Whether you’ve recently brought home a pet or considering the idea, one of the most important decisions you’ll ever have to make is getting it spayed or neutered. Removing the ovaries of female dogs or removing the testicles of a male dog will not only improve the pet’s behavior considerably, but it will also keep them close to home as well.
A lot of people often wonder if it is still possible to get their older dogs neutered. Neutering is generally performed when the pet is younger but it is also not uncommon to do it on dogs that are of more advanced age. While there may be possible side effects to the procedure on an older pet, there are many instances when it’s the right course of action to take, especially when used as a treatment for a condition or to prevent illnesses.
Another thing that can cross your mind is if it is indeed possible to have your dog spayed while they’re in heat. Spaying dogs in heat might sound uncommon, but it actually is not a unique case.
Benefits of Neutering Older Dogs
When it comes to older dogs, neutering is no longer just done as a plain solution to population control. Most people aren’t aware that there are instances when neutering is done before any disease develops to help prevent the condition from developing into something more life-threatening. For instance, neutering can be effective at preventing certain forms of cancer among canines including prostatic diseases, uterine infections, prostatic enlargement, as well as a whole host of behavioral issues.
Although it is quite preferable for veterinarians to perform the procedure when the dogs are younger, even older dogs can be safely and effectively neutered provided that proper planning is laid out ahead of time. Older dogs will experience different benefits compared to what puppies would.
But there are various reasons that it should be done— mainly to address potential medical issues and risks. There are also cases when neutering has to be performed as an emergency procedure, especially after a health problem has developed.
Possible Side-Effects of Neutering Older Canines
Generally, if there are side effects to neutering an older dog, it will be minimal. It’s important to understand that proper care after the operation has been performed is crucial to senior dogs. Just like how things are for humans in their advanced years, surgeries and hospitalizations are going to take a much heavier toll on older dogs compared to younger ones.
So, if you’re an owner of an older dog that has to go through neutering, make sure to shower them with extra TLC. You may also need to coax them to eat after surgery and they may also need you to get them up or down the stairs after the procedure.
Dogs are expected to experience complete recovery within 10-14 days from the time the procedure has been performed. The rest period must be strictly imposed at least for the first few weeks, pet parents have to be extremely careful with overly active dogs as they may delay the healing process as a result or worse, could experience complications.
If there are medications that have been prescribed by the veterinarian, pet parents need to see to it that they are administered appropriately at the set time to hasten the healing process. Pain medications also have to be administered on time and on schedule even when the pet doesn’t seem to appear in pain. Remember, pain prevention is always easier than treatment.
Besides, your dog can’t really tell you if it is in pain or not, so being proactive with their medication intake will help ensure that they’re set right down towards the path of healing.
