One of the most important decisions we will make if we have a dog is the fact that castrate her or not, many of us think about this decision trying to do the best for her.
Spaying and neutering has many benefits for pets, as well as putting a little grain of sand in the fight against on canine populationThis is a big problem today so it is important to neuter your pet from this point of view.
At what age to castrate my dog?
Next we will tell you the pros and cons of this and the age at which you should sterilize your dog. So if you are thinking about sterilizing your dog The first thing you should know is that you have to be sure that you are not going to want her to have young, before deciding you have to assess that births usually produce a large number of young, think about whether you have adopters for them and the most important thing is if you have enough time and money to give it the care it needs.
In addition to all this you should know that you have to have a good amount of money to carry out this operation and for the necessary care that must be carried out after the operation. You must also remember that there are thousands of dogs waiting by someone who wants to adopt them in the animal shelters.
Between the Main benefits that you can find for your pet, we found that you can prevent the appearance of breast tumors, you can avoid unwanted litters, you can eliminate the possibility of tumors appearing in the uterus, you can eliminate the risk of suffering infections in the uterus and you can achieve a much longer half-life, this is according to studies that have shown it .
Castration it is a very common surgery which is done in the clinic daily. The procedures that are mostly performed include the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus, that is, the ovariohysterctromy and also the extraction of the ovaries, that is, the oophorectomyIt is worth mentioning that both operations require the application of anesthesia.
Complications
This is a surgery that can present some complications such as bleeding in the areas where the ovaries were removed and the uterus, this is not usual because in the surgery a review must be carried out to make sure that these areas do not bleed, although if this is the case this usually happens when the dog is still in the hospital so the specialist must act in an efficient way.
It can also produce the opening of the incision or dehiscence area, this usually occurs in bitches that are active or often called the incision so it is important to have the elizabethan necklace so that they cannot reach the wound, this is a collar that is usually very uncomfortable for dogs, so it is recommended to place it only at times when the bitch will be alone or when you cannot make sure that it does not lick.
Incisional infection
Likewise, the infection of the incision, this usually happens if your dog licks the wound excessively, it is very important follow the vet's recommendations in relation to the cures and the treatment to be followed.
Many times you see the controversy about the date and the appropriate age to perform this operation, so below we will tell you the reason why most veterinarians recommend that it be performed before the first heat, that is, around 8 months. The main reason is to be able to eliminate the risk of breast tumors, since these are usually malignant in 50 percent of cases.
A bitch neutered after the first year has a risk of 8 percent and if they pass both heats this increases to 25 percent.
And what is the maximum age to castrate a dog?
Although we have already told you about the age at which dogs should be castrated to obtain the greatest benefits for their health, it may be the case that you do not do it at that time and, years later, you choose it.
Just because you don't do it before her first heat, or even after having one, does not mean that you can't do it later, although the percentage of probability that health problems will not occur is somewhat higher.
However, when a dog is 8 years old or older, one must consider whether the operation is really plausible. Keep in mind that we are talking about an adult animal and that it may have more problems with recovery, as well as with other aspects.
The differences between neutering and spaying a dog
Many misuse the words neutering and spaying (and their derivatives) thinking that they are the same, or that they have the same effect. And the truth is that it is not like that. Both procedures are different from each other.
Sterilization
Sterilization is a very easy, fast and safe operation for dogs. In the case of females, we speak of a intervention to prevent the female from reproducing or even having heat (The normal thing is to keep it, but it all depends on the age at which it is performed), in such a way that you avoid the problem of unwanted pregnancies.
However, and contrary to castration, the behavior and sexual activity is maintained. That is, we are talking about a bitch that, although she cannot have offspring, her sexuality remains intact and, therefore, she will be willing to ride with other males.
Castration
Castration involves a surgical operation, like the previous one, but that goes further because the sex glands are removed, that is, the ovaries are removed from the females. What does it cause? Not only that the female is sterile (because she will not have eggs), but also that there is no type of sexual activity.
The recovery period is a little longer than sterilization, but its advantages are usually those that make the owners opt for this form since, at a health level, it usually avoids more diseases and problems. However, in the case of females, it does not influence, in most cases, the behavior of the animal.
Drawbacks of neutering a bitch
Now that you know what the main differences are between neutering and spaying a dog, and that you know all the benefits of doing it (both one and the other), we want to focus on a topic that is not always talked about, nor do vets warn you .
We talk about the inconveniences that castration of a bitch can cause. Of course, when it comes to neutering, because it is an operation, it has the same risks as any surgery, but also the remaining wound may be a source of infection, especially the first weeks until it heals well.
If a bitch is infected with the wound, it is important to take her to the vet to check it, and give her a treatment so that it does not go to more and can reduce her health or cause a greater problem.
But, in addition to that, which can be "usual" there is a possibility that your dog will develop urinary incontinence. That is, you can pee without warning and without being able to remedy it. And yes, it is a consequence to take into account since, if you castrate her before her first heat, we are talking about a bitch of about 8 months, and live her whole life urinating, it can be uncomfortable for the owners (in fact, in some cases, it even becomes one of the reasons for abandonment).
The reason why urinary incontinence occurs is due to estrogens since it is said that they are responsible for the bladder and sphincter muscles are controlled and, by removing the ovaries, that makes it possible to leak urine .
Furthermore, this problem is not solved by letting her have a heat, or by castrating her when she is older; it can appear at any time. It is also true that the percentage of neutered dogs that develop incontinence is low, but still, you should consider it.
What does this imply? Well that throughout his life you must be in treatment to try to solve that problemEither with hormones, with medications, or with other methods that can help you have a better quality of life.
Other drawbacks of neutering a bitch
Apart from those we have seen, there are other drawbacks to take into account when castrating a bitch, such as:
Increased appetite
And, consequently, also an increase in weight. In fact, because there is a hormonal changeEven if you keep giving him the same amount of food, he can put on weight. However, there is treatment to ensure that it does not happen.
Normally, with a change in the usual diet, you can notice an improvement in weight, and it is something to control since, that way, your joints will not suffer (with the passage of time, it may cost you more to walk).
Smell and fights
In some cases, neutered females continue to secrete a special scent for dogs, which encourages them to mount. And of course, the females do not want to, which will cause a fight between the two animals.
Your vet can help you as there are odor suppressants that might work in these cases, so you don't have to deal with fights that may occur.
Aggressiveness
Neutering is also a method for more aggressive dogs to become tame. It is common for a more active dog that generates behavior problems, with castration changes its behavior.
The problem is that, if they are castrated too early, this aggressiveness and hyperactivity can even get worse, because, in some way, they remain anchored in that "child-youth" period through which they go, and they get out of control even when they are older.
Of course, this cannot be guaranteed 100%, since there are dogs that have not changed their behavior, but it is one of the possible solutions to this problem that many experts recommend before resorting to others.
Question: a 6-year-old dog can be neutered?