Pros and cons of castration and sterilization of Chihuahuas

Inexperienced owners overlook the importance of spaying and neutering their Chihuahua. If professional breeders deliberately do not carry out the operation because they are conducting breeding work to produce offspring with the best hereditary breed qualities, then novice breeders sometimes give funny and terrible arguments. For example, that castration and sterilization of a Chihuahua is not a humane procedure for depriving a dog of the reproductive function inherent in nature, associated with enormous risks to the health of the animal. In fact, the advantages of the operation greatly outweigh the disadvantages. Which is what we'll talk about next.

People have the impression that castration surgery is performed exclusively on male dogs, and sterilization surgery is performed on female dogs. Not at all! Let's understand the concepts to avoid confusion:

• Sterilization is the surgical deprivation of a dog’s ability to reproduce by ligating the male spermatic cord; tubal ligation in a female. At the same time, the sexual instincts of a sterilized dog, as well as the production of sex hormones, are preserved.
• Castration is the surgical removal of reproductive organs: testes (testes) in a male dog; ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy), or only ovaries (oophorectomy), in a female dog.

In both cases, the operation is performed under local or general anesthesia, in a veterinary clinic by a licensed specialist. The operations are completely safe for a healthy animal, lasting from 20 to 40 minutes. The animal returns home the same day.

Weigh all the pros and cons to make the right and informed decision. Consult with your veterinarian, do the necessary tests and tests, and discuss possible risks and complications.

If necessary, the veterinarian will perform an ultrasound of the heart and take a blood test, including a coagulogram (blood clotting ability), gas and electrolyte composition of the blood. The test results will allow the specialist to objectively assess the anesthetic risks.

If you don’t want to periodically look for a sexual partner or breed offspring, then I recommend spaying or neutering your Chihuahua. The procedure will not only extend the life of the dog, but will have a beneficial effect on its health in the future.

Remember that animals do not have sex for the sake of pleasure, as humans do, but for one single purpose, inherent in the dog’s instinct by nature - the reproduction of their own kind, i.e. reproduction.

Castration of a male dog

A surgical procedure to remove both testicles (testes), the paired male gonads, from the scrotum.

Pros:

• blocks male sexual desire, prevents conflicts with potential sexual partners over a female.
• reduces the risk of developing malignant tumors of the prostate gland (prostate) due to the cessation of testosterone production;
• lack of interest in females in heat, so the male stops chasing them;
• balanced and calm behavior;
• a neutered male Chihuahua is easier to socialize and educate, the instinct of dominance is suppressed, and the concentration of attention is increased;
• ceases to relieve hormonal tension on objects and things that, in his opinion, are sexually attractive;
• aggression, as a rule, gives way to friendliness, the animal becomes affectionate and pliable.

Minuses:

• general anesthesia causes more damage to the body than the operation itself;
• the recovery process is slower than after sterilization;
• there may be an increase in appetite, resulting in unwanted excess weight gain. You will have to reconsider your diet to be a little more dietary, but it would be wiser to discuss this issue with your veterinarian.

Castration of a bitch

There are 3 types of castration of female Chihuahuas:

1. oophorectomy
   – involves the removal of both ovaries;
2. hysterectomy
   - removal of only the uterus;
3. Ovariohysterectomy
   - removal of both ovaries and the uterus.

The third option is the most preferable, no matter what excuses veterinarians give, that supposedly the first two are less traumatic than the third. Don't believe me, insist on removing the ovaries and uterus to avoid severe post-operative complications such as pyometra!

Pros:

• stops the production of female sex hormones, the sexual cycle disappears, resulting in estrus;
• excludes breast cancer, if castration is carried out before the onset of the first estrus, and malignant tumors of the reproductive organs;
• behavior changes for the better, the animal becomes obedient, affectionate and calm, aggression disappears;
• there is no need to mark the territory that the apartment serves as, which is typical for non-sterilized females during the rutting period;
• Unplanned pregnancy, including false pregnancy, is excluded.

Minuses:

• Similar to those of neutered males (see above).

Sterilization of a male dog

A less invasive surgical method than castration. It consists of ligating or cutting the vas deferens, the connecting link between the testes and the penis, which leads to complete sterility and the inability of the male dog to fertilize. In medical practice, the procedure is called a vasectomy.

Pros:

• minimally invasive procedure compared to castration;
• the operation is performed by a surgeon under local anesthesia together with sedation, which has a more gentle effect on the animal’s body compared to general anesthesia;
• reduces the risk of prostate diseases.

Minuses:

• male hormones continue to be produced, in particular testosterone;
• sexual desire remains, the male continues to pay attention to females;
• the risks of cancerous tumors of the reproductive organs remain;
• the behavior remains the same.

!

