What is the difference between dog spaying and neutering?
Spaying is for female dogs, it involves removing the ovaries and the uterus. Neutering, on the other hand, is for male dogs and entails removing the testicles.
Dr. Corey Gut
DePorre Veterinary Hospital
How does dog spaying or neutering impact the health and well-being of my pet?
Spaying and neutering help in many ways. It prevents some diseases in females such as an infection of the uterus, pyometra, and different forms of cancer, most commonly mammary cancer. For males, it prevents testicular cancers and some issues and diseases of the prostate. It also improves behavioral issues like marking and some aggressive behaviors.
How soon should I bring my pet in to see a veterinarian to get my dog spayed or neutered?
Usually, we don't do any spaying or neutering before six months of age. However, the timing can be breed and status specific. For preventing breast cancer in females, we spay them before the first heat cycle. For neutering, sometimes we wait until they're older, especially in larger breeds.
What are some possible conditions that can be helped by spaying or neutering my dog?
Spaying or neutering can prevent mammary cancer, testicular tumors, and other health issues on varying scales. It can also prevent pyometra, which is an infection of the uterus.
How will spaying or neutering affect my dog in the future?
It will prevent roaming behaviors and keep them out of harm's way. This can prevent issues with lost pets and pets getting into dangerous situations.
What will my veterinarian need to know about my dog before spaying or neutering?
We conduct preoperative blood work to examine various factors such as red and white blood cell counts, liver and kidney enzymes, protein levels, and blood sugar. This comprehensive assessment is essential to ensure the safety of the anesthesia procedure, aiming for a one hundred percent safety level. Our goal is to confirm the pet's overall health and ensure they are of the appropriate age and size for a secure and successful procedure.
How long will it take for my dog to recover from being spayed or neutered?
Most dogs are fully recovered and back to normal within 14 days. We strongly advise against bathing, walking, or socializing with other animals for the first two weeks after the procedure. This precaution helps ensure that your pet has enough time to heal thoroughly, both internally and externally.
What care should I be prepared to provide at home while my dog is recovering from their spay or neuter surgery?
The postoperative period is of utmost importance, and we rely significantly on pet parents during this time. Keeping your pet resting, calm, and comfortable is crucial. We provide pain medication and additional medication as needed to ensure their relaxation and quietude during the recovery period. Regularly checking their incision once a day is essential. We look for any signs of bruising and ensure their comfort while adhering to the pain medication schedule. For young pets experiencing post-surgery anxiety, we also have anxiety medications available to help keep them calm.
Most dogs can resume eating on the night of the surgery, but they may not have a strong appetite until the following morning. It's important to note that we do not restrict water intake before or after surgery. When they return home, they can have access to water, but it's advisable not to allow them to drink too much too quickly, as excessive intake may lead to vomiting.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (248) 609-1625, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Spay & Neuter - FAQs
Dr. Corey Gut
DePorre Veterinary Hospital
How are dog spay surgeries performed?
A dog spay is an ovariohysterectomy, which means that both the ovaries and the uterus are removed. The procedure involves making an incision on the midline of the abdomen. Once inside the abdomen, the ovaries and the uterus are located and removed. Dogs have a right and a left side, called horns, and a cervix. Everything above the cervix, which is both ovaries and the uterus, is removed. The abdomen is then closed up with a three-layer closure once the spay has been performed.
How are dog neuter surgeries performed?
Dog neuters, unless the dog has a retained testicle (known as prepped orchid), are not performed inside the abdomen. Instead, a small pre-scrotal incision is made, from which both testicles are removed, double-ligated, and then the incision is closed.
Will the spay or neuter be painful for my dog?
We take great care to ensure all our surgeries are pain-free. We use local blocks, such as Lidocaine and Bupivacaine, as well as preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative pain medication. We also provide medication for the dog to take home. This ensures our patients are extremely comfortable, and usually, it's all the pet parents can do to keep them quiet because they feel so good.
Are there any complications to a spay or neuter surgery?
Although there's always a possibility of complications during any surgical procedure, the chances are usually very low. The most common complication we see is during the recovery period. If the owners don't put the cone on their dogs when unattended, the dogs may lick their incisions, attempting to alleviate the itchiness of the healing process. This could potentially introduce infection or even open up the incision.
How long does a dog spay or neuter take?
Dog spays typically take around 20 minutes on average. The time varies depending on the size of the dog; smaller dogs take less time, and bigger dogs take more time. Dog neuters, on average, take about eight to 10 minutes, as we don't go inside the abdomen for these procedures.
What are some misconceptions about the spay and neuter process?
One common misconception is that many clients don't view it as a major surgery, while in reality, it is. For females, we are removing body parts, and the same holds true for males. Ensuring that the dogs are calm and resting during the recovery is very important. Some clients don't believe in spaying and neutering for various reasons, but there are many health benefits to spaying or neutering your pet.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (248) 609-1625, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram