What Happens When Dogs Are Spayed?

Spaying your dog protects against pregnancy and prevents her from contributing to the homeless animal problem. Spaying also helps your dog avoid reproductive cancers, uterine rupture and infections. Many trainers also advocate spaying dogs to prevent aggression and other behavioral problems. But many pet owners are still hesitant about sending their beloved pets into the vet's office for a mysterious surgery. The procedure for spaying dogs is relatively simple and rarely results in complications.

  1. Before the Surgery

    • Most veterinarians recommend spaying dogs between 4 and 6 months, but some veterinarians perform early spay procedures. Spaying your dog before her first heat completely eliminates her risk of pregnancy. Your vet will perform a check-up to ensure your dog is healthy and give you specific instructions for the surgery. Typically, dogs should not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before the surgery.

    Surgery Preparation

    • Dogs are spayed under general anesthesia. She will first be sedated with an oral or injected sedative to calm her, and then be given general anesthesia, usually through an IV. After your dog is asleep, the veterinarian inserts a breathing tube to help your dog breathe during the surgery. Your dog will be completely unconscious and will not feel any pain.

    Surgery Procedure

    • During the surgery, the surgeon removes your dog's ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus. She will make a small incision in your dog's abdomen. After the surgical procedure, this incision will be sealed with stitches or surgical glue. Your dog will slowly wake up after the anesthesia is stopped and will be given some time to recover before you pick her up. The veterinarian will examine her to ensure she is not experiencing any side effects from the anesthesia.

    After the Surgery

    • Your dog will probably be groggy and confused for several hours after the surgery. It is vitally important that she not lick or chew her stitches, so she will have to wear an Elizabethan collar. If your veterinarian used dissolving stitches or surgical glue, the sutures will dissolve on their own, but some stitches require a trip to the veterinarian to be removed a week or two after the surgery. While infection is very rare, if your dog develops swelling or redness around the area or seems lethargic or sick several days after the surgery, contact your veterinarian immediately.