Neutering your dog

It is a big decision wondering whether or not to have your dog neutered. Let us try to explain the reasons for doing it and what it will entail on your part as an owner.

What is neutering?
Neutering is the process of taking away a male or female dog’s hormones. In the case of a male dog, this involves surgically removing the male reproductive organs. Your neutered dog will not be interested in mating with dogs of the opposite sex after neutering so it will not spend hours howling when there is a dog in season nearby.

Why neuter a male dog?
In the case of male dogs the main reason for neutering is behavioural. As dogs get to about 2 years of age they can start to become a bit more dominant within the family group. This can lead to more aggression towards people and other dogs and reluctance to do as they are told.
Good training classes which encourage learning skills such as agility and retrieval while teaching the dog its boundaries can help in these instances as a well-trained dog is less likely to start having these behavioural problems but neutering can also help.

Another benefit of neutering a male dog is that it won’t develop a common age related benign prostate enlargement which leads to some older dogs having difficulty passing motions and sometimes developing hernias.

Why neuter a female dog?
Female dogs once neutered will no longer have seasons and will not be fertile so neutering stops you worrying about unwanted puppies or having to keep her indoors for 3 weeks every season. If neutered at less than 2 years of age she will be unlikely to develop mammary tumours.

Will my dog’s personality change?
Neutering dogs will not change the good parts of their personality so they will still be the same dog you knew before but in the case of male dogs they will just be a little easier to handle. You may have to watch your dog’s weight more closely after neutering as sometimes dogs have a tendency to put on weight as their metabolism changes. Plenty of exercise should help prevent this along with a well-balanced diet.

The neutering procedure
The neutering procedure is carried out at veterinary surgeries under anaesthesia and is considered routine. There will be stitches post-surgery which maybe dissolvable or may need to be taken out after 10 days or so and your dog will need to be rested during this period. It may be necessary for your pet to wear a “buster” plastic head collar to stop it being able to lick the wound.
Check-ups are usually required 2 days after the operation and you will need to check the wound daily for any weeping or swelling. Very occasionally there may be complications such as infection or bleeding as in any surgical procedure and there is a small risk associated with anaesthesia but it is very minimal.