Who should I get spayed/neutured?

Question

I have two dogs living outside and I do not know which one I should spay or neuter. The female getting pregnant by another male is not really an issue because we have a fenced-in yard. She has never gotten out and other dogs have not gotten in. The female is not AKC registered, but the male is. The male does better on a leash and riding in cars, whereas the female is terrified of riding in a vehicle. I am also concerned about how much more invasive the surgery is for females than males. Which is the better choice?

I plan to do both eventually, I just only have the money to one right now.

Answer 1

Both of them!

Don't take a chance!

They will live longer lives if you get them spayed and neutered, good luck

Answer 2

start with the female first if you can't afford them both at the same time. Every heat cycle increases her chances of various cancers. And don't think that a fenced in yard will contain her or keep a male dog out.

Also, AKC registered means nothing. They both need to be altered for not only their health but to not bring unwanted puppies into the world, to stop roaming and possibly being hit by a car (#1 reason a dog gets hit by a car is because it's un-altered), territory marking, humping of the leg, etc., etc.

Get the female spayed in January and the male neutered in February!!

By the way, the neuter on a male also includes an abdominal incision. So, although the female has a more invasive surgery, both will have incisions on their bellies.

Answer 3

Both should be done.

Do an internet search and see if there is low cost spay/neuter program in your area. You may want to contact your local human society - they should be able to tell you if there is a low cost spay neuter program.

Here's some info I found that may help: http://www.spayusa.org/

I have 1 male and 2 females. All are fixed. The surgery is more invasive for the female but it's good to have done. If I was only able to do one - I'd have the female done first. Just because she does not get out - does not mean a roving male may not get in.

Answer 4

Absolutely both should be altered.

There was somebody just recently that had never spayed their inside female, because they has a 6 foot stockade fence and they watched her very closely when she was outside. Well where there is a will, there is a way and she was expecting puppies in four weeks.

As far as registered or behavior, that shouldn't affect your decision to spay or neuter. Your desire to not have puppies and your intelligence regarding improper breeding should be the reason you should spay and neuter.

If it is a question of cost, we have a great program in our town where it is $35 for spay and $25 for neuters. They also have spay days where it's $20 regardless of the sex or breed (cat or dog) of the animal. Also I know many places are opening low cost clinics that offer annual vaccines and low cost spay and neuter.

ADDED:
I just noticed you said it was a money issue right now. Where do you live - state or city and state? Most areas have low cost vaccine programs that are searchable online.

Answer 5

Start with the female. It's stressful on your male and female when she goes into heat and she can have quite a few pups (which will also need altered) in one litter depending on her breed. Males WILL come over, under, or through your fence to get to her and they can cause serious injury to her or your male, possibly even kill them. Females in heat will also sometimes suddenly forget every bit of training and go searching for a mate when one doesn't come to them. That puts her at risk of being injurred outside your yard, particularly if you are near a busy road. Get them both done as soon as you have the chance. Your male will likely leave if he smells an in-season female and that puts him in danger, again especially if there is a road nearby. He can be injurred during mating or even attacked and killed if the female doesn't appreciate his advances.

Ask your vet about a payment plan on getting them both done. Some will do that on spay/neuter just to keep the pet population down.

Answer 6

Back before my parents knew better (I was in late elementary school) our pet Brittany jumped a 6 foot wood privacy fence and mated a 6 month old show lines Chow Chow female. She had to have an emergency spay and my parents and the owner (who used to be friends) were not on good terms after that. He was neutered very soon after that. Males will come from miles around to mate your female (they can even breed through fences!) and puppies are a huge financial pain, especially if the male is large. An emergency C-section is often several grand. So spend $50-100 now or several hundred to several thousand later. Your choice.

Their registration status is frankly immaterial as long as they are not of breeding quality. If they aren't titled dogs with health and temperament tests and certificates, they don't need to be bred. Get them both done. The health benefits of doing both are excellent. I've seen many many spay and neuter surgeries. A vet used to doing them will get them done in 5-10 minutes. It's a very easy to do surgery in either case and there are generally no complications. You'll just have to keep them from jumping and running for about a week and make sure they don't lick at the surgical site. Thanks for getting it done.

Edit: if you are worried about the cost, check with your local shelter. They will sometimes do it cheap (or even free) or may know a vet who will do it pretty close to at cost (when I'm a vet, I'll do it at cost). Thanks!

Answer 7

I say both because it will prevent the female from having puppies with the male or other dogs getting in and you won't have to deal with her going through heat. And the male because that way if one of those dogs getting in is an female who hasn't been spayed or he gets out then you could end up with unwanted puppies.

Also one or both of your dogs could get injured if it is not done. If you live by a busy road then if the male leaves because he realizes that the female is in heat then he may be hit by a car or he could be attacked by the female or dogs coming into your yard.

I would talk to your vet about the cost and get his/her advice on it.

Answer 8

The registration of a dog doesn't matter as far as neutering if he is not a show dog. I would have the male done first only because it is easier on your pocketbook and because they tend to get territorial when they are not neutered. There are definate health benefits to getting the dogs spayed/neutered also. It would also depend on which one is older-I would have them done first to get the most from the health side of it.

Answer 9

Both,. it will save you some headaches in the end...

and you can ask your vet, spay a female, is good if your not a vet, neuter a male, it is healthy for him......dogs as they get older that have not been neutered can get testicular cancer, as my little Min. Schnauzer did......it was the most awful thing to watch him suffer till we put him down.....don't let your dog go through the same thing...it is healthier for both of them..

Answer 10

Can you not get both of them spayed/neutured??
Well, I would pick the Male dog, because he might want to go have babies with other female dogs, since the male ones ARE the ones who cause it, you know?
i know, i feel the same way about the whole invasive thing.
But then again, if she's terrified about riding in a vehicle , she'd probably jump out or something and run away.
But i would just buy a dog carrier thing for her, if you don't have one.
I'd still pick the male one though.

Answer 11

both!! It does not sound like either dog is suited for breeding so there is no reason not to get them both fixed. Preventing pregnancy is not the only reason to get your animals fixed. they will live longer, healthier lives. While a spay is an invasive surgery, the benifits far outweigh the risks. just make sure to research the vet!