Neutering, or spaying a female dog refers to the surgical removal of the ovaries or ovaries and
uterus.

Spaying has several health as well as practical benefits and is generally done from 6 months of age, although the best time will vary from dog to dog.

SHOULD I HAVE MY DOG SPAYED?

Well, not if you’re hoping for puppies! Otherwise, the short answer is probably yes.

Here are some of the reasons to spay your dog

• Pregnancy Prevention
  
• Stops Oestrus (coming into season).
  
  If your dog is not spayed then she will come into season roughly every six months.
  
  She will have bloody discharge from her vulva, and could become pregnant.
  
  She may be unable to go to kennels or training classes and the dog walker may not
  take her out.
  
• Reduced Risk of Mammary (breast) Cancer: Dogs spayed before their first season have a
  less than 0.5% chance of developing breast cancer.
  
• Prevents Cancer of the Ovaries and Womb
  
• Prevention of Pyometra.
  
  Dogs can develop a life-threatening infection of the womb caused byhormonal changes after being in season.
  
  Treatment is prompt surgery to remove the infected uterus, but by this point dogs are already very poorly and usually require hospitalisation.
  
  Pyometra can be prevented by spaying.
  
• Longer Life.
  
  Dogs that have been spayed tend to live longer than dogs who are not spayed.
  
  

Spaying may also be recommended as part of the treatment for various conditions including

• recurrent false pregnancy
• Diabetes
• Some tumours
• Difficult births or after Caesarean section

MYTH BUSTING

Despite what you may read on the internet or hear in the dog park…

• There is no benefit to letting your dog have a litter of puppies
  
• Spaying will not change your dog’s personality, make her less playful or more fearful.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO HAVING MY DOG SPAYED

• Weight gain. Spaying will slow down a dog’s metabolism making them prone to weight gain.
  This is easily solved by reducing their food slightly after spaying and ensuring she has regular
  exercise!
  
• Joint disease. In some breeds there may be an increased risk of joint disease if a dog is
  spayed too early. Discuss your dog with your vet so you can decide the best time to have her
  spayed.
  
• Urinary Incontinence. A small number of dogs may develop a leaky bladder after being
  spayed. This mostly affects middle aged and older dogs and is usually treatable.
  
• Anaesthetic risks. There is always a risk when your dog has an anaesthetic and surgery.
  However, we use the most modern treatments and procedures to keep your dog safe , so
  complications during a routine spay are extremely rare.
  
• Wound healing: Occasionally a spay wound may become infected or be slow to heal. This may
  require extra medication. You can minimise the risk of wound complications by ensuring your
  dog is not able to lick her wounds.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SPAY MY DOG?

• Dogs can be spayed from 6 months old, although in some breeds there may be some health
  benefits to delaying neutering until she is older.
  
  Discuss the pros and cons for your dog with your vets.

• The safest time to spay a dog is either before a first season or, if she has had a season, then 2-3
  months after the end of her last season.
  
• It is important for your dog to have a pre-spay check with a vet or vet nurse. We will check her
  over to make sure she does not show signs of coming into season, and to make sure that she is
  not showing signs of false pregnancy.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY DOG IS SPAYED?

When your dog comes in to be spayed we will look after her in the same way we look after our
own pets. We will make sure that she feels safe and reassured the whole time.

You drop her off in the morning our nurses will go through everything with you and answer
any questions you may have. Have a think before you come in about any questions you want to
ask. It can help to make a list.

After you leave we will get your dog settled into a comfortable and warm bed.

We use drugs before, during, and after the surgery to help your dog feel relaxed, provide pain
relief, and to make sure her anaesthetic is as safe as possible. We will keep you up to date with
messages and pictures so you know exactly what’s going on.

Using a keyhole procedure to remove the ovaries so we only need to make two small (2cm)
incisions.

Occasionally we may need to remove a dog’s uterus as well, but this can often still be
done with a keyhole procedure.

In a small number of dogs we may recommend a routine spay rather than a keyhole procedure. In a routine spay we remove the ovaries and uterus through an incision in the abdomen.

You will be able to collect your dog in the afternoon once she is awake enough to go home. Our
nurses will go through the aftercare instructions with you and we will send your dog home with a
couple of days of pain relief.

We will check your dog a couple of days later to check her wounds and make sure that she is happy and well.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE MY DOG TO RECOVER?

• Your dog may be a bit sleepy the evening after her spay, but by the following morning most
  dogs are usually back to themselves.
  
• Recovery following a keyhole spay is just 2-3 days.
  
• Following a traditional spay it will usually take 10-12 days for your dog’s wound to heal.

KEY POINTS

• Spaying your dog is one of the biggest things you can do to give her a long healthy life
  
• Spaying prevents false pregnancy, womb infections, and reduces the risk of tumours
  
• Most dogs recover quickly from their spay and are able to get back to their normal activity
  within a few days
  
  

Your vets know how much you love your dog and they want to help you look after her
in the best way possible.

They also understand that you may be worried about her having an anaesthetic and surgery.

Be assured that they will always look after your dog just as we look after their own dogs.

If you have any questions about having your dog spayed, then your vet practice will be more than happy to help.