PetMeds®: Spaying and Neutering Your Pet

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Posted by Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian on September 29, 2009 – 10:43 am
Filed under Dr. Dym's Vet Blog

This topic is presented to veterinarians every day across the country.  While for decades it has been the standard of practice to neuter/spay animals typically at 6 months, and even more recently by many shelters at even 6-8 weeks in some pets, this practice is now being called into question by conflicting studies now showing that waiting on spaying/neutering pets to when they reach sexual maturity at often one year of age, as well as simply weighing the pros and cons of the procedure at all, should be considered on an individual pet by pet basis.

Spaying or neutering your pet is a decision that you should make after consulting with your veterinarian The most important reasons for having pets spayed or neutered revolves around controlling the already huge pet overpopulation problem. Unfortunately, every day across the country, countless numbers of animals are euthanized because of sometimes unwanted pregnancies, and with the hard economic times, many animal guardians are cutting back on certain aspects of pet health care.  However, from an individual pet basis, some studies have shown that pets that undergo spaying or neutering are at increased risks for certain cancers such as bone cancer (especially more common in large or giant breed dogs), bladder tumors, prostate cancer, as well as hemangiosarcomas.

Urine incontinence is more common in neutered or spayed animals, as well as certain hormonal issues like thyroid disorders, and even behavioral problems such as increased aggression in one study in spayed/neutered animals. A growing epidemic of canine cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries are significantly more common in pets neutered/spayed before one year of age. On the flip side, early spaying of female dogs significantly decreases the risk of breast cancer, and will prevent a uterine abscess/infection known as a pyometra, which is seen on occasion in unspayed middle age and older female dogs.

My own feeling after looking at both sides of the issue, is that if an individual animal guardian can be a responsible pet owner, in not letting an intact pet off leash or the chance to roam, is that if a guardian decides to neuter or spay their dog that it be done at one year of age, rather than the prior earlier recommendations and what is done in shelter medicine and animals there. As with many things in life, there is no one correct answer to this important health care decision.

A very important consideration before spaying or neutering an animal is that by removing the sex hormones, there is a big stress put on the rest of the endocrine system, which all works together and not in separate parts in my opinion. I therefore recommend that both before and after spaying that a good natural diet is fed such as Eat Great Be Well Dog Food, Azmira, Pet Guard or Wysong.  It is also important to have all animals, but especially neutered/spayed ones on a good multivitamin supplement such as VitaChews or Super VitaChews, as well as a good quality Omega 3 fatty acid such as Super Pure Omega 3, Be Well Dog, Be Well Cat, and Nordic Naturals Omega 3 pet supplement.

1800PetMeds has  a wonderful endocrine package deal as well that includes a few of these in an economic, yet healthy threesome, including the antioxidant supplement Proanthozone, which can all work together in helping to maintain optimal health in neutered or spayed dogs or cats.

PetMeds®: Should You Breed Your Dog?

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Posted by Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian on September 28, 2009 – 10:40 am
Filed under Dr. Dym's Vet Blog
Many clients love their animals so much that they want to often breed their dogs so that they can either pass on the positive traits to young puppies and/or to also economically make additional money. Breeding and managing a pregnant dog, as well as supervising and overseeing the birthing process are much more complicated than many animal guardians realize. Breeding dogs is recommended to those who are professionals

Just finding a suitable male or female to breed with, and whether to consult a veterinary reproductive specialist for artificial insemination are some of the questions and concerns that come up. And while professional breeders with years of experience and knowledge about their breeds have a much easier time with this, backyard breeders often have trouble finding the right or healthiest dog or bitch to attempt a breeding with.

Many breeds, especially those with wide heads like Pit Bulls, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs and others often have difficulty delivering such large headed puppies, so that many of these pregnant bitches need Cesarean Sections in order to safely deliver their puppies.  Delivery problems seem to come up most often in my experience either late at night or on weekends, often necessitating a visit to a local emergency vet clinic. While many of these clinics do wonderful jobs, costs of such surgeries can cost several thousand dollars, hardly the economic gains that many prospective backyard breeders hoped for. There is also the problem of the huge pet overpopulation problem across the world, and by sometimes ignorantly breeding or allowing pet dogs to become pregnant, often only contributes to this huge burden on well meaning animal shelters, given how many homeless animals there are already are out there that need good and loving homes.

So in my opinion, the best thing an animal guardian can do is to have their pet appropriately spayed and neutered at the right age (to be discussed in a future blog post), and consider adopting a puppy or adult dog from a local shelter or humane society, while leaving the breeding to those professionals who are experts in this area. If, however a dog becomes pregnant, it’s not only important to read up on what’s involved with caring for a pregnant dog during her average 63 day pregnancy period, but also the right kind of diets and supplements/vitamins to keep them healthy during pregnancy and lactation.  Be Well pet food is a wonderful natural diet, as well as Pet Guard and Wysong, to include as a basis for pregnant or lactating animals. Osteoform calcium phosphorus for dogs is a wonderful calcium/phosphorus supplement for both the pregnant and lactating dog. I would also recommend a good multivitamin as well such as VitaChews or Super VitaChews during all stages of pregnancy and lactation, as well as for the life of the dog.