How does a dog behave after spaying? Pros and cons of spaying dogs. When can a dog be spayed - how is the procedure, postoperative care and the cost of the operation When should a dog be spayed

A heated debate about the need to sterilize pets now and then flares up among dog owners. But, despite this, there is still no consensus on this issue. Moreover, even experienced cynologists and veterinarians sometimes voice polar points of view and arguments. What can we say about new owners! In the understanding of many of them, the sterilization of a pet "just like that", without serious reasons, is a mockery of the animal. And nothing else.

But is everything so clear? And why did many civilized countries make sterilization mandatory for all non-breeding dogs long ago? Is it just out of a desire to get rid of the mutts? - There are a lot of questions. And in this article we will try to highlight the most relevant of them. And also to dispel the popular myths associated with it.

How are dogs spayed?

Naturally, before talking about any subject or phenomenon, it is necessary to clearly understand its essence. So we will begin to consider the issue of sterilization with complete information about it. So, Neutering or castration is the removal of the reproductive organs of an animal. In our case, dogs.

Males are much easier to castrate than females. This operation is less traumatic and does not pose a threat to the life and health of the dog. But only if it is done according to all the rules and in the conditions of the clinic. Its essence is that both testicles are removed through a small incision in the scrotum, and the wound is sutured. Local anesthesia is sufficient for pain relief, but often veterinarians additionally give the dog a minimal dose of general anesthesia. This is done more for humanitarian reasons than medical necessity. To prevent complications during wound healing, the dog is prescribed antibiotics. Well, after a week the stitches are removed and that's it. The ward is cheerful and healthy, as if nothing had happened.

Sterilization of bitches is already a full-fledged surgical intervention. And those owners who believe that everything is limited to tubal ligation are mistaken. In fact, the dog is completely removed the ovaries or all internal genital organs. This is done not at all at the whim of doctors, but in order to once and for all save the animal not only from the possibility of having puppies, but also from any problems with the reproductive organs. Those. after sterilization, your girl will never again suffer from pyometra, fibroids and ovarian cysts. In addition, changes in the hormonal background help reduce the risk of breast tumors.

But no matter how wonderful all the consequences of sterilization, the main argument “against” this operation for bitches is its trauma and the risk of serious complications. For example, adhesive disease or urinary incontinence. That the likelihood of such a development of events exists, but to minimize it will help:

Involvement in the operation of a highly qualified veterinary surgeon, and not the first one, according to the principle "where it is cheaper"
Neutering a healthy bitch, not at the moment when she becomes vital
Strict adherence to all doctor's recommendations in the postoperative period

It goes without saying that this intervention is performed only under general anesthesia. And after it, additional antibacterial and restorative therapy will be required. Although, most likely, your pet will behave the same way as before it two days after sterilization. And only the postoperative bandage will remind you and her of the surgery.

Main reason for sterilization

It's not even that a neutered male and a sterile bitch are much more convenient to keep, and you will definitely get rid of the risk of getting unplanned offspring from them. The most important argument "for" carrying out such an operation is the health of the dog. Surprised? – Then we will surprise you even more. The thing is that both ill-conceived matings and their absence will be a “mockery” of a pet if it has healthy, natural instincts. And first of all it concerns bitches.

An unleashed male “suffers” only in the first years of his life and only during the period of estrus with his “girlfriends”. With age, his sexual instinct is somewhat dulled and then he lives more or less calmly, until old age. But already a single mating of the ward puts an end to such an age-related extinction of sexual activity. From now on, finding a "bride" is the main goal and concern for him. And it’s good if at the moment no one is flowing nearby, otherwise the boy loses “peace and sleep”, and often his appetite. In addition, it is the unleashed males who are more inclined to defend their interests in fights, and also to run after their “beloved” even to the ends of the world. And it does not matter that the path passes through a busy autobahn. It is clear that all this poses a threat to the life and health of a small breed dog.

But even if your boy is an exclusively domestic "child", hormones will do their job, and he can find a way out in satisfying his sexual needs with his favorite toy or master's leg. Castration of a male allows you to eliminate hormonal storms in the body, make it more calm and obedient. Well, in old age he will be less likely to earn prostatitis and orchitis or testicular cancer is 100% excluded.