Invasiveness means deep interference with the integrity of the internal organs of the biological system of the body.

Spaying a bitch

The operation is more complicated than for males, because... is carried out by a surgeon inside the abdominal cavity, just like castration. It involves ligating the fallopian tubes, the place where the egg is fertilized by the sperm after it leaves the follicle. By blocking the oviduct, complete sterility of the female Chihuahua is achieved.

Pros:

• the procedure is less traumatic and does not violate the integrity of the internal organs of the body;
• recovery of the body after surgery occurs faster;
• reduces the likelihood of cancer of the uterus, ovaries, and breast, but does not exclude it.

Minuses:

• the sexual cycle persists, estrus during the rutting period, the animal can continue to leave urine marks, attracts males;
• sexual desire does not disappear;
• behavior does not soften, remains the same;
• rare, but there are cases of the formation of an umbilical hernia due to sutures incorrectly applied by the surgeon, including those leading to their divergence;
• in 5-10% of cases, involuntary urinary incontinence is observed soon after sterilization, or in adulthood;
• manifestation of false pregnancy against the background of hormonal changes.

Castrate or sterilize?

If you still haven’t decided what is better in your case, castration or sterilization, then I will express my opinion. It is better to castrate a dog that is inclined to show aggression and occupy a dominant position in a relationship, both a girl and a boy.

Oddly enough, such a humane solution helps soften the animal’s character and behavior and concentrate attention due to the absence of pheromone stimuli. It has a beneficial effect on the health of Chihuahuas, because... the risks of developing malignant tumors of the reproductive organs are eliminated due to their absence.

Discomfort, mental and emotional state associated with sexual desire will leave the Chihuahua alone forever. The likelihood of false pregnancy occurring during a well-performed operation to remove the ovaries and uterus in females and postoperative complications are eliminated.

Sterilization would be a good solution for calm and non-aggressive individuals, when the owner prefers not to radically interfere with the pet’s reproductive system. In any case, the choice is up to the owner!

Know that by surgically depriving the ability to reproduce, you are reducing the demographics of stray dogs, most importantly for males mating with ownerless females.

Unplanned, however, as well as planned, mating of females is excluded. The owner is not bothered by “headaches” with the placement of an unexpected offspring, which is often simply drowned in water or thrown out into the street. There is no need to periodically search for a sexual partner for mating.

Approximate cost of the operation

The price of sterilization and castration depends on the following factors:

• Type of operation (sterility or removal of reproductive organs);
• Size and age of the pet;
• Region of residence;
• The dog's health status;
• Is it a private clinic or a public one?

Approximate cost:

Sterilization: boys – 4,000 rubles, girls – 5,000 rubles.

Castration: boys – 3,000 rubles, girls – 4,000 rubles.

Many veterinary clinics perform surgeries at home, but the cost of such a service is slightly higher.

At what age should you spay/neuter?

The operation can be performed at almost any age, even quite mature (6 years and older). However, professional breeders and veterinarians recommend adhering to the optimal age period, when the risks of cancer and complications are minimal.

It is optimal to castrate or sterilize the female shortly before the onset of her first heat, i.e. at 5-6 months. Postpartum surgery is performed upon cessation of lactation.

For males, castration or sterilization is done shortly before puberty, i.e. at 8-10 months.

There are situations when castration of a Chihuahua is necessary. For example, conservative methods of treating diseases such as orchitis (inflammation of the testes), perianal adenoma, pyometra and a number of others that occur as a result of prolonged abstinence are not effective.

But a veterinary surgeon may refuse the procedure due to dystrophy (excessive underweight) of the patient; the operation may result in the death of the castrated animal.

Disadvantages of Breeding Chihuahuas

Now I propose to talk about why you should refrain from breeding Chihuahuas:

• Continuing the conversation about material things, I must say that not all dog breeders are able to benefit from selling puppies. The owner of a female Chihuahua will have to spend money on a lot of things. In most cases, this is a payment to the owner of the male dog with whom mating is to take place, large expenses for veterinarian services and replenishment of the first aid kit for the mother in labor, vaccinations and getting rid of parasites for babies. In my opinion, it is quite expensive to formulate a diet for a dog during pregnancy, lactation, and also for puppies. Breeding at a professional level also involves the preparation of documents for offspring, which, of course, is also not free.
• Gestation and childbirth are a huge burden on the miniature body of a Chihuahua. It's not even a matter of some discomfort . In some cases, the consequences of mating can harm the health of your pet, and sometimes even lead to death! This is especially true for very tiny Chihuahuas, which others love to admire so much.
• While leaving the opportunity for mating for his pet, the owner must prepare for certain behavioral problems. And permanent. Males will run off from time to time in search of a mate. Bitches will be constantly pestered, plus they themselves will demonstrate nervousness from time to time.
• To breed Chihuahuas and then engage in professional breeding - this goal only seems simple. The lack of an objective view of a pet is what, in my opinion, very often prevents dog breeders from successfully breeding animals. Even if your own dog is the most beloved, from a breeding point of view it may be useless. Knowing the genetics of your pet and its chosen partner is the key to successful mating. In the end, quite unexpectedly, the great-grandparents of modern Chihuahuas may develop diseases that their owners had not even thought about until now.

