Dog - Prevention of Oestrus and Birth Control

How can I prevent my bitch from coming into oestrus and having puppies?

• Surgery – ovariohysterectomy – spaying
• Medical management using hormonal drugs

Spaying

Spaying involves the removal of the womb and ovaries. It is permanent and irreversible. Although involving major surgery with general anaesthesia the risk is minimal in the healthy animal particularly if done before she is fully mature.

Is it necessary to remove the ovaries? This is not done when a woman is sterilised.

The reproductive cycle of the bitch is entirely different from that of a woman. Bitches come into season on average only twice a year and it is only at that time that they are receptive. The object of ovariohysterectomy is to ensure that cycling does not take place so that the bitch does not show signs of heat (oestrus) and consequently is not bothered by other dogs and cannot become pregnant.

Are there any other advantages?

• False pregnancy.  Spaying your bitch will ensure that she does not have problems of false pregnancy. This can sometimes be troublesome after a season.
• Pyometra.  This is a common and very serious inflammation and infection of the womb which can also occur following a season, particularly in bitches that have not had puppies. Once the uterus has been removed this risk is removed.
• Mammary neoplasia.  If sterilisation is performed before she is mature the chances of developing breast cancer later in life are much reduced.

What are the disadvantages of neutering?

Adverse effects can include weight increase if diet isn't properly managed, change in coat texture and occasionally urinary incontinence.

Can anything be done about these side effects?

• Correct dietary management will control any tendency to obesity and we will be more than happy to help if any other problems become apparent.
• Hormonal incontinence can be controlled with modern drugs.
• Coat texture changes appear more commonly in certain breeds, e.g. Setters and Spaniels but only occurs very rarely. We will be happy to discuss this with you.

Medical control of oestrus

Tablets and injections are available containing broadly similar hormonal drugs to those used in the human contraceptive pill. These are effective but are not permanent. They can be used to postpone or suppress your bitch’s season and once administration has ceased your bitch will start to come into season again and can be successfully mated.

Do these drugs have any side effects?

Depending on the formulation they can sometimes cause an increase in appetite leading to obesity and occasionally precipitate other medical problems such as diabetes. Long term or continuous administration is not recommended because this increases the possibility of these side effects. These methods are useful when going on holiday, attending a show, etc. if your pet is likely to come into season at that time but should not be considered as an alternative to surgery if long term or permanent neutering is required.

Do they effectively suppress the signs of heat?

Yes, correct dosage administration will prevent the signs of heat which can be postponed or suppressed entirely. Ovulation will not occur and the bitch cannot become pregnant.