Spay and Neuter: Importance and Procedure

Spaying / Neutering Your Dog

There is no question about whether to spay or neuter your dog. Spaying (female) or neutering (male) your dog is good for your dog’s health, for you as a dog owner, and is good for our community.

Spaying

Spaying (ovario-hysterectomy) is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes) of the female dog.

Neutering

Neutering (orchiectomy or castration) is the surgical removal of the reproductive glands (testes) of the male animal. The outer is left, and only the testes are removed. In order to achieve the majority of the health benefits derived from spaying and neutering, female and male dogs should be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.

Health Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Dog

Spaying/neutering offers a variety of medical benefits that helps your dog live longer and remain healthy:

• In males, a dog neuter completely eliminates the risk of testicular cancer if the surgery is performed before the pet is 6 months of age.
• In female Dogs, spaying your dog decreases the risk of breast cancer dramatically. The rate goes down to almost zero if the spay is done before the first heat cycle!
• Spaying your dog also eliminates the chance of developing a serious and potentially fatal infection of the uterus that is very common in unspayed dogs called Pyometra.

Less Stress on the Owner

Spaying or neutering your dog also creates less stress in your life. After this procedure, you no longer need to worry about blood spotting in females that are going through their heat cycle nor male dogs in the neighborhood attempting to mate with your female during heat season. Neutering also removes the urge in males to roam in search of a mate, which ultimately lessens the chances of them being struck by a car.

Good for the Community

Pet owners who don’t plan on breeding their dogs should spay or neuter their dog. Dog owners who do not plan on breeding their dogs are responsible members of our community when they spay or neuter their dogs. This is because spaying and neutering prevents unexpected pregnancy from occurring. Unexpected pregnancy is often the cause of homeless dogs and the over-crowding of the pet shelters across New Jersey.