Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

As your puppy grows up, one of the decisions you'll be faced with is when to spay or neuter your dog. This decision will depend on several factors.

Both surgeries are very safe, although as with any surgery, some slight risk is involved. Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is more invasive. The veterinarian will make a small incision in the abdomen, and remove the ovaries and uterus through it. In castration, the veterinarian will remove the testicles, leaving the scrotal sack, which will shrink and disappear. If a dog has one or both testicles undescended, the veterinarian will have to make an incision in the abdomen and remove them that way.

There are longterm health pros and cons for both spaying and neutering. For females, spaying before the first heat greatly decreases the risk of breast cancer. This is the most common tumor of female dogs, with an overall incidence of three percent, about half of which are malignant. There is a decreasing benefit of spaying the more heat cycles a bitch has.

Spaying also removes possibility of pyometra, a potentially fatal infection of the uterus. Pyometra affects 15 percent of intact females by age 4 years, and 23 percent by age 10 years, with a high rate of death. In a spay, the uterus is removed, thus removing the chance of pyometra.

Spaying has a few health concerns, one of which is an increased risk of weight gain. Spaying is also associated with an increased risk of urinary incontinence, which occurs in 5 to 20 percent of spayed females, more commonly in large breeds. The risk is greater if she is spayed before 3 months of age. Urinary incontinence can be treated, but treatment isn't always successful. Spaying may also be associated with a slightly higher risk of some cancers.

With castration (neutering), there are also pros and cons. Some research suggests castration may increase lifespan. This could be due to increased owner investment, decrease in risky behavior, or some other unidentified reason. Castration removes the risk of testicular cancer (although testicular cancer mostly occurs in older dogs and has a low morbidity). It reduces the risk of an enlarged prostate, which occurs in about 80 percent of intact male dogs over the age of 6 years. The condition has low morbidity and can be treated with (among other things) castration.

Castration has some cons, though. It is associated with an increased risk of weight gain. Like spaying, it may be associated with a slightly greater rate of certain cancers.

Many dog parks, doggy daycares and camps won't allow dogs that have not been castrated to attend. Generally speaking, castration around 6 months of age, before your dog starts urine marking. Once that becomes a habit, he may continue to mark even after castration.

Living with a dog in heat can be difficult. Most dogs go into heat twice a year; it lasts about three weeks, during which time she has a bloody discharge that can stain your rugs and furniture. You can place britches on her, but she will often pull the britches off. Some females will escape from the yard if left unsupervised, going in search of a male. Other times, a male will break into the yard---or stand vigil outside your door. If you own both an intact male and female, the male may drive you crazy with his panting and whining. Many owners opt to board their female during her heat, but this entails extra costs. Spaying is definitely the convenient choice.

Intact males tend to roam in search of females, and are more likely to fight with other male dogs. They are very likely to urine mark inside the house. Again, castration is the convenient option.

For most dog owners, spaying and neutering is the best choice for their pet. Your life will be easier, and your dog's life will be simpler.