Myths about speying your female dog

There are many myths associated with the desexing of female dogs which we, as veterinarians, hear from dog owners every day and which are based largely on fiction. Before we discuss them, it is important to understand what is meant by “speying a bitch”. Bitch Spey

The procedure is also known as an “ovariohysterectomy” meaning both ovaries and the entire uterus are removed. Should the ovaries be left behind, a bitch continues to come into season every six months, with the resulting attraction of the local dog. If the uterus is left behind there is a risk of uterine infection later in life.

The surgical procedure is carried out under general anaesthesia, and in most cases the patient is able to return home the same day. It is important to understand that this is quite major abdominal surgery and your dog may be sore for a day or two postoperatively. She will not want to play with children or other dogs during this time. We recommend postoperative pain relief for all bitch speys to help them through this time.
So What Are These “Common Myths?” “We will allow her one litter because she will be more settled and fulfilled”.

FALSE - There is no evidence to show that a bitch after rearing a litter will be more settled. In fact quite the opposite can apply, as some bitches can panic postwhelping and attack their puppies! It can also be quite difficult these days to find homes for puppies and the local SPCA have a large number of unhomed puppies to deal with each year. Remember too that puppies are a lot of work and they require feeding, worming and vaccinations - more expense!
“Having my bitch speyed will harm her temperament”.

FALSE - There is no evidence to show that speying a bitch has any adverse effect on her temperament. She will guard just as effectively as before the surgery and will be just as affectionate. In fact many bitches become quite disobedient and grumpy just before and after a season.
“Speying a bitch before puberty will cause her to become incontinent”.

FALSE - Studies in the USA and Britain show that there is no evidence that the age of speying has any effect on whether a bitch will develop urinary incontinence later in life. Therefore there is no reason to recommend that she must go through a season before surgery. The fact that a bitch is speyed, but not the age at which she is speyed, however does increase the risk of incontinence somewhat. These days this problem can be well controlled in most cases, if it should develop.
“Speying a bitch will make her get fat”.

FALSE - It is not the surgery that makes a speyed bitch get fat, it is over-feeding. Certainly, after speying there is a change in sex hormone levels which lowers the bitch’s metabolic rate so that she requires less food and may gain weight. However with food reduction and exercise, this increased tendency towards obesity should not be a problem.
Advantages Of Speying Your Bitch

There are several reasons to have your bitch speyed, at the age of 6-8 months, before her first heat:

* The operation is much simpler, safer procedure because the uterus and its blood supply are relatively underdeveloped. The bitch will also recover much more quickly, postoperatively.
*
By speying at an early stage the chances of potentially fatal mammary cancers are greatly reduced.
* The obvious advantages of not having any unwanted puppies.

Research into vaccines which prevent conception is currently being carried out overseas. These vaccines work by inducing antibodies against some of the reproductive hormones, preventing ovulation. None are on the market as yet, as they are still undergoing trials investigating their effectiveness and safety. This may become an alternative to surgery in the future.