When it comes to neutering our dogs or even thinking about it there is so much information out there it can be really tricky to decide what is the best route to take for our dogs. In this article we are going to explore the different options of how you can stop your dog from reproducing.
The first option if you want to keep the dogs intact is to be very aware of your dogs when they are in season or around dogs that could be in season/just out of season. It is perfectly possible to keep entire males and entire females and keep them apart but it isn’t easy, it does stress the boys out, they can stop eating and become quite vocal. So though it is possible it isn’t easy and it shouldn’t be something that anyone rushes into.
So if you don’t want to deal with that, what is the best way forward?
There are three options for bitches which we will outline below:
When it comes to neutering our dogs or even thinking about it there is so much information out there it can be really tricky to decide what is the best route to take for our dogs. In this article we are going to explore the different options of how you can stop your dog from reproducing.
The first option if you want to keep the dogs intact is to be very aware of your dogs when they are in season or around dogs that could be in season/just out of season. It is perfectly possible to keep entire males and entire females and keep them apart but it isn’t easy, it does stress the boys out, they can stop eating and become quite vocal. So though it is possible it isn’t easy and it shouldn’t be something that anyone rushes into.
So if you don’t want to deal with that, what is the best way forward?
There are three options for bitches which we will outline below:
Ovary Sparing Spay (OSS)
This is a relatively new type of spay and is still really uncommon in the UK. This means that the uterus is removed to below the cervix but the ovaries are left in place. Some people will also remove one ovary to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer but some people will leave them both in. This allows a bitch to keep her hormones, removing a lot of the risk associated with a normal spay. This does however mean that the bitch will still have seasons, the difference being that there could be some discharge, or there could be none at all. But any entire males will recognise the smell and may still try to mate with her. She will hormonally still go through normal seasons and even though she couldn’t have puppies as all her tubing has gone, it doesn’t mean that she wouldn’t want to mate and it wouldn’t stop them mating. So this could be a good option for those that do not own an entire male or just want to reduce the risk of having a litter. It is rare in the UK currently but could be something that rescues especially could do well with taking up as it can be done at any age, even young puppies as the hormones stay put so it won’t affect their growth and development.
Traditional Spay
This is the type that most vets will offer. They cut open and take out everything, ovaries, uterus, the lot. As this type of spay removes the ovaries the bitch will no longer have her hormones. This means no seasons to worry about and there is no chance of pregnancy. As the hormones are removed it also needs to be noted that the timing of the spay can be important. This is because hormones are needed for the development of the dog, their growth, mentally and physically. Ideally a bitch should have at least two seasons and be fully grown and developed before spaying. The recovery of is usually lead walks for about 11 days. We wouldn’t recommend that dogs go back into harness until at least 6 weeks post spay to give all the internal muscles plenty of time to heal.
Laparoscopic Spay
Otherwise known as key hole surgery, laparoscopic spay involves three small cuts and the removal of just the ovaries. This means the effect of this spay is exactly the same as the traditional spay, the difference is that the cervix is left in place and recovery is quicker. The recovery is usually within a couple of days and then bitches can be built up to being let off lead – however we still don’t recommend that they go into harness until around 6 weeks post op so that they have time to recover. Though they may seem recovered the muscles are still cut for the op and muscle takes a long time to heal up again. There is belief that this type of spay helps reduce the risk of spay incontinence, this is one reason along with quicker recovery that people choose this spay over a traditional one.
There are also options for boys, as far as we are aware currently there are only these two:
Traditional Neuter
In a traditional male neuter the testicles are removed. This means that levels of testosterone will drop dramatically. However though it means that a male dog can’t reproduce it won’t necessarily stop them trying to mate with a bitch in season. It is perfectly possible for them to mate, even if there is no chance of puppies so it is advised that neutered males aren’t left with intact bitches as they could increase risk of an infection in the bitch. Neutering should however make it easier for dogs to be around bitches in season and how they react to the season will be very dog dependant. The recovery is much like a traditional spay, lead walk for a week or so before they are allowed off lead. Due to the drop in testosterone it is advised that no dog is neutered before they are fully grown and developed. This is much harder with males as it will vary depending on breed and the individual as to when they have finished developing but ideally not before a year old and generally around 18 months to two years at the earliest.
Vasectomy
A Vasectomy is when the tubes are cut but the testicles are left exactly where they are! This allows the dog to keep all their hormones whilst removing the risk of creating puppies. There is some uncertainty as to how permanent a vasectomy is and so it’s advised to still keep an eye on your boys if around bitches in season. This much like the OSS can be done at any age dog due to the dog keeping their hormones, it won’t disrupt their development. The op involves a really small incision just above the scrotum. It heals very quickly with little disruption to the dogs normal life.
Obviously any of these operations will involve the dog having general anaesthetic and there is always risks associated with that. We recommend that you have a good chat with your vet about what you feel is right for your dog. It should be noted that not all vets will do the operation you want and you may find that you end up having to go to a different vets to get the procedure. It can take a little bit of researching!