Aside from Valentine’s Day on the 14th, February also brings another important day at the end of the month: World Spay and Neuter Day! Learn why you should spay or neuter your puppy, along with all the life-long health benefits!
The Puppy Academy student: Toby
It seems like there’s a holiday for everything each month, and February is no exception! It’s Responsible Pet Owners Month, and along with it, the fourth Tuesday in February is dedicated to World Spay and Neuter Day! We want to help spread awareness of why these procedures are crucial and beneficial for our pups and provide puppy owners with another resource when making this vital decision.
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What are Spaying and Neutering
When you bring home a new puppy, your veterinarian may have advised you on a vaccination schedule as well as the spay or neuter procedure for your puppy. If this is your first puppy, spaying involves removing the female reproductive organs (uterus and ovaries), where neutering includes removing male reproductive organs (testicles). For puppies adopted from a rescue organization or shelter, the adoption fees include the cost of a spay or neuter procedure and performed before you adopt your puppy.
When to Spay or Neuter Your Puppy
@mr_ted_cockapoo
One of the biggest questions new puppy owners ask is when to spay or neuter their puppy! No surprise there! In recent years, more and more puppy owners have shifted from spaying or neutering their puppy earlier (six months is a general age), to hold off until their puppy is approximately a year old or even older.
The “right” age isn’t a hard and fast rule for all breeds. For some dog breeds, delaying the spay or neuter procedure is beneficial for their development and future health benefits. Talk with your veterinarian about your puppy’s specific breed needs, age, size, and genetics to determine what’s the best plan!
Why Spay or Neuter Your Puppy
Spaying and neutering afford many benefits. For one, it can help diminish over-population and alleviate crowded shelters. Puppies and dogs that are currently in shelters have a much greater chance at adoption with fewer new rescues coming in. While controlling unexpected litters is one of them (a female dog can become pregnant as young as six months of age and have up to two litters a year), also health and behavioral benefits!
A spayed or neutered puppy is less prone to develop certain cancers as they age. Additionally, it can, but not always, help reduce other unwanted behaviors such as excessive territory marking, mounting, and certain dominant behaviors. But don’t rely on this to “solve” any of these issues if you’re experiencing them with your pup! These behaviors most often than not need to be curbed through professional puppy training.
Some common concerns include weight gain or lethargy, but there is no direct correlation between undergoing either procedure resulting in either. Your puppy is in the middle of a rapid development stage, so consider consulting your veterinarian about changing their nutrition or exercise regimen.
@chillispicyone
Recovery from the Spay or Neuter Procedure
With any surgery, it’s important to plan ahead and know what to expect! For a typical neuter procedure, males usually need one week to recover. Since spaying is a more invasive procedure, females can expect a two-week recovery time. Now, there are some new laser procedures certain veterinarians are doing that can cut down the risk of infection and shorten recovery time. However, speak to your veterinarian about your options, what they recommend, and the risks and benefits of your options.
After your puppy’s surgery, it’s essential to keep them as calm as possible while they heal! Within a couple of days, it can seem they start to gain back their energy and want to run and jump around, but this is when the risk of complications can be the highest! Stitches can be pulled, infections can form, and internal tearing could result from too much movement, licking, and nibbling at the incision.
To help keep your pup calm, comfortable, and as safe as possible during their recovery, create a cozy area for them to relax with limited movement. We recommend using a playpen or their crate, and use a cone when you can’t monitor your puppy to ensure they can’t get to their stitches. If your puppy isn’t a fan of the plastic cone from the vet, there are some great alternatives you can use like an inflatable donut collar or the comfy cone that has padding and uses softer material (both available on Amazon.com!). If you’ve been practicing the “Place” command with your puppy, this will come in handy so they can relax on their dog bed or pet cot for longer durations!
Pro tip: Depending on the size of their crate, your puppy may not be able to comfortably relax in there with the cone on without hitting the sides or being able to turn around. You can try using a larger crate during this time or a playpen instead to give them the additional space they need!
Choosing to spay or neuter your puppy is a smart decision! We never want to see our pups at the vet’s office for surgery but this one leaves a life-long positive impact. The benefits of spaying or neutering can far outweigh the risks of having the procedure or not doing it. Speak to your vet, do your research, and make your decision on what feels the best for you and your puppy. We wish you and your puppy many healthy years ahead together!
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