How Spaying Helps Your Dog

Spaying Her Before You Have Grand Pups
By Ricardo Lumbardo

Spaying is the process of removing the reproductive system of your female dog to keep it from reproducing. This process is also known as ovariohysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus and the ovaries. In some cases, however, a hysterectomy is done, which means that only the uterus is removed. Ligation can also be performed on dogs, but the most common procedure is complete spaying or ovariohysterectomy. If humans have birth control methods, spaying is the birth control method for dogs. The process is done through a surgical operation, to be performed by your veterinarian.

How does spaying help?

Spaying has benefits on both the micro and the macro level. In general, spaying will help keep the dog population under control.The dog population is actually already out of control as it is, and it only keeps getting worse because dogs can reproduce pretty fast. To decrease the number of homeless strays and dogs in animal shelters, spaying are being done. On a personal level, spaying can help you avoid the unnecessary burden of taking care of little puppies that you're just not ready for. When you don't spay your female dog, you just might be faced with a number of puppies when you just want one pet. Aside from benefiting you and the society, spaying also provides benefits for the spayed dogs themselves. Spaying can actually keep your dog safe and content. How so? For one thing, dogs in heat usually wander out to look for a partner, and wandering around can be pretty dangerous for your dog. Aside from that, spaying your female dog can also keep it safe from certain diseases, such as kidney and urinary disorders, and cancer as well. Dogs in heat also tend to be discontent and uncomfortable, so spayed dogs will be easier to deal with. Spayed dogs also exhibit a more balanced temperament, and are known to be more behaved and easier to control. On top of that, since spaying can remove the possibility of pregnancy, your female dog will not have to go through the complications of pregnancy.

When and why should get your dog spayed?

The recommended practice in spaying dogs is to do the surgical operation early on, even before the female dog experiences its first heat. Most dogs are spayed before it reaches its eighth month. Thus, spaying will not really change your dog's temperament, and it also has no other known effects in the dog's overall growth, aside from favorable benefits. Claims that spaying dogs can make them gain weight faster have not been proven. Spaying is a very safe procedure that's even better than the birth control medications made especially for dogs. These medications often result to negative side effects. The best way is still to get your dog spayed, but before you do so, make sure that you have your veterinarian explain the entire process to you. Ask questions about the anesthesia that will be used, and how to ensure your dog's safety throughout the procedure. A spayed dog might also need to stay in the veterinary clinic for about a day after the operation. In most cases, the younger the spayed dog is, the faster it recovers from the operation.

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