual organs removed. What are the effects on their health and temperament after surgery?

Answer

There are no predictable behavior changes in the female dog or cat after ovariohysterectomy. Male dogs, however, often become less dominant and aggressive with other dogs and roam less after neutering. Male cats generally do less territorial fighting and roam less, which dramatically increases their life span.

There are many solid health reasons for spaying and neutering our pets. Early spaying prevents mammary cancer and a uterine disease called pyometra. Both of these conditions can be fatal in the female dog. Neutering male dogs reduces the incidence of prostate and testicular disease.

Preventing unwanted litters is another common reason veterinarians recommend spaying both cats and dogs at six to 12 months of age, preferably before the first heat.

Keeping our pets at home and healthy will provide longer and more pleasurable companionship!

How can we tell when our female dog is in heat?

Answer

Intact female dogs will normally come into heat (estrus) once every four to 12 months with the average for most breeds being once every six months. You will probably notice some bloody discharge from the vagina and a swollen vulva when your dog is in heat. You may notice "mounting" behavior, also. The heat period can last from eight to 30 days with an average of about 20 days.

Most female dogs will be willing to stand for a male dog and permit breeding around 10 to 16 days after the beginning of their heat period. Some females will be a little more aggressive during their heat period, but most show no change in behavior and interaction with their owners.

Having puppies is great if you want the puppies or if you're trying to develop a special line of dogs. But there is no behavioral benefit in letting the female have a litter before spaying. The normal canine companion will benefit greatly from being spayed at an early age before she has her first heat cycle. Problems that can develop later in life, such as mammary cancer and uterine infections, are virtually eliminated if an ovariohysterectomy (spay) is performed before she experiences her first heat cycle.