Owners of bitches should be aware that the physiology of reproduction of their ward can in no way be compared with that of a woman. Her cycle does not end with secretions in estrus. On the contrary, this is just the beginning. And even if you do not knit a baby, hormonally, the body considers itself pregnant. Hence the phenomenon of false pregnancy and the release of milk two months after ovulation. All this significantly increases the risk of developing hormone-dependent tumors and cysts. And, as a result, it can provoke the onset of inflammatory processes in the genital organs and even oncopathologies.

Spaying a bitch solves all of these problems, perhaps very drastically, but effectively. According to the principle - there is no body - there is no problem. And it is all the more indicated for dogs if:

Estrus every time come earlier and last longer
The pet regularly has signs of pregnancy, in the absence of mating
She had at least once had a complicated birth or spontaneous abortion
The dog periodically suffers from vaginitis, genital papillomotosis and other diseases of the reproductive system.
The bitch has any benign formations.
And with all this, you are no longer going to receive offspring from her.

Do not rush things and live long and without problems, with a full set of genital organs, can bitches who have never been bred and do not plan to. At the same time, they never showed signs of sexual hunting and false pregnancy. The dog is perfectly healthy, it does not have any neoplasms, and estrus always occurs strictly at regular intervals and follows the same pattern.

“Sterilization is not humane!”

Under such a general motto, one can gather a number of arguments against the operation. This is inflicting pain on a dog, and inflicting psychological trauma and the conviction that we have no right to interfere in nature so unceremoniously. Well, all these arguments are quite serious and deserve to be looked into more deeply.

Sterilization hurts. . In fact, the only pain during the operation will be an injection of painkillers. Plus, after it, the seams can pull and itch a little. Individual negative consequences include a difficult recovery from anesthesia, but this problem will be minimized by the experience and professionalism of the veterinarian. You are not going to castrate the baby at the house of a dog-lover neighbor?

Psychological trauma and stress after sterilization . But these are already fundamentally wrong conclusions, and their main reason is the tendency to attribute human feelings and thoughts to pets. The fact that he now has no testicles, your male, does not even guess. So he will definitely not be sad about this. Well, the only traumatic factor for the bitch will be perhaps the bandage, which prevents her from getting to the seams.

But let's be objective. Any surgical intervention is a risk. And if something goes wrong or complications arise, then stress and pain become realities for the ward until he fully recovers.

The dog will never enjoy . Such a motive for refusing castration can be more often observed among male owners. And again, the identification of dogs with people and the belief that mating is a pleasure for them is to blame. In fact, all this "suffering" and the active search for a partner is just instinctive behavior. And it is not directed at all at getting pleasure, but at the continuation of the canine family. By the way, have you ever seen the eyes of a male that you have bred for the first time in your life? Or maybe they calmed down, whining in pain, a bitch-minichka, standing in the castle? Moreover, both of them were in a state of sexual hunting, and next time they will behave in exactly the same way. Because they are driven by instinct. But they have not experienced anything like an orgasm and will not experience it. And the boy’s short calm after mating is caused by banal fatigue and stress, and not at all satisfaction.

Sterilization against the laws of nature . Opponents of castration for "ideological reasons" most often speak of it as a gross violation of the very nature of four-legged friends. In their opinion, a person simply does not have the right to “correct” what nature has created, because. her creations are perfect. And it's very difficult to argue something here. But still we take the risk.

The thing is that the very domestication of the dog and the creation of such a variety of breeds is already an intervention in nature. In pets that are not in the first generation live in warm and bright apartments, the reproductive system works quite differently from their wild ancestors. To begin with, wild dogs never flowed or bred twice a year. Nature wisely protected their body from such overloads. It is common for pets to go into heat every 5-6 months. And at the same time, they do not have a mechanism for the complete and safe destruction of unused eggs.

And what about males? It is their wild ancestors who were deprived of any stress for 9 months a year, because. estrus in bitches directly depended on the length of daylight hours and favorable natural conditions. Their great-great-granddaughters constantly live in comfort, which means that they can flow and give birth at any time of the year. So the owners of mini-boys are forced to reassure their wards almost after every walk. And nature certainly did not provide for such constant stress. So sterilization is not a violation of harmony at all, but rather some correction of what has already been violated.

Consequences and contraindications

It might seem to you that this entire article is only aimed at persuading you to sterilize your pet. And we deliberately omit all the negative consequences of such interference. This is not true. This is exactly what we are about to tell you. So, what can be the sad consequences of castration of males and females.

