Neutering Your Dog

Neutering dogs has many lifestyle and health benefits, but there is more potential for complication than with cats.
All procedures will involve a premedication/sedation injection which makes your dog sleepy and less stressed. An anaesthetic induction injection is given into a vein in the front leg where the hair will be clipped. This anaesthetic (called Propofol) is commonly used in humans as well as dogs and will make your dog fall asleep and become unconscious. At this point, there is a tube inserted into the windpipe to allow anaesthetic gas and oxygen to be delivered to your pet. This can sometimes cause a cough for a few days after the operation. The anaesthetic gas used at Valley Vets is called Sevoflurane which is one of the safest due to the quick recovery afterwards. All dogs receive a painkilling injection to ensure they are as comfortable as possible after their surgery.

Bitches
Pros - Spaying will prevent the occurrence of a common life threatening uterine infection called Pyometra, and will dramatically reduce the risk of mammary cancer if performed at a young age. There will be a cessation of seasons with no bleeding and no unwanted pregnancies or "false pregnancies".
Cons - There may be temperament changes, some bitches becoming more docile, and most will have an increased tendency to gain weight. There is a slight increased incidence of urine incontinence in later life if surgery is performed at a very young age. Wound infections can occasionally occur but are uncommon.

Ovariohysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus) is performed though a cut along the tummy. When the patient is overweight or very big there is a greater tendency toward bleeding and bruising. This is major surgery, even though it is performed routinely, but the incidence of complications is very low. Recovery can take several days and healing several weeks. It is typical that five to ten sutures would remain in the skin to be removed ten days later.

Timing of the operation: 6 months old onwards. If your dog has not had a season at 6 months of age and you are keen to get her neutered, surgery can be performed before she has a season. We advise owners to wait for 2-3months either side of their dogs season when booking her in for surgery as this is the safest time. Increasing age poses more risks.

Male Dogs
Pros - Castration reduces the risk of common prostate diseases which can cause pain and urinary problems later in life. Testicular tumors are prevented. Behavior is often less aggressive after the surgery, particularly towards other dogs but this cannot be guaranteed. Over-amorous behavior is also much reduced, which results in less road traffic accidents and straying.
Cons - There may be temperament changes and occasionally, a tendency towards weight gain.

Castration (removal of the testicles) is normally performed though a single incision in front of the scrotum. Recovery normally takes 5 days or so. It is typical that two or three sutures will remain in the skin to be removed ten days later.
Where only one or no testicles at-all are present in the scrotum, castration is strongly recommended to prevent problems in a "retained" testicle within the abdomen.

Timing of the operation: 6 months old onwards.