Advice on neutering needed

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEUTERING!

WHAT IS NEUTERING?

The only way to be sure your dog doesn't produce unwanted puppies is to get your female dog spayed or your male dog neutered (castrated). Intact male dogs and bitches in heat have an uncanny way of finding each other, and breeding can occur in an instant.
Spaying involves the removal of both the uterus and the ovaries. Castration refers to the removal of a male dog's testicles. The term neutering is a general term to describe either spaying or castration.

BENEFITS OF NEUTERING

In addition to preventing unwanted puppies, neutering your dog has many benefits:

For Males:

Neutered dogs often are better behaved than their intact counterparts. Not only are they less likely to stray, they are also less likely to mark their territory by urinating in the house (testosterone is one of the major drives for this dominance-related activity). In addition, neutered male dogs are much less likely to be aggressive toward other male dogs. These behaviour benefits are particularly true if you castrate your dog between the ages of 9 and 12 months, before he becomes sexually mature and develops bad habits.

Neutering prevents the development of prostate problems often seen in older dogs.A neutered dog won't develop testicular cancer, a common cancer of older, intact male dogs.

There are several health benefits to neutering. One of the most important concerns the prostate gland, which under the influence of testosterone will gradually enlarge over the course of the dog’s life. In age, it is likely to become uncomfortable, painful and the dog might find it difficult to urinate. The prostate under the influence of testosterone is also predisposed to infection which is almost impossible to clear up without neutering. Neutering causes the prostate to shrink into insignificance thus preventing both prostatitis as well as the uncomfortable benign hyperplasia (enlargement) that occurs with aging. It is often erroneously held that neutering prevents prostate cancer but this is not true.

Other health benefits of neutering include the prevention of certain types of hernias and tumours of the testicles and anus. Excessive preputial discharge is also reduced by neutering.


For Females:

Female dogs that are spayed prior to their first heat cycle (which usually occurs between 6 and 9 months of age) have a significantly reduced chance of developing mammary (breast) cancer compared to dogs that have had even one heat cycle.

Spayed females can not develop pyometra, an infection of the uterus that can be quite severe and can even result in death.

Eliminates ‘spotting’ on the carpet and floor surfaces during the females heat, twice yearly.

Spayed females tend to have more even temperaments and do not go through the hormone-induced mood swings that intact bitches sometimes have.

If not pregnant, she may follow her seasons with false pregnancies.
Many bitches will look as if they are pregnant and display obvious maternal behaviour, such as producing milk, nursing their toys or other objects such as shoes and making nests out of their bedding. They can show signs of increased panting and restlessness and be considerably distressed for periods of up to three months after the season has finished. As bitches may have seasons twice a year, they could be unwell and uncomfortable for up to half of their lives.

WILL MY DOG GET FAT?

Many people think their dogs will get fat if they are spayed or castrated, but this isn't the case. Neutered dogs frequently don't need as much food as their intact compatriots, but there is a simple solution: Don't feed them as much. You may need to reduce the amount of food that you give him/her or switch to a ‘diet’ food after neutering. Ask your vet for advice on this.

If your dog has enough exercise and you feed him/her correctly, he/she will not get fat or lazy.

WHAT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES CAN BE EXPECTED AFTER NEUTER?

The only behaviour changes that are observed after neutering relate to behaviours influenced by male hormones. Playfulness, friendliness, and socialization with humans are not changed. The behaviours that change are far less desirable. The interest in roaming is eliminated in 90% of neutered dogs. Aggressive behaviour against other male dogs is eliminated in 60% of neutered dogs. Urine marking is eliminated in 50% of neutered male dogs. Inappropriate mounting is eliminated in 70% of neutered dogs.

In fact if your dog is neutered at 6 months old he/she is likely to retain their playful puppy nature and carry it on into adulthood.

NEUTERING A MALE DOG – THE DETAILS:

When a male dog is after a fertile bitch, mating her is the only thing on his mind. He will do anything that he can think of to get at bitches. This includes scaling fences, breaking down doors, mating through fences, and physically harming and even killing other dogs, etc. Additionally, as the owner of the male dog, you are as responsible as the owner of the bitch, for any puppies that are born. This means you have an ethical responsibility for life to rescue any of those pups if they ever end up in the pound.