The animal begins to gain weight rapidly. This is due, firstly, to hormonal changes in the body. And, secondly, a decrease in overall activity. Previously, the dog was chasing the “brides” with might and main and strenuously sniffing out their marks, but now he doesn’t need it, so he now walks waddling, next to you. To solve the problem partly helps to carry out the operation at the age before full puberty. Then hormonal changes will not be so significant. As well as a low-calorie diet and a sufficient level of physical activity. And in general, if the dog is not inclined to be overweight, then after the operation it will not get fat.
Urinary incontinence in bitches. This is due to some displacement of the internal organs. No matter how an empty space appeared in the body. And also, if the bladder was affected during the operation. But we hasten to reassure you. This complication is more typical for large dogs. As an exception - for a small dog of advanced age.
Other postoperative complications. Yes, with any surgical intervention, there is a chance of infecting the dog or touching vital organs. And here you can rely only on the responsibility and professionalism of the veterinarian.

Experts are well aware that sterilization is not a mosquito bite and no one will do it just like that and everyone in a row. A competent and attentive doctor before the operation will definitely find out if the dog has any contraindications to it. Yes, and the owners will not be superfluous to know the most important of them. Namely:

pet cardiovascular disease
Postponed serious traumatic brain injury
Any chronic disease in the acute stage
Allergic reaction to medications
Age over 8 years unless surgery is necessary
Do not spay bitches when in heat

By the way, all of the above contraindications are not absolute. Those. with a clear threat to the life of the animal, the veterinarian will take the risk and perform an operation on both the dog with a heart defect and the dog at twelve years old.

In Russia, sterilization refers to the removal of the genitals of "girl" dogs. A similar operation for "boys" is castration. Although from the point of view of medicine - these are two completely different procedures. During castration, the animals' genitals are cut out, and it does not matter who is on the operating table - a female or a male. During sterilization, intervention in the reproductive system occurs without surgical intervention. After that, the pets have all the "love" instincts, but there is no possibility of fertilization.

We will consider neutering as a procedure to remove the uterus and ovaries in bitches. The operation is performed through an incision in the abdominal cavity. After the removal of the genital organs, the pet will not be able to get pregnant, will not experience attraction. Ovariohysterectomy is also a reliable way to protect against tumors of the uterus, ovaries and mammary glands in "girls" who have reached puberty, but veterinarians do not recommend spaying a dog during estrus.

Why is it important to choose the right time

The best time to spay is two weeks before the first heat. It begins in dogs between 6 and 10 months of age. Tests for hormones will help determine the exact date. If it was not possible to perform the operation before the first estrus, then it is carried out no earlier than two months after the next estrus.

Sterilization is shown not only to young females. The operation can be performed on animals of any age. But it must be remembered that the older the dog, the more difficult it is to undergo surgery.

Do not operate on puppies under six months of age. The fact is that sterilization takes place under general anesthesia, and for babies it is very difficult to calculate the correct dose. In addition, each dog has an individual rate of development, and not all of them have fully formed genitals at four or five months. Removal of underdeveloped appendages is fraught with the occurrence of hormonal diseases.

Do not spay bitches during pregnancy. The operation can lead to severe bleeding.

Operation during heat

Neutering a dog during estrus is highly undesirable. During this period, the protective functions of the body decrease in the animal, which can lead to serious consequences - from profuse blood loss on the operating table to a recovery period that lasts for a month.

Some females even exacerbate chronic diseases due to hormonal changes. Complications can arise not only during the procedure, but also during the recovery process.

The operation to remove the genitals during estrus is carried out only if there are medical indications for this. For example, some pets have pathological estrus. That is, the estrus lasts constantly, without stopping. The only way to eliminate this condition is to castrate the animal.

Postoperative period

After successful sterilization, the dog cannot have offspring. The pet stops estrus and all negative behavioral reactions associated with it. The dog ceases to show aggression towards people and other animals. The risk of breast cancer is reduced, the hormonal background is stabilized.

After the operation, the animal will gradually come out of anesthesia. The main task of the owner during this period is to be around and monitor the condition of the pet. Difficulty breathing with wheezing, irregular heartbeat and trembling are the reasons for contacting the clinic where the operation was performed.

