Spaying or neutering your dog can prevent unwanted litters and reduce bad behavior. It can also lower the risk of certain diseases. Our vets in Los Angeles County can give you info on how to get the procedure done.
Why should I get my dog fixed?
As a new puppy owner, you may be considering the option of spaying or neutering your furry friend. This is especially important if you plan on taking them for walks on a leash or if they will be confined to your garden or backyard.
The advantages of having your pet fixed are numerous and include substantial health and behavioral benefits, as well as potential financial advantages.
Benefits of Spaying Female Dogs
In the United States, numerous animal shelters are overwhelmed with dogs. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 3.3 million dogs are admitted to shelters in America annually.
Health Benefits of Spaying Your Dog
Spaying your female dog before she reaches her first "heat" can help curb diseases like uterine infections and breast tumors, which can cause cancer.
Financial Benefits of Spaying Your Dog
Preventing the birth of unwanted puppies is good for your pocketbook. While there is a fee for spaying, this fee is relatively low compared to the cost of caring for a pregnant dog, calling a vet for the birth of the puppies, and caring for newborns.
Deciding Not To Spay Your Female Dog
When female dogs aren't spayed, they go into a reproductive stage often known as "heat." This stage can cause male dogs to be attracted to your pup for up to 18 days. This can lead to unwanted visits from male dogs while out for walks or in your yard and can also result in an unwanted litter of puppies.
Benefits of Neutering Male Dogs
Neutering your male dog, just like spaying a female dog, can contribute to reducing the number of unwanted dogs in the United States.
Health Benefits of Neutering Your Dog
By neutering your dog, you are helping to eliminate the risk of tentacular cancer for them and are able to significantly curb the risk of prostate diseases (which can be quite serious). Neutering also helps to prevent undesirable behaviors and conditions like perinial tumors and hernias.
Behavioral Benefits of Neutering Your Dog
Neutering can help to curb your dog's desire to roam and may help to reduce behaviors such as mounting and aggression towards other dogs.
Deciding Not To Neuter Your Male Dog
There are many different undesirable behaviors typical of a male dog that hasn't been neutered. These include increased territorial behavior, being over-protective of toys and people, aggression towards other dogs, and roaming (particularly when seeking female dogs).
When to Get Your Puppy Fixed
Usually, puppies undergo a spaying or neutering procedure when they are between five to nine months old. It is also possible to spay or neuter adult dogs. It is best to consult with your veterinarian to determine the right time for your dog to undergo this procedure.
What to Expect When Getting Your Puppy Fixed
Your veterinarian will give you a detailed set of instructions before your pet's surgery, including limiting their food and water intake beforehand.
After the surgery, your veterinarian will provide you with post-operative instructions to help your dog recover comfortably.
Depending on the timing of the procedure, your dog may also be sent home with pain medication. Generally, female dogs require more time to recover from being spayed than male dogs from being neutered.
After a female dog is spayed, she becomes sterile and cannot have puppies. However, male dogs are not immediately sterile after being neutered, and it can take up to six weeks for them to become safely sterile.