Spay and Neuter

Sterilising your dog has both cons and benefits. You should consider both sides and consult your vet before making a decision. 

There are multiple types of sterilisation. The most common type is a procedure preformed by veterinarians in which your dog’s reproductive system is surgically removed, which is called spaying or neutering, or castrating. 

Spaying or neutering a dog under a year of age can be detrimental to their health and development. Early spay or neuter may increase risk of multiple types of cancers, including deadly osteosarcoma, increase risks of numerous defects such as hip dysplasia, abnormal bone growth, obesity, and joint disease, may cause behavioural changes such as increased aggression, laziness, dog or sound reactivity, anxiety, or destructive behaviours, and can take several years off of your dog’s lifespan. Sterilising your dog will change their hormones in a permanent way, leading to a weakened immune system and weight gain as well. The process of spaying and neutering a dog can be traumatic for them, and anesthesia, in rare cases, can have permanent, negative effects on the nervous system or brain of your dog. In some cases, this can lead to seizures, outbursts of destruction and aggression, or confusing/unexplainable behaviours, such as fly biting, constant tail chasing, or purposeful self-harm. All of these negative affects are even more likely to occur and become more severe whenever your dachshund is spayed or neutered before they are 18 months of age. Due to a dachshund’s long, unique body shape, they can have complications with spaying and neutering that other dog breeds do not have. For this reason, it is recommended by most vets to wait until they are 18 months old to spay or neuter. For all dog breeds, I recommend to wait until at least 12 months to fix your dog, but some veterinarians will say that only 6 months or older is safe. It depends largely on your dog, your vet, and the procedure you choose to do. Dogs will hit puberty at 5-8 months of age. My contract states that my puppies must be 12 months or older before being spayed or neutered. This is for their health benefit. However, with dachshunds, I would recommend leaving them intact as long as possible, as spaying and neutering significantly increases a dachshund's risk for developing IVDD.

Despite all of the cons, sterilising your dog also has many benefits. It prevents accidental litters, false pregnancy, mammary/testicular cancers, mastitis, and many types of infections. It can also lead to positive behavioural changes. Males who are neutered are much less likely to hike in the house or fight with other dogs, and sterilised dogs can also be more friendly towards other dogs and people and be less likely to run away from home. Spaying your girl will also prevent her from bleeding and developing problems from being in heat without being bred. Having a spay or neuter surgery on your dog is also not the only option whenever it comes to sterilisation. 

One option may be a chip or castration implant for male dogs. Castration implants mimic the effects of a neutered male without having to actually neuter your dog. The implant contains a hormone, deslorelin, which dramatically drops testosterone levels and prevents your dog from producing sperm. This form of sterilisation is temporary, non-invasive, and reversible. The chip is implanted in the same way a microchip is implanted (with a needle beneath the skin, much like a vaccination), and lasts either 6 months or 12 months, depending on the size chosen. The implant will stop your male dog from hiking or marking in the house with urine, being temperamental with other intact dogs, and running away from home in search of a mate. It will also temporarily sterilise him so that he cannot reproduce. Once the 6 or 12 months is up, if the chip is not replaced, then your male dog will become fertile again and back to his original, intact behaviours. 

Another option for male dogs may be to preform a vasectomy instead of a full neuter. With a vasectomy, your dog’s testes will not be removed. Instead, the tube that carries sperm during insemination will be severed. This surgery is much more delicate and takes longer than a neuter, however it will allow your male dog to keep his beneficial reproductive hormones while not being able to reproduce. On the other hand, however, a vasectomy can not prevent testicular cancer like a surgical neuter would.

An alternative option for female dogs may be to do a partial spay/hysterectomy. Whenever a female is spayed, her ovaries, uterus, and cervix are removed. In a partial spay, only her uterus and cervix are removed, leaving her ovaries intact. This will allow her to retain some of her beneficial reproductive hormones while still being sterilised and unable to reproduce. It is essentially a healthier form of spaying. 

In addition, female dogs can also have their tubes tied much like people can, which is called a tubal ligation and is less invasive than a spay surgery. A female dog that has had her tubes tied will still undergo heat cycles and maintain her beneficial reproductive hormones but will not be able to reproduce with 99% effectiveness. Unlike a full or partial spay, however, having a tubal ligation will not prevent pyometra in your dog, which is a serious infection of the womb. It also will not likely change your dog’s behaviour or temperament, and it will not prevent the types of mammary or reproductive cancers and infections that a full spay or partial spay may prevent. 

Whenever it comes down to it, it is up to you whether or not you sterilise your dog and how you do it. Research the breed of dog that you have and consult your vet before making an appointment.