Heat Prevention

Anyone who owns a dog had to choose between a male and a female when purchasing the dog. Factors that play a role in this choice include: personal preference, whether or not one wants to breed, and (perceived) differences in behavior and temperament between males and females.
Anyone who has chosen a female dog will eventually have to deal with her heat cycle. Most female dogs go into heat for the first time between the ages of 6 and 14 months. On average, the heat cycle lasts about 14 days. It is precisely during the last few days, when the discharge clearly decreases, that the fertile days occur. That is exactly when you need to be careful to prevent unwanted matings!

If you don’t plan to breed your dog and don’t want to deal with the “hassle” of her being in heat, you may decide to have her spayed to prevent heat cycles. The pros and cons of this procedure are listed below. For the record: during spaying, the ovaries—and sometimes the uterus—are removed. So, strictly speaking, it’s more accurate to refer to it as castration. In a true spaying procedure, the ovaries remain intact. This is never performed on dogs.

The "period pill," a periodic injection to prevent estrus, is no longer used. All products previously registered for this purpose have been withdrawn from the market.

Advantages:

• The dog will no longer go into heat.
• Severe uterine inflammation, such as that commonly seen in female dogs after their heat cycle, is no longer possible.
• The risk of diabetes is very low, unlike in unspayed female dogs.
•  Significantly lower risk of mammary tumors (provided that the sterilization is performed at a younger age).

Disadvantages: 

• This requires abdominal surgery. The ovaries—and possibly the uterus—are removed through an incision in the abdomen. While every surgery carries some risk, the risks in this case are very small.
• Some dogs gain weight after being spayed or neutered. This is actually very easy to prevent by feeding the dog a little less.
• The price may be a drawback for some people.
• A small percentage of female dogs may experience urinary incontinence after surgery. This is, however, easily treatable.
• The surgery is irreversible: the dog will never be able to have puppies again.

Nowadays, it’s also possible to spay a female dog using a minimally invasive procedure (laparoscopy).
Through three small incisions of about 5 mm, we can insert a camera and a few instruments into the abdomen. Using a monitor and the camera’s magnification, the veterinarian has a clear view to assess the organs and the uterus. If everything is in order, the ovaries are removed using electrocautery.

THE BENEFITS OF LAPAROSCOPIC STERILIZATION:

• There is less pain after surgery because no large incision needs to be made. Also, the ovarian ligaments are not pulled.
• The risk of wound infection is significantly lower given the small holes that are made
• There is a lower risk of post-operative bleeding, which is checked immediately using the camera.
• Faster recovery and a quicker return to normal; they’ll start eating sooner and will be allowed to move around more as early as the day after surgery.
• A clear view of all the organs during the operation.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF LAPAROSCOPIC STERILIZATION:

• If the veterinarian determines that the uterus does not look healthy, it will be necessary to perform the surgery using the “traditional” method after all and remove the entire uterus.
• The costs are higher because special equipment is used.

• When can my dog be spayed?

Starting 3 months after the first heat cycle. The younger a dog is at the time of spaying, the lower the risk of mammary tumors and diabetes later in life. If your dog has already been in heat several times, it is best to have the surgery 3 months after the heat cycle.

You can make an appointment by phone for the surgery. You will receive a brochure containing the necessary instructions for the surgery. Generally, you can drop off your dog in the morning on the day of the surgery and pick him up again in the afternoon.

• Will my dog gain weight after being spayed?

That’s possible, but there are steps you can take to prevent it! Due to changes in their hormonal balance, many animals use the calories from their food more efficiently. If the amount of food remains the same, they’ll have excess energy to store as fat, which is why these animals may gain weight. That’s why it’s wise to reduce their food intake by 10–15% after sterilization!