Dog Neutering and Spaying FAQs



However, as most dogs usually reach sexual maturity at around 6-7 months old, your pet could get pregnant when they are still puppies themselves! As a new dog owner, you’ll have to think about whether you want your dog to breed or not from an early age. By neutering your dog, you will help them avoid any unplanned pregnancies. It will also make them less susceptible to certain diseases and may also improve any behaviours that are sexually-driven.
Our Purina Pet Care Team are here to answer some of your commonly asked questions about neutering, so you’ll be able to make the best decision for you and your dog.
Spaying or neutering your dog plays a big part of responsible pet ownership. Make sure you have all of the information you need before making this big decision.

Neutering or spaying a dog is a common routine operation, where the reproductive organs of your dog are removed. For male dogs this involves the removal of the testicles, and for females the procedure means the removal of their ovaries and sometimes womb.
The operation to spay or neuter your dog is very routine, and your pet will be given an anaesthetic to ensure that they don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
You can request that your female dog is spayed via keyhole surgery. This is less invasive, and involves the removal of just their ovaries, so reduces pain and post-surgery recovery time.
After the operation, your vet will give your dog pain-relief injections to ease any post-surgery discomfort. They will also provide you with anti-inflammatory medicine and painkillers to give to your dog at home as part of their after-care.
As the operation is usually less-invasive for male dogs, they should only need medication for a day after surgery. Females will need medication for around 3 days after their operation, for a speedy recovery that is as painless as possible.

There are several advantages of neutering that your dog can benefit from. These include decreased risk of illness as well as having an effect on behaviour – the benefits of the procedure vary depending on gender.

Your dog or bitch should reach sexual maturity at around 6-7 months old, but this can vary slightly depending on their breed. So that your dog can avoid an unwanted pregnancy, it’s best to get them neutered before they reach this age.
Some vets prefer to allow bitches to have one season before neutering them. This can be tricky as dogs can only be neutered 3 months after their season has ended, meaning a carefully monitored wait in between.

To get your dog neutered, book an appointment with your vet. You may be required to bring your pet in for a pre-anaesthetic check-up before they have the operation.
Your vet will request that you don’t feed your dog the night before their anaesthetic. Make water available as normal, but pick it on the morning of the procedure to make sure that they don’t drink anything before surgery.
You will usually be asked to drop your dog into the vets in the morning, and you should be able to pick them up later that day.
Your dog is bound to be a little drowsy after their operation, but they should be back to their energetic, excitable selves very soon. As the operations vary depending on gender, so does the recovery process. There are a few things you can do to help your pal heal as quickly as possible.
- Unless you’ve opted for keyhole surgery, neutering female dogs requires quite a large incision. Check the wound regularly to ensure that it is healing and contact your vet if you notice it worsening in any way.
- To stop your dog from licking, biting or scratching her stitches, she will have to wear a “cone” buster collar. You can dress her in an old t-shirt if she finds the collar too uncomfortable.
- To protect her stitches and allow them time to heal, prevent your pet from jumping and walk her on a lead until she is given the all-clear by the vet at her 10 day appointment.
- If non-dissolvable stitches are used, your vet will provide a date when they should be removed. This is usually around 7-10 days after the procedure.
- Your vet will schedule check-ups 3 and 10 days after your pet’s operation to monitor their recovery.
- Your dog can go outside the day after their operation, but walk them on a lead until they get the all-clear after their 10 day check-up.
- To stop them licking or scratching their wound, dogs will have to wear a buster “cone” collar for up to 10 days after their operation. If this irritates your pet, wearing a t-shirt may be more comfortable for them.
All dogs are bound to be a little drowsy after their operation, but they should be back to their normal, lively selves very soon. After that, the recovery process varies per gender, as the operations are different. There are a few things you can do to help your furry boy or girl heal after being neutered.
You can help them stay fit with regular exercise and by reducing their calorie intake with smaller food portions. Read our information on Keeping Fit and Healthy for further guidance. You can also switch them to a lower-calorie food. One of our lighter formulas can help:
There are several drawbacks to not neutering a dog, which vary by gender. You should consider these points carefully before choosing not to neuter your dog.

Often dogs do not show many obvious physical symptoms until they are well into their pregnancy. You can read more about the signs of pregnancy in our Spotting the Signs of Pregnancy article if you think that your dog is expecting, speak to your vet who will be able to confirm this. It may be possible that she can still be neutered whilst pregnant, which will end her current pregnancy and prevent any more in the future.
Your vet will be able to give you more information to help you make a decision about neutering your dog whilst she is pregnant. At the end of the day, neutering is completely your decision to make, based on what is best for you and your dog. If you have any further questions about neutering your dog, speak to your vet.

If you’d like more information on Dog Neutering and Spaying FAQs or have any other queries, contact our PETCARE EXPERT TEAM