De-Sexing your Dog: The Benefits

De-sexing your dog is the process of eradicating their ability to reproduce. Females are ‘spayed’, which is the removal of the uterus and ovaries. Males are ‘castrated’ or ‘neutered’, which consists of removing their testicles. De-sexing is a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, which does come with some risks. However, these are minimal for a healthy dog as it is a routine procedure that veterinarians perform regularly and are well-versed in. The multiple benefits significantly outweigh the risks. Here are the key benefits to consider:

Benefits of Spaying your Female Dog:

- Reduces the risk of pyometra, which can be seen regularly in unspayed females. Pyometra is an infection of the uterus, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. The uterus accumulates bacteria-filled puss, which over time can let bacteria enter into the blood stream causing septic shock. The uterus is also at risk of exploding, further spreading the bacteria to other areas of the body.

- Reduces the chance of mammary cancer and eliminates chances of getting ovarian or uterus cancer and cysts within the ovaries

- Prevents unplanned pregnancies, which reduces the numbers of unwanted puppies within the community, and in turn, reduces suffering and unnecessary killing.

- Reduces pseudo-pregnancies

- Reduces prolapse of the vagina or uterus, i.e. shifting of these out of place.

- Stops fertility cycles and associated menstrual bleeding

- Reduces unwanted attention from male dogs who smell the change in hormones in a fertile female in heat and can be relentless in their advances

Benefits of Castrating/Neutering your Male Dog:

- Decreases behavioral issues such as territorial and scent marking, roaming behaviour to seek for a mate, inappropriate sexual behaviour and aggression

- Reduces testicular cancer, a common problem in older dogs

- Reduces the chances of your dog getting benign prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate gland which is highly uncomfortable for the dog. Over time, this condition can cause the dog to excessively strain when toileting, which can cause hernias or prolapses.

When do you de-sex your dog? A dog can start reproducing at 5 to 6 months of age, so the common practice in Hong Kong is to de-sex at this age. However, make sure you consult your veterinarian, as other factors may impact ideal timing, such as breed, health, or weight. For example, giant breeds (e.g. Great Danes) are slow growers and do not fully develop until a much later age, therefore de-sexing is often postponed until around 12 months of age.

TAILS fully supports and encourages the de-sexing of dogs, for a greater chance at a higher quality of life for the animal as well as reducing the number of unwanted animals here in Hong Kong.