WHAT EXACTLY IS DONE SURGICALLY?

A male castrate takes approximately 10-15 minutes to perform and is a minor operation. An incision is made generally just forward from the scrotum. The testicles are removed through this incision. The stalks are tied off and cut. Castration is achieved.

The scrotum is often swollen in the first few days after surgery, leading some people to wonder if the procedure was really performed. If the dog is immature at the time of neutering, the empty scrotum will flatten out as he grows. If he is mature at the time of neuter, the empty scrotum will remain as a flap of skin.
For the first couple of days after surgery, your dog should rest and should only go outside to the bathroom. For the next week, mild exercise such as on-leash walking is all right. About ten days after surgery, the veterinarian will check to make sure the incision is healing properly and remove the sutures.

AT WHAT AGE CAN NEUTERING BE PERFORMED?

Neutering can be performed at any age over age 8 weeks provided both testicles have descended. The best age to get your dog neutered is at approximately 6 months old, when he reaches puberty. Dogs neutered before puberty tend to grow a bit bigger than dogs neutered after puberty (testosterone is involved in the causing bones to stop growing so without testosterone the bones stop growing later). The same behaviour and prostate health benefits can be realized no matter what age the dog is. (In other words, a dog does not become "too old" to obtain the same health and behavioural benefits of neutering).

WILL HE GET OVER-WEIGHT OR LETHARGIC?

Activity level and appetite do not change with neutering. A male dog should not gain weight or become less interested in activity post neuter.

WILL HE STILL BE INTERESTED IN FEMALES?

His interest will be reduced but if he is around a female dog in heat, he will become aroused by her. Mounting behaviour often has roots in the expression of dominance and may be expressed by a neutered male in a variety of circumstances that are not motivated by sexuality.

WHAT IF A DOG HAS AN UNDESCENDED TESTICLE?

Un-descended testicles have an increased tendency to grow tumours. They may also twist on their stalks and cause life-threatening inflammation. For these reasons, neutering is recommended for dogs with un-descended testicles. This procedure is more complicated than a routine neuter; the missing testicle can be under the skin along the path it should have descended to the scrotum or it may be inside the abdomen. Some exploration may be needed to find it thus there is often an incision for each testicle. The retained testicle is sterile and under-developed. If there is one descended testicle, this one will be fertile but since retaining a testicle is a hereditary trait, it is important that the male dog not be bred from.

NEUTERING A FEMALE DOG – THE DETAILS:

It is not necessary to let your dog have a litter of puppies before neutering. This is an old wives tale which has no scientific basis. In fact, pregnancy can pose a significant health risk to your dog.

WHY ALL FEMALE DOGS SHOULD BE SPAYED?

Surgical sterilization of the female dog, commonly referred to as "spaying," is one of the most significant aspects of female dog care an owner can provide. The benefits to the dog FAR outweigh simply not having puppies, though as pet over-populations looms as a societal problem it is important to be "part of the solution" rather than "part of the problem." Spaying involves removal of the uterus and ovaries. It is a major surgery but a very commonly performed one, ideally performed while a female dog is still in puppy-hood, prior to her first heat cycle.

MAMMARY CANCER PREVENTION

A female dog spayed before her first heat will have a near zero chance of developing mammary cancer. After the first heat, this incidence climbs to 7% and after the second heat the risk is 25% (one in four). It is easy to see that an early spay can completely prevent what is frequently a very difficult and potentially fatal form of cancer.
But is it too late if a dog is already past her second heat? No, in fact spaying is important even in female dogs that already have obvious tumours. This is because many mammary tumours are stimulated by estrogens; removing the ovaries, the source of estrogens, will help retard tumour spread. Spaying removes both the uterus and both ovaries and is crucial in the prevention as well as the treatment of mammary cancer.


