Unsure whether or not to have your dog desexed? Then you might like to consider these facts
When should you desex your dog?
Dogs reach sexual maturity at around six to eight months. For female dogs, some vets recommend desexing her before her first season, others say it should be about six to eight weeks after the season. And most vets recommend desexing a male dog at six months of age.
If you own a young bitch, it is advisable to keep her on a lead whenever you are out and about, as some can fall pregnant slightly before six months. For the same reason, it is probably best not to leave her tied up and unsupervised outside a shop.
Why should you desex your dog?
The benefit of having dogs desexed far outweighs the consequences and is a very responsible thing for a dog owner to do.
Desexing a dog – that’s castrating the male (removing his testes) and spaying the female (removing her ovaries and uterus) ¬– not only prevents unwanted pregnancies, but also curbs unwanted behavioural patterns associated with sexual activity. It also reduces the risk of false pregnancies and certain diseases such as mammary tumours, pyometras (uterine infection) and testicular tumours.
Once sexual maturity is reached, the female will begin to come into season. Cycles of sexual activity typically occur twice yearly and will only stop once your dog has been spayed. Signs of a season may include lack of appetite, lethargy, frequent urination and a swollen vulva.
Post-desexing changes
Male dogs may not stray as much (they no longer have an urge to find an un-spayed female), may become calmer and may cease any aggressive behaviour or sexual behaviour like mounting or marking their territory with urine.
Key point
Desexing your dog will not change his/her basic character.
Dogs usually recover from the desexing operation remarkably quickly. They may be a little drowsy for a few hours, but by the next day they are usually lively again.
Downside to desexing
Once a dog has been desexed, there is a stronger tendency for it to become obese. This is because it may become less physically active due to no longer feeling the urge to roam around looking for a mate.
You may therefore need to adjust the amount of food you provide should your dog start to put on too much weight.