Getting your pup spayed or neutered is an important part of being a pet-parent. While you may think it’s simply to prevent unwanted litters, neutering actually has a variety of somewhat hidden benefits. Today, we’ll be going over what neutering is exactly and how you can take care of your pup afterwards!
What is Neutering?:
“Neutering” is an umbrella term that covers the surgical procedure that prevents pets from reproducing. The common term for neutering a female dog is spaying which involves removing the ovaries and the uterus. Female animals will not have a reproductive cycle or “season” after spaying while males will find that they no longer wish to fight each other. The common term for neutering a male animal is castration which involves the removal of the testes. Generally, we recommend the early neutering of pets at approximately six months of age.
How is the Procedure Performed?:
It involves a day in with us and a general anaesthetic. All spaying and castration procedures performed with us are carried out by trained medical professionals using the most advanced and cutting-edge techniques available. The procedure itself is safe, easy to perform and relatively painless for your best-friend. Even so, if we think there may be any health complications associated with carrying out a neutering, we won’t; end of. When you put your pup’s life in our hands, we take every ounce of them with the proper respect and treatment they deserve.
When the procedure is complete, your pup will be prescribed a pain medication that will take the ‘bite’ out of the incision for a few days. You’ll also want to get your hands on a cone collar to stop them licking their tidy stitches. All in all, your pup will be right as rain in a week or so!
How Will My Pup Be Affected by This?:
There are many benefits associated with having your pup neutered. For males, they will no longer want to roam in search of a partner and their aggression levels will most certainly drop. They’ll also be saved from testicular cancer further on in their lives; a common ailment that affects older males.
For female pups, things are a little different. Your pup will no longer have a heat or ‘season’ as some call it. They’ll also be saved from a wide range of cancers that can develop in the ovaries and womb. Of course, you will be giving up on having beautiful pups, but this can be a financial constraint in and of itself.
For both sexes, you may notice that your pup is eating more or perhaps putting on a few extra pounds. This is completely normal and is nothing to be afraid of, though it is something to be wary of!
Aftercare:
Once you get your pup home and settled, you should keep an eye on them and their healing process several times a day. Go through the full course of pain medication and be vigilant for any changes in their behaviour that seem unwarranted. We may also recommend that your pup is put on a special weight maintenance diet or a post-neutering diet, as we call it. In any case, below are some helpful tips to get you through that first week at home.
• Keep your pup inside and away from other animals during the recovery period.
• Don’t let your pup run around and jump on or off things for up to 2 weeks after surgery.
• Ensure that they are unable to lick the incision by using a cone.
• Check the incision every day to make sure it’s healing properly. If redness, swelling, discharge or a foul odour are present, ring us immediately.
• Don’t bathe your pup for at least 10 days after they have their surgery.
• Finally, call us if they are uncomfortable, lethargic, vomiting or if they develop diarrhoea.
A good way to gauge your pup’s recovery is that if they are comfortable and energetic enough to play, they are probably doing okay. However, a playful pup is not a free-pass to allow them to run around before they are fully healed. Your pup has a long way to go before they will have adjusted to their new lifestyle.
Is There a Discount Available on Neutering?:
Why yes, there is! With our Puppy Health Plan, you’ll receive 20% off on all of our Royal Canin specialty diets and a snazzy 10% off on neutering itself. These are especially useful for new pups, giving them the best start in life that you could possibly offer them. We’ll also trim their nails for free, and that’s something we’ll do for life. And that’s not all! Your pup will also be entitled to receive reduced Emergency Consultation Fees. If you’d like to know more about our amazing Puppy Health Plan, look no further than here.
It's easy to see that there are many benefits in having your Puppy neutered; from saving your purse or wallet to preventing nasty diseases and cancers. At Village Vets, we pride ourselves on being able to offer you the best in animal medical care and it is no different when it comes to spaying and neutering.
If your mind isn’t made up yet, why don’t you lift the phone and ask us whatever questions you may yet have? We’re always happy to give advice when needed. If there’s anything else you’d like to know about spaying and neutering, click here.
Bye for now, pet-pals!