PYOMETRA PREVENTION

"Pyometra" is the life-threatening infection of the uterus which generally occurs in middle-aged to older female dogs in the six weeks following heat. The hormone "progesterone," which primes the uterus for potential pregnancy, does so by causing proliferation of the blood-filled uterine lining and suppression of uterine immune function. It is thus easy during heat for bacteria in the vagina to ascend to the uterus to cause infection. The uterus with pyometra swells dramatically and is filled with pus, bacteria, dying tissue, and toxins. Without treatment, the pet is expected to die. Despite her serious medical state, she must be spayed quickly if her life is to be saved.
THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON DISEASE OF UNSPAYED FEMALE DOGS. WITHOUT TREATMENT THE DOG WILL DIE. TREATMENT IS EXPENSIVE.TREATMENT INVOLVES SURGERY IN A POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE PATIENT. SPAYING PREVENTS THE WHOLE THING.

The older un-spayed female dog has an irregular heat cycle. There is no end of cycling comparable to human menopause. If you still decide against spaying, be very familiar with the signs of pyometra. (These include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, excessive thirst, marked vaginal discharge).

SIMPLE CONVENIENCE

The female dog comes into heat every 8 months or so. There is a bloody vaginal discharge and attraction of local male dogs. Often there is an offensive odour. All of this disappears with spaying.

NOW THAT WE KNOW WHY IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO SPAY,
WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS?

It is very important that the patient has not been fed in at least 8 hours. Anaesthetic medications commonly induce nausea and vomiting can be very dangerous in a sedated patient.
A preoperative evaluation is performed. An intravenous catheter may be placed to facilitate the administration of anaesthetic drugs, for any fluid administration, and for use in case of emergency. This necessitates shaving a small patch of skin on one of the legs.
A special medication is given intravenously to induce sleep. This medication is called an "induction agent" and lasts only long enough to establish the maintenance of anaesthesia by the inhalant anaesthetic (gas). Once your dog is asleep, a tube is placed in the throat to insure that a clear airway is maintained through out the procedure.

Sometimes a cough is noted for a couple of days after surgery. This may have been caused by the tube in the throat. Such coughs only last a couple of days; anything that persists longer should be re-evaluated.

The tube is hooked up to a special machine to deliver a specific concentration of inhalant gas mixed in 100% oxygen. A special technician is assigned to the monitoring of this pet so that the concentration of inhalant gas can be changed, colour, heart rate, respiration and other parameters are followed.

In the surgical prep area, the abdomen is shaved and scrubbed. An incision is made on the midline of the abdomen, and the three points where the ovaries and uterus attaches are tied off and cut. The abdomen is checked for bleeding and two or three layers of stitches are placed to close the incision.

It is helpful to know that should the skin stitches come out, there are two layers below holding everything closed. Sometimes skin stitches are not placed but if they are present, you will need to return in 10-14 days to have them removed.

The anaesthesia technician continues monitoring until your dog wakes up and coughs out the throat tube. The patient is kept in an observation room until she is able to walk.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT HOME:

Most spay patients go home the next day as if nothing had happened though some will need pain medication for a few days. Some nausea may occur in the first couple of days after surgery and it would not be unusual for the pet to refuse food for a day or two after surgery. As noted above, a cough may persist for a couple of days as a result of the throat tube. This should not persist longer than a couple of days. Dogs that show a propensity to lick their stitches will need an Elizabethan collar to restrict access to the stitches. This is not very comfortable for the dog but must be used strictly until the stitches are out and the incision is healed. Activity should be restricted during the week following surgery. Excessive activity can lead to swelling or fluid accumulation under the incision. If a fluid pocket does form, it should resolve on its own after a few weeks. If a fluid pocket forms and drains liquid from the incision, the dog should be re-checked with the veterinarian.

WHAT ABOUT BEHAVIORAL CHANGES?

The female dog's reproductive tract is dormant for most of the year. It only activates for the three week period of heat. This means that from a behavioural stand point, the female dog acts spayed most of the time. This said, there has been a documented slowing of metabolism after spaying and it may be necessarily to use a reduced Calorie food in an adult dog. Check with your veterinarian about nutritional recommendations.

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