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For several years we’ve seen a push for owners to spay/neuter their dogs as soon as possible. A major contribution to this push is the increase in the stray population that has been flooding our shelters. Shelters across the nation are struggling to deal with the flood of animals coming in. Spay and neuter helps prevent unwanted litters by removing the animal’s sex organs. While spay and neuter surgeries help control the population, it also has effects on the dog’s overall health. Recent studies suggest that there are benefits to delaying spay/neuter until the dog has had a chance to mature or leaving the hormone producing reproductive organs intact. especially for large or giant breed dogs where joint problems are often seen in dogs spayed/neutered before maturity. Vasectomies and Ovary Sparing Spays are becoming increasingly popular as a way to prevent accidental breeding while still allowing the dog to benefit from it’s hormones. In these procedures the animals are sterilized but their sex organs are left in tact so that they can still receive the benefits of the hormones they produce.
As these studies are published and more owners choose to delay spaying/neutering or leave their dogs intact, it’s important that these owners are provided with the appropriate information to avoid accidental breeding. Some common mistakes include:
Thinking that dogs that are closely related (ie brother and sister) won’t breed with one another. Given the opportunity an intact male will breed with any female in heat regardless of relation.
Thinking that once a female is done bleeding she can’t get pregnant. After the female has finished bleeding she will enter “standing heat” which is when she is the most receptive of the male and most likely to get pregnant.
Believing a wire kennel or chain link fence is enough to prevent an intact male from breeding a female in heat. They can and will breed through the gaps.
The male doesn’t seem interested in the female so it’s not a risk. Given the chance an intact male will breed with an in heat female.
Animals are biologically designed to reproduce and will do whatever is necessary to do so. So how do you prevent accidental litters?
Keep intact animals separated the entire duration of the female’s heat. Remember, heat doesn’t end when the bleeding stops. Consult your veterinarian if you’re unsure if your female is in heat.
Don’t leave them alone together unless they are completely secure. Remember, males have been known to breed a female through kennels and have also been known to chew through walls to get to an in heat female. Please keep this in mind when securing your animals.
Always supervise your in heat female whether she’s in the home or outside in your yard. If you can’t have eyes on her, put her somewhere secure.
If an accidental breeding does occur, consult your vet about how to proceed.
As pet owners it is our responsibility to manage our pets and avoid contributing to the population problem we’re seeing across the nation. We decided to bring these animals into our homes and our world, so it is our responsibility to do our best by them.
References
“Vasectomy and ovary-sparing spay in dogs: comparison of health and behavior outcomes with gonadectomized and sexually intact dogs”, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2023) https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.08.0382
“Canine Ovariohysterectomy and Orchiectomy Increases the Prevalence of ACL Injury.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (2003) https://journals.lww.com/corr/Abstract/2004/12000/Canine_Ovariohysterectomy_and_Orchiectomy.45.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2KAgtRF77J-_iGAcSaZKuZBSUshSYAmAMxGZSn_Jv6PPS4i_li34AjiKg
”Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for 35 Breeds of Dogs: Associated Joint Disorders, Cancers, and Urinary Incontinence” Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2020) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full?fbclid=IwAR3iXWmyXPW6lW2FlHXF9M3OlQkK9xrqd_ji9fLv_jpTKZAKNW1akKWi1_k#T1
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