Dog Spaying and Neutering
Spaying or neutering ensures that your dog is safe from common diseases of the reproductive organs that often develop in the later years of an unfixed dog’s life. It can also improve annoying ‘marking’ behaviour, thus saving your home and furniture. Often a noticeable change in behaviour (usually for the positive) is also noticed once a dog has been spayed or neutered, thus improving the quality of life for you and your pet. It is also an important tool in helping to control the pet population, limiting the number of unwanted puppies in our shelters.
What does neutering/spaying a dog do?
Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) are the names of the surgeries to have a dog ‘fixed’ so that your female dog will not be able to have puppies and your male dog will not be able to father puppies. Puppies that have been spayed or neutered will not go through puberty and will not have the hormonal changes that cause unwanted behaviours related to reproduction, such as aggression, urine marking, and humping. Also, since the uterus or testicles are surgically removed, the dog can never develop diseases of these organs later in life.
How old should a dog be before neutering/spaying?
It is good practice to spay or neuter your dog between 5 to 6 months of age. It is important to spay or neuter before the dog reaches puberty which usually occurs between 6-8 months of age.