Postoperative period

After the operation, do not rush home; sit in the veterinary clinic for a while and monitor the animal’s condition after recovery from anesthesia. If there are no visible reasons for concern, for example, pain or lack of response to surrounding visual and sound factors, then go home.

Remember that blood circulation is slow after anesthesia, so you should not allow your pet to become hypothermic. In winter, use an insulated carrier, call a taxi if you do not have your own car. Upon arrival, offer the animal a drink of water.

Due to anesthesia, the animal may experience a lack of appetite and a slight increase in body temperature, nausea, drowsiness and physical weakness for some time. In a day the dog will be back to normal.

For the sutures to heal after castration, the male sex will need from 7 to 10 days, while the female sex will take 10-14 days. When sterilized, recovery time is halved. During the prescribed period, active physical activity should be avoided. Light walking with a dog on a leash is allowed.

It is unacceptable to bathe or wet the incision site to avoid bacterial infections. To prevent the dog from scratching and licking the seams, wear a special bandage (blanket).

The owner should inspect the sutures and the incision site daily for integrity, cleanliness and the absence of purulent inflammation and swelling. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe injections of antibiotics, for example the drug "Betamox", to prevent inflammatory processes, and give recommendations on the treatment of sutures. In males, surgical glue may be used instead of sutures.

Typically, Levomekol ointment is used to treat sutures after pre-treating the wound with brilliant green or chlorhexedine. Talk to your doctor about analgesics (painkillers) and ointments. I do not recommend taking independent actions.

After the postoperative period, you need to come for a preventive examination and removal of sutures at a veterinary clinic. The date of the visit will be determined by the doctor.

What are these procedures?

Increasingly, pet owners are choosing to neuter their Chihuahua not only to prevent unwanted litters, but also for health benefits.

Spaying and neutering are among the safest and most commonly performed procedures in veterinary surgery. However, it should be remembered that any surgical intervention is fraught with undesirable consequences. Consult your veterinarian or behaviorist when planning surgery. If specialists do not see any contraindications, the likelihood of failure is negligible and should not influence your decision.

Important! Sterilization of dogs has both its supporters and opponents. Although in Europe a clear opinion has formed about the importance and necessity of this operation. Only pedigree dogs that participate in breeding are not castrated there.

Myths about spaying and castration

To justify their inaction or unwillingness to spay or neuter a Chihuahua dog, the following myths are firmly entrenched in an ignorant society:

• A Chihuahua must mate at least once in its life.
  Animals do not engage in “carnal love” for pleasure, but do it solely for the sake of preserving and increasing the population, in a word, for the purpose of reproduction. While in males everything is simple, in females pregnancy carries enormous risks and stress for the body and health of the animal.
• Spayed and neutered Chihuahuas are less active and hardy.
  Another made up myth. The male will remain active and hardy as before!
• After surgery, Chihuahuas rapidly gain weight.
  They are not recruiting quickly, that’s for sure. There may be an insignificant manifestation of increased appetite, resulting in weight gain. However, a properly selected diet and moderate physical activity can successfully prevent you from gaining extra grams. There are practically no cases of uncontrolled obesity after surgery recorded in veterinary practice.
• The dog may not wake up or die from anesthesia.
  A professional anesthesiologist will select, based on the parameters and results of tests performed, the optimal dose of anesthesia for the animal. With a properly selected dosage, the risk of an allergic reaction to anesthesia is negligible, as is the risk of death for a healthy dog. In the case of local anesthesia, risks are completely eliminated. But indeed, such a rare phenomenon as malignant hyperthermia can cause death.

How to prepare for the procedure

Before castration, it is necessary to check the pet’s health, undergo an examination, take a blood and urine test, and put the pet on a starvation diet.

Important! The dog must be completely healthy. All routine vaccinations are required. And if there are worms, it is strongly recommended to get rid of them.

Immediately before the procedure, the veterinarian puts the dog under general anesthesia and checks for any allergic reaction to the drug. After which the operation itself begins, the duration of which is 20–40 minutes. It all depends on the type of procedure and anesthesia.

In boys, everything is much easier (the testes are removed from the scrotum through a small incision). In girls, the operation takes place in the abdominal cavity (removal of the ovaries or uterus).