4 Reasons To Spay A Female Dog

5 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Owning a dog can be incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Whether you have a puppy or have just welcomed an older dog to your family, it is a very good idea to consider spaying your female dog. This procedure is typically affordable, is easy for your dog to recover from, and can be done at any veterinary clinic. There are many reasons to spay or neuter, including:

Prevent Unwanted Litters of Puppies

Spaying is the single best way to prevent your dog from becoming pregnant with an unwanted litter of puppies. While puppies are adorable, an unwanted litter comes with the responsibility of caring for all of the puppies for several weeks, the costs of veterinary care for the mother and all of the puppies, and the burden of trying to find good homes for each puppy. If you are not an experienced dog breeder, it is in your best interest to have your dog spayed.

Help Prevent Pyometra

Pyometra is a dangerous medical condition that can affect female dogs that are not spayed. This condition is caused by an infection that results in a dog's uterus filling with pus. If not caught very early, the infection can spread from the uterus to other organs and make a dog incredibly sick or even cause death. In addition to being painful for a dog and stressful for you, treating pyometra can result in large vet bills. A simple spaying procedure can help greatly in preventing pyometra.

Eliminate Heat Cycles

A female dog will begin having heat cycles when it reaches sexually maturity. The first heat cycle typically occurs between the ages of 6 to 24 months, and it is often recommended to have a dog spayed before the first cycle if possible. When a female dog is in heat it may have mood swings or abnormal behavior, a bloody vaginal discharge, and swollen nipples. Dogs in heat will also attract a lot of attention from male dogs. Heat cycles typically are not a fun time for the dog or pet owners, but if you are not planning to breed your dog you can eliminate having to deal with heat cycles by having your dog spayed.

Lower Vet Bills

Spaying is a one time procedure that is typically affordable. Female dogs who are not spayed may potentially end up with problems of the reproductive system, such as breast/ovarian tumors or ovarian diseases, that are not typically found in dogs that have been spayed at an early age. Getting the proper veterinary treatment for reproductive health conditions in dogs can be very expensive and require multiple visits to the vet's office, and in some cases surgery may be needed. If you want to save money and help keep your dog in good health, consider spaying. Contact a veterinary clinic like Parkview Animal Hospital today for more information.


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