The Big Snip: How, Why and When to De-sex your Dog? 

Introduction

Desexing, also known as spaying for females or neutering/castration for males, is a common surgical procedure in both dogs and cats, that has the obvious benefit of preventing surprise additional family members! But if you have been wondering what exactly occurs, and what else to expect, including the risks, cost, and benefits of desexing in our best friends, read on.

The Procedure

Desexing in both male and female dogs is performed under general anaesthesia as a day procedure in most cases. The procedure itself is typically quite quick, which means a short anaesthetic for the patient. On the day of desexing, the veterinarian will generally ask for the pup patient to be fasted in readiness for the anaesthetic. Prior to the day of the surgery, the veterinarian may also have performed a blood screen to check for any anomalies that may indicate anaesthetic risk. This is often referred to as pre-anaesthetic blood testing.

Desexing Procedure for Male Dogs

The castration procedure typically involves a very small incision above the scrotum (known as a pre-scrotal incision). One by one, the testicles are gently moved out of the scrotum and exposed through the small incision. They are carefully removed, and the vessels stitched (ligated) so that they don’t bleed. The skin incision is then closed with stiches. Some people worry about the empty scrotum but in most cases, this shrinks away on healing and does not cause any problems for the dog. In some cases, particularly older dogs with larger or more pendulous scrotums it may be recommended that the scrotum is removed, which is called a scrotal ablation. Your veterinarian will be able to advise as to which procedure is best for your dog. Once the patient has woken up from anaesthetic, they are assessed for suitability to go home. They will often go home with some pain relief, and an Elizabethan collar to prevent them from chewing the stitches. The veterinarian will advise when and if the stitches need to be removed. The castration procedure is more complicated when dogs have retained testes, known as cryptorchidism.

Desexing Procedure for Female Dogs

The typical procedure for desexing female dogs in Australia involves the removal of both the uterus and ovaries. An incision is made through the skin and muscle generally around the point of the patient’s belly button (known as the midline) but some veterinary surgeons may make an incision in the side (known as a flank spay). The veterinarian will generally try to make as small of a cut as possible, but sometimes a longer cut is needed especially in large, overweight, older, or deep chested dogs. The uterus is located, and each ovary is removed, with the veterinarian carefully ligating blood vessels. Once both ovaries are removed, the uterus is then also carefully removed. The veterinarian checks many times for signs of internal bleeding before closing the abdominal layers with stiches. Spaying is a much more invasive procedure than castration, and even more so in older females, those who have had puppies, or overweight dogs. They patient will be given pain relief, and you’ll be supplied with pain relief for the patient during the recovery time at home. An Elizabethan collar may be recommended to prevent them from chewing the stitches. The veterinarian will advise when and if the stitches need to be removed. 

Benefits of Desexing

There are some general benefits to desexing for dogs but remember to discuss your pets’ individual needs with their veterinarian before any procedure or treatment:

• Prevention of unwanted pregnancies
• Reduction in urine marking in male dogs
• Reduction in male dog aggression
• Reduction in mounting behaviour in male dogs
• Reduction in pyometra
• Reduction in mammary tumours
• Possible increased lifespan in females

Risks of Desexing

While there are many benefits to desexing, there can be some risks too. Always discuss the benefits and risks of any procedure with your veterinarian to determine the best treatment for your pet.

• Surgery related risks (anaesthetic risks, surgical complications, infections)
• Early desexing (under a year old) may be associated with higher risk of cranial cruciate ligament disease, hip dysplasia, and certain cancers in some breeds
• Increased risk of obesity

When is the best time to desex a dog?

Desexing for dogs is generally recommended between 5 and 9 months of age. However, the timing can vary depending on the breed, size and overall health of the dog. It is important to discuss your pet’s particular situation with your veterinarian to formulate the best plan and timing of desexing for your dog.

Desexing Alternatives

There are hormonal methods of suppressing both male and female fertility in dogs, but these are temporary. More widely adopted in male dogs, these can be very useful in treating hormone responsive prostate problems in old male dogs that would not make suitable anaesthetic candidates. Alternative surgical procedures such as vasectomies in males and ovary sparing spays in females are also not widely practiced, as both procedures mean that many of the benefits of traditional desexing are lost, particularly those associated with undesirable behaviour. There are other procedures that are unlikely to be used in practice in Australia, but if you have any concerns or questions about the procedure being used on your dog, discuss it with your veterinarian who will gladly answer your questions and set your mind at ease.

Conclusion

Desexing dogs is a procedure that offers numerous benefits. It helps prevent unwanted litters, improves certain behaviours, and can even reduce the risk of developing certain diseases.  When making the decision to desex your pet, be sure to discuss the decision with your veterinarian. They will be able to help you understand the procedure itself, the benefits, potential risks and the optimal timing of desexing.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

Desexing dogs as a means of decreasing the generally regarded sexually dimorphic behaviors of urine marking, mounting, and roaming

Desexing Dogs: A Review of the Current Literature

Neutering Dogs: Effects on Joint Disorders and Cancers in Golden Retrievers

A Survey of Veterinarian Attitudes Toward Prepubertal Desexing of Dogs and Cats in the Australian Capital Territory