Every half an hour, the dog is turned over to the other side. The recovery time from anesthesia is an average of four to seven hours. Some pets regain consciousness much earlier, while for others this period stretches up to 12 hours.

The most difficult to tolerate anesthesia are miniature dogs of decorative breeds - Chihuahua, Toy Terrier, Pomeranian. Their condition must be monitored especially carefully.

During the day after sterilization, the owner makes sure that the dog lies. Getting up and walking is not allowed.

It is also forbidden to give food and water. A day later, liquid food is introduced into the dog's diet. Feeding is done fractional. The dog is returned to full nutrition after three days.

The postoperative suture must be protected from microbes. To do this, a blanket is put on the dog, and the incision site itself is treated with an antiseptic for ten days. Five days after castration, the seam should be dry. Redness, discharge are signs of an inflammatory process. In most cases, healing proceeds without complications, and the sutures are removed after two weeks.

Dogs reflexively lick the seam and gnaw the threads. To prevent this, a collar is put on the animals. Its funnel-shaped shape will prevent the dog from harming itself.

Does a spayed dog go into heat?

Heat in a spayed dog is common if tubal ligation has been chosen as the method of preventing offspring. In this case, the ovaries continue to produce hormones, and the instincts of procreation are preserved.

If the uterus and ovaries were removed, then estrus becomes impossible due to the lack of organs that produce estrogen. Normally, a fully spayed dog does not go into heat.

However, in veterinary medicine, cases have been recorded when the adrenal glands began to play the hormonal role of the excised organs. Because of this, the estrus resumed. But this happens very rarely.

If you are just thinking about neutering your dog, congratulations! You are on the right track because you decided to get acquainted with the theory first. We will try to sort out all the questions and answers with this material.

There are 2 goals that are pursued by this manipulation: medical (taking care of the health of the pet), and domestic (the desire to have a calmer animal with hypersexual behavior); These goals, depending on the sex of the dog, are very different.

So, castration is an artificial deprivation of the ability to give offspring or, in scientific terms, the suppression of the sexual function of males and females through surgical, biological intervention or by radiation. In veterinary practice, surgical sterilization is most widely used: removal of the testes in males and the uterus with appendages in females.

Castration of males

All so big and - mine! 🙂

First of all, castration of males is carried out for medical reasons in case of diseases that cannot be eliminated by conservative means:

testicular neoplasms, orchitis;
open and closed injuries of various origins in the perianal region;
prostate hypertrophy.

In everyday life, dog owners ask veterinarians to perform surgery in order to remove signs of sexual desire from a dog, which cause a lot of trouble to households. Many people know what kind of trouble this is: the constant search for a partner to satisfy natural sexual needs, signs of aggression, disobedience, vagrancy, etc.

By the way, males of small breeds are overly active sexually and can "mate" with anything, imitating coitus: the owner's leg, pillow, soft toy - not everyone likes it.

Another indisputable plus from the procedure: the dog stops marking the territory, which contributes to a significant air freshening in the apartment, and the neighbors will stop complaining about “fragrant aromas” in the entrance.

A neutered male is easier to educate: during classes, he is not distracted by pretty ladies passing by for the sake of acquaintance or flirting.

Sterilization of bitches

It is carried out for the same reasons as for males:

conservatively incurable diseases of the organs of the reproductive system;
unwillingness of the owner to have puppies, including random ones;
the ability to avoid spotting from the vulva - everyone knows these unpleasant symptoms of estrus;
reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Castration of bitches can be carried out at any age, both before the onset of the first estrus, and after it.

It is practiced to sterilize a pregnant dog at the time of the first birth, when the reproductive organs are removed along with the puppies. It is used when a small bitch is accidentally covered by a large male for her: pregnancy and childbirth can end fatally due to the large proportions of the mother's fetuses that can break the uterus in the process of growth and development.

Good night, little one! Wake up healthy!

By the way, for the same reasons, in order to preserve the life and health of the pet, it is not recommended to have some females of small breeds if they have not reached a certain size and weight category. All these questions are clarified with veterinarians and breeders. If the final verdict was given: “You can’t give birth!” - it is better to have an operation immediately than to have a medical abortion later or worry about the course of pregnancy if an accidental relationship occurs during estrus.

Operation

There are oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) and hemiovariohysterectomy (removal of the uterus leaving one ovary). In the latter case, sexual desire is preserved, but pregnancy does not occur during mating.

