The most common methods for sterilizing female and male dogs are ovariohysterectomy (spay; which removes both the ovaries and the uterus) and castration (neutering; which involves removing the testicles), respectively.
During surgical sterilization, a veterinarian removes certain reproductive organs. Ovariohysterectomy, or the typical “spay”: the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus are removed from a female dog or cat. This makes her unable to reproduce and eliminates her heat cycle and breeding instinct-related behavior.
When Should You Spay A Dog? If you opt for a traditional spay, the age at which this is done is important. Removing the ovaries interrupt the hormonal axis of the sex hormones with the pituitary and other organs. There are age-related conditions to consider when making this decision.
A “spay” is a surgery to remove both ovaries which are the source of hormones responsible for estrus cycles in female dogs and cats.
Interestingly, what happens is that once the ovaries are removed, the uterus atrophies, or shrinks away and basically dies on its own. The end result is therefore the same: no uterus = no risk of pyometra and no tumors of the uterus.
The most common methods for sterilizing female and male dogs are ovariohysterectomy (spay; which removes both the ovaries and the uterus) and castration (neutering; which involves removing the testicles), respectively. However, any surgery that removes the gonads changes the animal in both positive and negative ways.
The short answer is- yes it will. Spaying and neutering both involve making permanent changes to your dog's reproductive system, whether male or female. Dogs' hormonal systems change based on their reproductive system, just like in humans! Hormones are in part responsible for some of our behaviors.
You may notice that after surgery your pet isn't her usual self. After the procedure, it's normal for animals to have low energy and feel lethargic. The procedure can make dogs calmer, but many dogs will bounce right back to usual personalities after recovery.
Recovery After Spaying Surgery
Most pets will start to feel better in 24 - 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days. During this period you should aim to keep your pet calm and refrain from allowing them to jump, as this could cause the incision to reopen.
What is Hysterectomy? A hysterectomy, or “ovary-sparing spay”, is a procedure in which a dog's entire uterus is removed, but the ovaries are left intact. This surgery contrasts from the traditional spay, or ovariohysterectomy, with which both the uterus and the ovaries are removed.
When should I spay my female dog? We recommend waiting until your dog is at least over 6 months and likely even older for larger dogs. The benefits are much more pronounced in larger dogs, but there is not a lot of difference for lap dogs.
There are effectively two types of spaying: traditional and laparoscopic.
Keep your pet confined where it will be quiet and warm. DO NOT place it on a bed or other high place. Keep your pet away from other animals and children for at least 12 hours. Offer water and food in very small amounts for the first 12 hours.
Pets must be kept indoors where they can stay clean, dry, and warm, although dogs can be walked on a leash to relieve themselves. Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar.
Spaying is considered a major operation and requires general anesthesia. With any anesthetic the risk of serious complications, including death, is always possible. With modern anesthetics and monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low.
Unfortunately, your dog won't tell you if she is spayed or not. Even if she could talk, she wouldn't even be able to remember the procedure. Nowadays, dogs are spayed often when they are very young (especially if you got your dog from a shelter), and they are put under anesthesia.
Potential Side Effects of Spaying Your Dog
A small number of studies report that unspayed female dogs who are aggressive to family members may become more aggressive after they're spayed. This could be caused by a decrease in estrogen and oxytocin, both of which may have calming, anti-anxiety effects.
Q: Should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her? A: Medically, it's better to spay your dog before their first heat. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. People who wait to spay their dogs until after their second heat greatly increase the risk of mammary tumors in their pets.
The morning after the operation you may begin to take your dog for walks again, although be advised that any walks for the next 10-14 days are lead walks only and for no more than 20 minutes at any one time.
Avoid running, jumping, and excessive playing. Strenuous activity increases your pet's risk of developing swelling around the incision site that could result in premature dissolving of sutures, opening of the incision, and costly medical care that would be your responsibility.
And there have been cases of animals spreading resistant strains of staph infections and other diseases by licking cuts and wounds after surgery, so it's not recommended that pets be allowed in bed then.
A traditional spay requires a 2-4 inch long incisions. Compare that to a lap spay that requires two separate incisions that are each only one-fifth-inch to two-fifth-inches long. You can see why laparoscopy is considered less invasive. In a laparoscopic spay, only the ovaries are removed.
The benefits to a laparoscopic spay are numerous as compared to a traditional one. Major upsides include: A smaller incision, which translates to less pain post-operatively (up to 65%) and quicker healing. Better visibility for the surgeon, resulting in shorter anesthesia times and fewer complications such as bleeding.
When your dog is spayed, the entire reproductive tract (including both ovaries and the uterus) is surgically removed. Therefore, your spayed dog no longer has ovaries, produces estrogen, or goes into heat.