Female dogs:

The female dog usually has her first menstruation between the ages of 6 to12 months, although there are some exceptions. Each menstruation lasts about three weeks. Most dogs will show 7-10 days of light bleeding (spotting) at the start of a menstruation. During this time the female dog will be attractive to male dogs, but usually she will not show much interest in the male. When the bleeding stops, the female is at her most fertile and will accept a male. This period can last between 9 to 15 days.

To avoid unwanted mating, it is essential to keep the female dog under constant supervision for the whole period of menses.

The advantages of spaying are:

• No unwanted pregnancies and none of the inconvenience of managing a dog in menstruation twice a year.
• Reducing the risk of mammary cancer developing later in life.
• If female dogs are not mated, many of them develop a “false pregnancy” after each menstruation producing milk.
• Female dogs are at risk of developing pyometra in the womb which threatens their life. This condition requires emergency surgery to save the dog.
• It prevents aggressive behaviour.

The disadvantages of spaying are:

• Risks associated with anaesthetic and surgical operation.
• An increased incidence of age-related urinary incontinence (which can be treated with medication).
• Early neutering (before puberty), particularly in large breed dogs (adult weight over 15kg), may increase the risk of weight gain, certain joint and internal problems.
• Anxiety problems may be aggravated by spaying.

The spay operation necessitates removing the ovaries and the womb under a general anaesthetic, and it is best carried out 2-3 months after the first menstruation. A normal spay operation requires that the stitches are removed 7 to 10 days after the surgery.

If you want to reproduce from your dog, this should be delayed until she is fully mature (from 12-18 months). We do not recommend breeding from dogs that have an aggressive temperament or any disease that may be hereditary.

Male dogs:

Depending on breed, he usually enters puberty between the age of 6 to 11 months.

The advantages of castration are:

• Castration prevents escaping and chasing after female dogs in heat.
• Reducing mating behavior that the male dog demonstrates on their owner’s legs or furniture.
• In some cases, castration can make training the dog easier.
• Reducing aggression with other dogs, However, no behavioral changes can be guaranteed, only training and behavioral modification can achieve this.
• Castration is recommended for dogs with certain medical problems (particularly prostatic problems), considered as part of the treatment.

The disadvantages of castration are:

• Risks associated with anaesthetic and surgery.
• For dogs with fear or anxiety behaviour, castration may worsen the problem.
• Castrated dogs tend to gain weight more easily.

Our pet clinic offers you the possibility of hospitalization and boarding in a very comfortable ward.