Unlike castration of males, sterilization of bitches is a more responsible and complex abdominal operation, which requires careful preparation and special postoperative care.

Surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so the pet is first checked for the presence of cardiovascular diseases and kidney disease. The preparation itself is no different from that described above for males.

All manipulations are carried out exclusively in a clinic where the principles of sterility are observed.

Actions after sterilization

If the convalescent is too actively interested in a healing suture, it makes sense to wear such a collar on him. You can buy it at a pet store, but it’s not difficult to make it yourself: a stapler and a plastic sheet are enough.

Continuous monitoring of the dog's condition is required during the first day, so leaving it alone for a long time during this period is not advisable.

The speed of recovery from anesthesia, as well as the severity of the post-anesthesia state, largely depend on the individual characteristics of the body and the drugs used, but there are common signs, and you need to know about them:

half-asleep and lack of an adequate response to external stimuli that persist for 20-30 hours;
vomiting and involuntary urination;
a sharp decrease in body temperature, trembling all over.

Upon arrival home, the animal is provided with peace; placed on a soft warm bed, covered with a cloth that absorbs liquid well; additionally put a heating pad and cover the dog with a warm diaper, which will help her warm up. A bowl of warm water is placed nearby, although the pet is unlikely to touch it on the first day. You can start feeding your dog small doses of easily digestible food the next day. After 3-4 days, you can transfer to a normal diet.

Negative consequences

Obesity. As a result of interference in the normal functioning of the organism, a global restructuring takes place in the latter. First of all, the metabolism changes, which immediately affects fatness - the animal becomes prone to obesity. The problem is easily solved, as well as active physical activity - outdoor games, frequent walks in the fresh air, etc.
Urinary incontinence- Another side effect that appears (not necessarily) a few years after the operation.
puppy wool- increased growth of the undercoat from the sides and the outer surface of the limbs in representatives of some long-haired breeds.

Is castration always necessary?

It is quite logical that not all dogs are suitable for breeding work and getting offspring from them is not the best solution. But when an ideal candidate for improving the exterior or working qualities falls into the category of non-breeding animals, at the whim of the owner, fans of the breed have a heart attack. Therefore, before making a final decision, having made an irreparable mistake, it is necessary to consult with specialists: perhaps castration can be replaced by another form of treatment or training.

Remove or leave genitals?

Almost all pet owners ask themselves this question, but not everyone decides to take this step. And in vain...

We will discuss the pros and cons of sterilization, indications and contraindications in a detailed review below.

Sterilization (ovariohysterectomy) - complete surgical removal of the reproductive organs females (uterus and ovaries) from the body: during the operation, the ovarian veins, arteries and the distal part of the uterus are ligated, and after the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed as a single block.

The term "sterilization" is used in relation to females. The operation to remove the male genital organs is called.

As a result of such a surgical operation bitch completely loses the ability to. But as a result, a number of other problems can be solved, directly or indirectly related to the sexual activity of the animal:

Correction of behavior, elimination of aggression.
Prevention of unwanted pairing.
Prevention of a number of oncological diseases, including breast tumors.
Prevention of diseases of the genital organs.
An effective remedy for the treatment of hormonal disruptions in the body.
A humane solution to the problem of unwanted female offspring.

The opinion of veterinarians is almost unanimous in recommending the sterilization of dogs as the only safe way for the health of the animal to limit cravings for the opposite sex and prevent serious diseases of the genital area.

Right moment

When can a dog be spayed? Operation acceptable for any age. At the same time, it is not recommended to carry it out until the maturation of the reproductive system, as well as in adulthood.

Sterilization between 8 months and 1 year minimizes the negative effects.

It is highly undesirable to remove the genitals of a bitch during the first period of active growth - from six weeks to four months. It is at this age that all tissues and internal organs of the animal actively grow, and the removal of the ovaries can provoke vaginal hypoplasia and developmental delay.

Undesirable surgical intervention in the body of a mature dog (after 7 - 9 years), as the health of the animal is weakened, the regenerative processes will proceed sluggishly, and the reaction of the aging organism to anesthesia is unpredictable.

However, many veterinarians believe that surgery to remove the genitals a must for any dog(regardless of whether she gave birth or not) when she reaches the age of six to prevent a number of serious diseases that can lead to death.

