Currently, all guardians of companion animals, especially those who have cats and dogs, are increasingly aware of the advantages of neutering a bitch, and that is because this avoids unwanted litters, the possibility of mammary tumors appearing decreases, it avoids diseases of the uterus and prevents psychological pregnancies or pseudopregnancies and, in addition, all the symptoms of heat will disappear. To carry out the castration of a bitch, there is a surgical procedure where the female’s reproductive system is removed. Many people have ever wondered if You can castrate a bitch in heat and the reality is that many veterinarians prefer to wait for this period to pass to proceed to surgery. However, sometimes jealous bitches are castrated, but you should know the risks that this entails, so if you want to find out, keep reading because in this oneHOWTO article we answer this question.
Can you castrate a bitch that is in heat?
The answer is that YES you can neuter a bitch when she is in heat, although a minority of veterinarians perform this intervention in this phase. Spaying and neutering consists of the removal of the uterus and ovaries of the bitch through an incision in the abdomen. During the entire process, the animal is under anesthesia, so it will not be aware of anything or notice pain, and recovery is usually easy and fast. If you and the vet decide to castrate your bitch in heat, you should know that there are a number of Considerations to take into account.
- The price is probably higher, since the intervention will last longer in this state.
- There will be more bleeding, which can make it easier for you to bleed.
- It may take you longer to recover from surgery in this state.
- If you wait for your dog to finish heat it may happen that she becomes pregnant. If this happens, your dog can still be neutered by the vet, performing an abortion alongside the neuter. This is an option that you should consider with your vet.
There are people who believe that it is better for their dog to have minimal heat before neutering her. The truth is that it does not influence anything and You can castrate a bitch before she has her first heat to prevent problems.
If you want to know more about this period that bitches go through, we recommend these other posts on What is heat in bitches like and How long is heat in a bitch.
Is it better to neuter a dog when she is in heat or after?
All vets follow a spay or neuter guidelines for dogs, depending on its size, which is normally the following:
- In small breed dogs and bitches, it is recommended to carry out neutering at 7 or 8 months (before their first heat) or one month after this.
- In larger breed dogs, it is recommended that bitches be neutered over one year of age, to ensure that their body’s development process is not interrupted.
Spaying a bitch in heat is NOT generally recommended because during surgery the risk of bleeding increases and any problem described above may appear. So the best option will be to wait for her period of heat to end and a month later to intervene to castrate her.
If the vet agrees to castrate your dog while she is in heat, it is probably because he already has knowledge of it and it will be handled without any problem, so you don’t have to worry.
Neutering a bitch in heat – special care
A dog that is in good health and whose castration has been carried out as planned, without any complications, will take about 10 or 15 days to recover. You must bear in mind that your dog will need special and essential care if you want it to recover as soon as possible and without any complications. Here we give you tips for caring for a neutered dog when she was in heat.
- Do not let your dog walk after the operation, she may be a little sleepy and could even vomit.
- It is important that your friend maintains rest and relaxation for a few days. So it is best to avoid activities in which you have to exert yourself, run too much or jump.
- Avoid touching the wound, as it could miss the stitches. The vet will be in charge of putting an Elizabethan collar or a bandage so that your dog cannot lick or reach the wound.
- Drinking lots of water is important for a good recovery.
- Their diet has to be for neutered dogs. On the first day, the best option will be to offer him light and small meals, such as chicken breast.
- Follow the instructions your vet has given you to treat your dog’s wound. It is important to clean it well so that it does not become infected and heals and heals as intended.
- Give her a lot of pampering, she will be much calmer if you spend most of your time with her until she recovers completely, in turn, so you can act quickly if she misses a point.
In this other oneHOWTO article we offer you more tips on Caring for a newly neutered dog.
If you want to read more articles similar to Can you castrate a bitch in heat?, we recommend that you enter our category of Pets.