Owning a pet is a huge responsibility and along with the need to care for your pet daily, there are also some major long-term decisions which need to be made. It is your job to decide if you should get your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel spayed or neutered. Your companion and best friend relies on you to make the best choices for their health and happiness.
Table of Contents
Why choose to get your dog spayed or neutered?
Spaying (female) or neutering (male) your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the best things you can do for this particular breed of dog. Aside from helping to control the overpopulation of pets, there are also many health reasons for having your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel go through this surgery.
Getting a female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Spayed
Some people wonder if you should allow a female dog to have one litter of puppies before being spayed. There is, however, nothing to show that a female dog who has had a litter of pups is any happier or more content than one who has not.
There are some pretty compelling reasons to have your female Cavalier King Charles Spaniel spayed.
If a female is not spayed she will go into heat twice a year. During this time she will have a bloody discharge that may ruin flooring and furnishings in your house. She will also urinate everywhere so that her scent can attract males with which to mate. If you spay your female before her first heat cycle it greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Getting a male Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Neutered
Males who are neutered are generally calmer and easier to train. They are also less likely to display unwanted behaviors such as humping other dogs, legs, or toys. A neutered male is also less likely to roam if there is a nearby female in heat.
Getting your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Neutered is a relatively straightforward operation. Usually your dog will return home on the same day.
Health benefits of spaying and neutering
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is prone to many health problems. When you spay or neuter your dog it helps to prevent many kinds of cancers that are common to this breed. For males specifically, there is a high incidence of testicle cancer. Having him neutered can help to prevent this.
Negatives of spaying and neutering
Some spayed and neutered dogs may tend to gain weight which is a concern for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Usually, the pros of having this breed spayed or neutered far outweigh the cons. When you spay or neuter your dog they are less likely to wander. They do not display aggressive or unwanted behavior, and they become much more affectionate and sociable.
When is the best time to spay or neuter your dog?
There has been debate about when the best time to spay or neuter a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is. When you buy a dog from a breeder it is a good idea to look at the contract of sale for a non-breeder agreement. There are health benefits to having a male neutered by six months of age.
Spaying your female can be a little more controversial. It is best to ask your veterinarian for a recommendation as to when’s best to have your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Spayed.
Some breeders require an agreement that states you will not have your female spayed until after 12 months of age.
This is because they want the proper growth hormones present for the dog to grow as it should.
Other breeders require that you have your Cavalier spayed prior to six months of age as they say that has the greatest health benefits and prevents unwanted litters of pups.
Ultimately spaying or neutering is your decision.
Because there are differing view on the subject, if you are considering a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a pet, it is best to talk to your veterinarian ahead of time to make sure that you are in agreement on the best care for a pet. Once you have done that you should look for a reputable breeder who offers terms with which you are comfortable.
I’m hearing so many different views on when to nutur my boy, he’s almost 5 months now. I want to make sure I’m doing this for the best health reasons.
We got Toffee neutered and did notice a change in his personality. He was never particularity boisterous, but definitely seemed more lethargic after the operation.
He also put on weight very soon after the procedure and it has been difficult to get him down to a healthy weight since. The vets warned that this was quite common.
There’s lots of published health benefits.
However most vets charge quite a lot for the operation, which can make you question their motives.
Let’s put this out to the #cavpack on Twitter (@thespanielking) and see what they say.