Neutering Guide For Female Dogs

Spaying (neutering) your female dog involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and often the uterus too. 

Why spay?

There are many benefits to spaying your female dog:

-  Stops seasons

-  Prevents unwanted pregnancies

-  Prevents infection of the uterus (pyometra)

-  Prevents false pregnancies

-  Reduces the risk of mammary tumours

When is the right time to spay?

There are many factors that influence this decision, for example, the weight of your dog, their breed, and how old they are. 

At Highfields Vets, we take a personalised approach to neutering, making sure that the timing of surgery suits the individual patient. Therefore, we recommend speaking to a member of the team about your pet so we can decide when the best time for neutering is. 

Which procedure? 

There are two types of spay procedure that can be performed at Highfields Vets:

-  Ovariectomy: the removal of the ovaries only

-  Ovariohysterectomy: the removal of the ovaries and uterus 

Typically, ovariohysterectomies are performed. However, developments in surgical technique mean that ovariectomies are becoming more common. The benefits of an ovariectomy are:

-  Smaller wound

-  Less invasive surgery

-  Quicker recovery time 

The criteria for an ovariectomy are:

-  Your dog must be under 6 years old

-  Your dog must not have had any previous reproductive tract related events: e.g. pregnancy, abnormal discharge. The reason for this is if the uterus has any abnormalities, it is in your pet's best interest to remove it at the time of the spay. 

Two of our Veterinary Surgeons have undertaken further training, enabling them to perform the ovariectomy spay technique. This is a service we are now able to offer on certain days. Due to the more skilled technique required for an ovariectomy, there is an additional cost of £30 for this procedure. 

As with any planned procedure, there is a chance that abnormalities may be discovered during surgery. Therefore, we would like owners to be aware that if their dog is booked in for an ovariectomy and any concerns are noted during surgery, then we may convert the procedure to an ovariohysterectomy. An example of this is if uterine abnormalities such as cysts are found, then we would recommend the uterus is removed. 

To discuss the spay procedures with one of the team, please contact the practice and one of our staff members will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. 

Alternatively, the procedures can be discussed during your dog’s pre spay check, a complimentary consultation we offer with our nursing team the week prior to surgery.