When to sterilize a female dog and why to do it

If you are gathering information about neutering your dog, this is normal. You surely want the best for your pet and are still wondering whether spaying or neutering your dog is a good thing. The truth is, yes, it is.

Neutering has many benefits, some of which are:

1. Avoid unwanted litters.
2. Prevents psychological pregnancies or pseudopregnancies in bitches.
3. Reduces the chances of developing mammary tumors (very common in older bitches).
4. Prevents diseases of the uterus (such as tumors, infections or pyometra).
5. Prevents ovarian disorders (such as cysts or ovarian tumors).
6. Eliminates estrus and the corresponding symptoms (bleeding, attraction to males).

However, it is normal to have doubts about whether spaying or neutering is painful or dangerous, or about when it is best to spay a female dog. Let's analyze the question.

Is sterilization safe for dogs?

Don't be alarmed, sterilization is a safe and very common procedure in veterinary clinics, and recovery is very quick.

The most common procedure is to surgically remove the ovaries and uterus by making a small incision in the abdomen.

This process is called an ovarian hysterectomy and is performed under general anesthesia, so that the animal does not suffer any pain. Once the surgery is performed, the dog can usually go home the same day.

You will have to keep an eye on her and follow her with particular attention during her convalescence, following the vet's advice, the most important of which is to change her diet and control her weight.

Bland or sterilized dog foods are designed to meet your dog's nutritional needs after surgery. Their composition is usually low in sugar, satiating, rich in fiber, rich in protein and low in calories. There are also snacks for weight control, which you can offer.

This procedure entails few a priori risks and many advantages. However, the evolution of the operation and the resulting benefits depend on the age of the dog and its state of health, so the vet will always be the best advisor on the pros and cons.

Today there are new spaying and neutering techniques that are being introduced in an ever-increasing number of veterinary clinics: laparoscopic spaying and neutering. This is a much less invasive surgical procedure and therefore allows for a better recovery of the dog.

When to spay a female dog: the dangers of not doing it on time

Every dog ​​is unique and there are also recommendations depending on the type and size of dog to be sterilized. The same goes for pathologies that can appear if they are not sterilized.

One of the most important factors in identifying the ideal age is size.

• Small breed dogs should be spayed before or immediately after their first heat (7-9 months). This way you can avoid future breast cancer and other ailments.
• However, if it is a larger breed, it is advisable to sterilize it after the first year of life , because the development and growth process must not be interrupted.

In addition to these recommendations, it is also possible to sterilize female dogs over the age of eight. However, it is not advisable to wait that long, since sterilization at that age does not prevent as effectively as when the bitch is still young.

As a result, if the operation is not performed on time, breast and reproductive tumors, ovarian cysts, endometritis and endometriosis, pyometra or unwanted pregnancy are more likely to occur. For this reason, it would be necessary to have the dog's condition evaluated by a veterinarian after eight years of age.