Indications to sterilization:

incessant vaginal discharge from the female;
tumors or pathological changes in the ovaries or uterus.

As a rule, sterilization is a remedy that can solve the above problems, preventing the appearance of more serious abnormalities in the body.

Should not be operated on during pregnancy, because the body of the bitch will experience tremendous stress. Termination of pregnancy and sterilization at the same time will serve as a real blow to the hormonal system of the pet, which, ultimately, will lead to a number of complications.

The operation is performed only on a clinically healthy animal.

You can only spay a dog if it has:

Attention! Before sterilization, a 12-hour fasting pause is necessary and 4 hours before the operation, the exclusion of drinking.

Is it possible to sterilize on time? According to most veterinarians, ovariohysterectomy is best done a couple of weeks before the first estrus of the animal (8 - 9 months).

In addition to the main purpose, this operation serves as an excellent prophylactic for breast tumors. The neoplasm in this organ is estrogen-reactive, and if the hormone is absent in the body, then the tumor will not develop.

Sterilization can be done at any time, but it is better if there is no estrus at this moment. The situation is different with pathological processes in the animal's body (for example, incessant estrus), in which the operation will act as a means of first necessity.

Pros and cons

Positive aspects of female sterilization:

Safety and relative painlessness of the operation.
Prevention of diseases of the female genital organs(polycystic ovaries) without the use of hormonal drugs.
Prevention emergence and development malignant neoplasms(mammary cancer).
Getting rid of unwanted behavioral deviations during the bitch's sexual activity (unmotivated barking, outbursts of aggression, territory marking).
Changes in female behavior for the better ( the animal asks for more affection, attention, loves to sleep).
Reducing the risk of injury or death from an accident ( the bitch does not seek to run away from home at any opportunity).
No unwanted offspring.

Negative points:

Possible weight gain due to a slowdown in metabolic processes after surgery.
Sometimes after the operation there is a side effect - weakening of the sphincter of the bladder, and as a consequence -
Since the operation is performed under general anesthesia, it is more difficult for an animal to recover from anesthesia than for humans.

Care after surgery

After the operation, the animal needs rest. In a secluded place without drafts is placed bedding with disposable diaper(possibly spontaneous excretion of urine, ichor).

Recovery from anesthesia lasts an average of 2-12 hours.

When the dog comes out of anesthesia, the owner should be around: every 30 minutes, the female should be turned over to the other side and control her behavior(the animal may try to jump up, jump high, which is fraught with complications).

The owner should monitor the condition of the wound. The first time it should be protected by a blanket and treated with an antiseptic.

Also, usually the veterinarian prescribes antibiotic therapy or other drugs, depending on the health of the animal.

If after 5 days the seam is wet and reddened, then you will need to consult a doctor - the development of an inflammatory process is possible. A veterinarian should also be contacted if the animal is within 5 days of surgery.

Important! In no case should a sterilized bitch be overfed, otherwise the likelihood of developing obesity is high. During walks, physical activity should be increased.

How much does it cost to spay a dog? The average cost of an ovariohysterectomy ranges from from 2000 to 10000 rubles depending on the method of sterilization, the level of the clinic, the qualifications of the veterinarian and the drugs used.

To do or not to do the operation? It is up to the owner of the bitch to decide, but at the same time he should be guided by common sense and, of course, love for his pet.

Additionally, check out a short video about spaying dogs:

A dog during estrus torments you with unbearable behavior, and you decide to sterilize your pet?

Find out if the operation will really change her behavior, and what your dog will become after spaying.

Looking to fix your pet's behavior? Find out what the dog will become after sterilization

A person who is truly interested in the issue of spaying his dog is driven by the desire to forever forget about the antics of a pet during sexual activity. And if you decide to take this step, it means that you were really tortured by deafening barking, disobedience and crowds of males around your pet on a walk.

It is good that before giving the animal under the knife, you decided to learn more about the possible consequences of the operation. Veterinarians are gradually accustoming us to the idea that sterilization is a simple elective operation that should not cause health problems for your pet. Let's see if this is the case.

Sterilization is a surgical operation to remove the sex glands from an animal. A dog after sterilization is deprived of the opportunity to have offspring and ceases to show sexual desire.

Let's clarify the terminology

There are two types of surgery for castration of a bitch: oophorectomy and ovariohysterectomy.

An oophorectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the ovaries. In an ovariohysterectomy, the uterus is removed along with the ovaries. After castration, the dog will not be able to have offspring, and she will not show sexual activity. The bitch stops estrus, as no eggs are produced.

Ovariohysterectomy is most commonly used for female castration.

Medical business

Before the operation, the veterinarian will examine the dog: weigh it, measure the temperature, pressure, pulse, take blood and urine tests. The animal must be healthy.

Preoperative examination allows you to check the work of the whole body and the most important organs: the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver. If any contraindications are identified, the doctor will prescribe an additional examination: ultrasound, ECG. During anesthesia, especially if the animal is not young, chronic diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory and excretory systems may worsen, so a preoperative examination is of great importance.

Decided to sterilize your dog? Find out when is the best time to have surgery

Neutering or castration is done to the animal after the completion of the puberty process. Each breed of dog "ripens" at different periods, much depends on the size of the animal. On average, puberty in a dog occurs at the age of 8-10 months. It is at this time, before the start of the first estrus, that sterilization of the dog is recommended due to a decrease in the likelihood of a breast tumor in the future.

In reality, dogs are spayed much later. This usually happens at a time when the owner's patience is running out, and he is ready to take this cardinal step for the sake of peace in the house. Stop! Weigh all the pros and cons.

Learn the pros and cons of spaying dogs

This is rarely talked about by veterinarians: the cons of spaying dogs

risk of general anesthesia. Sterilization is performed under general anesthesia, after which the animal may not wake up. After waking up, exacerbations of latent chronic diseases of internal organs are possible.
development of complications. The consequences of dog sterilization can be severe postoperative complications: bleeding, infection, hernia, inflammation of the sutures, their rupture or gnaw.
A dog that has been spayed may develop urinary incontinence. This is expressed in the fact that at any time of the day the dog will urinate under himself. In some animals, incontinence occurs episodically. Other neutered dogs suffer from this ailment all the time.

Obesity. As a result of hormonal failure in a sterilized dog, metabolism is disturbed. Estrus no longer occurs, and the animal becomes less mobile, shows an increased interest in food. The risk of obesity in a spayed dog in comparison with an unsterilized one increases by 1.5 - 2 times.

The listed disadvantages are only a part of the consequences of dog sterilization. The body of each animal reacts to surgery individually. However, even this information is enough to think: is it worth going to peace in the house at the cost of the health of your beloved pet?

Neutering a dog: the pros of the operation

After the operation, the dog will not be able to become pregnant and give birth to puppies.

How is a dog spayed? A few words about care after surgery

If the veterinarian is satisfied with the results of the preoperative examination, he will set the date and time of the operation.

At the appointed time, it is necessary to come to the veterinary clinic, before that the animal is kept on a starvation diet for 12 hours. Before the operation, the pet will be given a sedative injection to relax. After that, the animal is taken from the owners and sent to a separate cage. The owner will see his beloved dog after the operation.

Remember that the operation is performed under general anesthesia. Sterilization takes about an hour. After that, the dog is again sent to the cage and is under the supervision of a veterinarian for some more time.

The animal is given to the owner unconscious. Often a dog in this state has half-open eyes, a dry tongue sticks out of its mouth. A surgical suture will appear on the pet's stomach.

After sterilization, the dog needs careful care. When you bring your pet home, the most difficult stage for her will begin - the exit from anesthesia. The dog will be shivering (when coming out of anesthesia, the strongest cold is felt), she will be thirsty, the animal may urinate.

At this time, it is important to be close to your pet, to monitor its condition. If your dog gets worse, call your veterinarian.

In order for the dog to suffer less from the cold, put it on a bed, cover it with a warm cloth. Do not place the bed on a sofa or chair. The pet, being under the influence of anesthesia, cannot control its movements. The dog runs the risk of falling, hitting his head, breaking or dislocating his paw.

The Sex Barrier is the most humane solution to the problems of unwanted dog behavior. Instead of sterilization

We know how important peace in the house, health and safety of your four-legged friend is for you. Therefore, we offer a humane alternative to sterilization of a dog - the use of the drug for the regulation of estrus Sex Barrier.

Sex Barrier is the choice of experienced breeders and dog owners. The drug has won their trust due to the following competitive advantages.