By spaying or neutering your pet, you’ll help control the pet homelessness crisis, which results in millions of healthy dogs and cats being euthanized in the United States each year simply because there aren’t enough homes to go around. There are also medical and behavioral benefits to spaying (female pets) and neutering (male pets) your animals.

Your spayed female pet won’t go into heat. While cycles can vary, females are usually in for 2-4 weeks, and this happens every 6 months.

Your male dog will be less likely to roam away from home. An intact male will do just about anything to find a mate, including finding creative ways to escape from the house. Once he’s free to roam, he risks injury in traffic and fights with other male animals.

Your neutered male may be better behaved. Unneutered dogs are more likely to mark their territory by spraying strong-smelling urine all over the house. Your dog might be less likely to mount other dogs, people and inanimate objects after he’s neutered.

Spaying/neutering your pets is also highly cost-effective. The cost of your pet’s spay/neuter surgery is far less than the cost of having and caring for a litter, as well as the cost of uterine and testicular cancers.

Spaying or neutering will not cause your pet to become overweight. Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not spay/neuter. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor her food intake.

Neutering is not as a quick fix for all behavior problems. Although neutering your pet often reduces undesirable behaviors caused by a higher level of testosterone, there’s no guarantee that your dog’s behavior will change after he’s neutered. Although the surgery will reduce the amount of testosterone in your dog’s system, it won’t eliminate the hormone completely. Neutering will also not reduce behaviors that your pet has earned or that have become habitual. The effects of neutering are largely dependent on your dog’s individual personality, physiology and history.

Your veterinary clinic will provide pre-surgical advice and post-operative instructions that you should follow. In general, avoid giving your pet any food after midnight the night before surgery. Although your pet may experience some discomfort after surgery, your veterinarian can take various measures to control pain. Depending on the procedure performed, medication for pain may be sent home with your pet.

• Provide your pet with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals.
• Prevent your pet from running and jumping for up to two weeks following surgery, or as long as your veterinarian recommends.
• Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an E-collar.
• Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery.
• Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing.
  If you notice any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, please contact your veterinarian. Also call your veterinarian if your pet is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting or has diarrhea or any other concerns following surgery.

Please visit our Corgi Resources page to find spay/neuter options in your area.