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neuter

When Reality Hits a Worn Out Advocate

June 29, 2015 16 Comments

Am I prepared to have an intact dog?

A few days ago I hit a point of exhaustion. I don’t know if the extra schoolwork pushed me over or if I have somehow settled into a depressing reality.

I worry that I will never see the day when every pet has a home.

When we think of the homeless pet population, we think of puppy mills. These horrible places that absolutely need to be shut down. However, we don’t always remember another important factor: accidental litters.

It seems like there is always a passionate debate in the pet world. Right now it’s to wait (or even forgo) to spay/neuter.

The reality is that very few of us are equipped to handle intact dogs. Over and over and over I chat with individuals that have decided to wait to fix their dogs and have ended up with unplanned litters. Sometimes the two dogs were in the same house and sometimes a dog jumped a fence to mate. I have even heard of dogs chewing through metal fencing to mate.

I’m not going to get into the research on traditional (6 months) or delayed (2 years) spay/neuter because it leaves out a few key components: genetics, nutrition, and lifestyle. I truly do not believe that there will ever be a definitive “right” answer. Instead, when people are deciding when to fix their pet, I want them to consider these questions:

  1. Do I understand the female dog reproductive cycle?
  2. Will I be able to notice when my female comes into heat? A bloody discharge is not always apparent.
  3. Is my dog able to be constantly and effectively supervised? A dog can leap a fence or break through a window to find a mate in seconds.
  4. Do I know the benefits/detriments of different spay/neuter times (e.g. cancer, behavior, etc.)? Scholarly journals should be read and evaluated – not what you find in a Google search.
  5. Do I trust my vet’s judgment? If not, you should probably find a new vet 😉
  6. Can I be 100% certain that an accidental litter will not occur? This means not only considering your dog, but the many other dogs around you. Unfortunately, we cannot fool ourselves into thinking that every person will be just as responsible.

After answering these 6 questions, those debating when to spay/neuter their dog should have a better idea of their options.

Maybe if we become honest with ourselves, we can prevent accidental litters and lower the amount of homeless pets. I will never stop trying to reach that goal.

Filed Under: Pyr Paw Around, What's New Tagged With: dogs, great pyrenees, neuter, spay

Prevent a Litter Month

February 9, 2015 25 Comments

National
DepositPhoto | tobkatrina

 

February is National Prevent a Litter Month. Since it’s such an important topic, I’m very glad we have a month to bring it into the spotlight.

Everyone knows that the absolute best way to prevent a litter is to have your pets spayed or neutered. I’m not going to get into the spay/neuter debate as some animals cannot be fixed and current research suggests waiting until maturity to fix giant breeds. So how else can we prevent unnecessary litters?

  1. Understand female heat cycles. A heat cycle lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks. Learn the signs that your dog is going into heat.
  2. NEVER allow a female in heat to be unsupervised outside. Never means never. Not even in your fenced backyard. Males are capable of jumping over, digging under, or chewing through fencing to get to a female in heat.
  3. Check your fencing. People with intact male dogs also need to be vigilant. Can your dog escape your fencing?

For the vast majority of people, fixing your pets is the BEST way to prevent a litter. Having intact pets requires a lot of work, time, and knowledge. If the cost of fixing your pet seems daunting, check your area for a local spay/neuter clinic or talk to your local shelter. Preventing a litter is only one of many benefits to having your pet fixed.

How else do you think we can prevent a litter?

Filed Under: Healthy, Happy Dog, What's New Tagged With: activities. dogs, neuter, spay

From Shelter to Rescue (Pt. 3)

May 1, 2014 8 Comments

Phew, these past couple days have been crazy. On Tuesday, Balto got neutered. We got the house all ready and were so excited for him to come home with us that evening. When I called to see what time I could pick him up, I learned that they wanted to monitor him overnight. We were devastated, but knew it was in Balto’s best interest to stay overnight.

Wednesday couldn’t go by quickly enough. I was told I could pick him up any time after two. Knowing I had a 30 minute drive, I got ready to head out of the door at 1:30. Little did I know I would have a detour on my way to get Balto from the vet. [Read more…] about From Shelter to Rescue (Pt. 3)

Filed Under: Fluffy Life Tagged With: dog, great pyrenees, mix, neuter, puppy, recovery, rescue, shelter, surgery

From Shelter to Rescue (Pt. 2)

April 28, 2014 7 Comments

Tomorrow is the big day! I get to pick up Balto from the vet after his neuter and bring him home with me. He’ll stay with us for a few days and then he’ll be off to the wonderful Great Pyrenees Rescue of Wisconsin.

Even though we don’t get to keep him (darn 2 animal limit in housing), my husband and I have felt like we’re getting a third dog. [Read more…] about From Shelter to Rescue (Pt. 2)

Filed Under: Fluffy Life Tagged With: dog, great pyrenees, mix, neuter, puppy, recovery, rescue, shelter, surgery

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