Spaying your dog is the process of surgically altering her sex organs to prevent her from reproducing. The procedure is simple, and often your dog can return home the same day. After two to seven days, your dog should be back to normal. This procedure is recommended but also debated among dog owners.
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Advantage: Prevent Health Problems
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Spaying your dog prevents a host of medical problems. Infections such as pyometra or endometriosis do not occur in spayed dogs. Dogs who have been spayed don't suffer from the hormonal condition of false pregnancy. Your dog's risk of developing breast cancer is greatly reduced. Finally, dogs' lives are risked when they give birth, and for spayed dogs this is a non-issue.
Advantage: No Heat Periods
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During a heat period, your dog's genitals swell and produce bloody discharge, creating a difficult-to-clean mess. As long as your dog is in the heat period, she must be kept away from other dogs in order to prevent getting pregnant. When your dog is spayed, heat periods are eliminated.
Advantage: Prevent Pet Overpopulation
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Dogs who are allowed to reproduce at will deliver puppies who potentially end up in shelters. Many of these dogs never find homes and wind up being put to death in the shelters. Other dogs never make it to the shelter, never receive proper care and die homeless and uncared for.
Disadvantage: Obesity
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Spaying your dog changes the way her hormones are produced and metabolism works. Dogs who are not exercised regularly or who are fed the same foods they ate before being spayed may gain weight.
Disadvantage: Cost
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You do have to pay to have your dog spayed. However, the cost is a one-time expense, and occasionally clinics offer a discount or even free spaying for those who qualify.
Disadvantage: Complications
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Because your dog must be anesthetized for the procedure, there are risks involved. Your dog may have a negative reaction to the anesthesia, and the anesthesia may lower your dog's heart rate during the procedure.
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