At what age is it better to sterilize a toy terrier dog?

The Toy Terrier is a small decorative dog measuring up to 30 cm and weighing up to 3 kg, which will be an ideal four-legged friend for residents of densely populated cities.

These small pets get along well in an apartment and do not need long walks; the life expectancy of such pets is from 12 to 15 years.

Toy Terriers are friendly, intelligent, and great with children.

They are also neat, litter box trained quickly, and generally easy to care for.

What is sterilization: all the pros and cons

Any dog owner is faced with the issue of possible sterilization or castration of their pet. This issue does not avoid the owners of toy terriers.

The concept of sterilization is applicable to females (bitches) and is the removal of reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes).

The main purpose of sterilization of toy terriers, like any domestic dog, is the prevention of cancer, as well as the prevention of hormonal imbalances that lead to aggressive behavior of the animal, escapes and various diseases.

Another purpose of spaying a Toy Terrier is to prevent unwanted pregnancies in females. When sterilizing a toy terrier, partial removal of the genitals is possible.

For example, only the ovaries or the uterus with one ovary can be removed (to preserve sexual desire and prevent pregnancy).

Advantages of the operation

After castration, the owners of bitches can relax, since, first of all, all the problems associated with their pet’s estrus will disappear. Now you don’t need to constantly wipe away random drops of discharge that your baby can leave anywhere. Or run to the store for special panties.

The bitch will stop chaotically marking her territory in order to attract males with her scent, which she constantly did during the period of sexual desire. Now you can safely go for a walk - the males will not attack the bitch, and she will no longer suddenly run away in search of a random gentleman. Problems that entail offspring will also disappear.

The owners of the male dogs will also be in for some pleasant surprises. After castration, their boy will stop intensely marking his territory and will not get into a fight with another male for the right to own a female. He will no longer run away from his owner as soon as he smells the smell of a female dog in heat. There will be no more sexual attraction in relation not only to bitches, but also to toys, to pillows and to people’s feet.

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Now the male dog will not be distracted by a sharp jump in testosterone levels, which means the pet will become more attentive. The Yorkshire Terrier is a dominant dog, eager, like all terriers, to be first both at home and on the street. Castration can reduce his ardor, making the pet more obedient and adequate.

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In general, castration has a beneficial effect not only on the psychological state of the Yorkshire Terrier, but also on the physical one, because this operation can significantly reduce the risk of diseases such as:

tumors of the genital organs;
cancer of the genital or mammary glands;
inflammation of the genital organs;
hernia in the perineal area.

Castration will be an excellent prevention against many chronic diseases in dogs. For example, from renal pathology. It can also be carried out on the recommendation of a doctor. For example, if the dog has injuries in the perianal area.

As can be seen from the above, castration can prolong the life of the Yorkshire Terrier. Despite so many advantages, castration is not without its disadvantages.

What is castration and why do it?

The concept of castration is applicable to males (males) and is the surgical removal of the testes. If the owner of the dog does not plan to breed the Toy Terrier breed, then it is considered necessary to neuter the male dogs.

Castration: for or against

Having talked about the care of toy terriers and their health, we can realize the necessity of castration. It will help solve many of the above-described animal problems: furniture marking, nervousness, increased activity and other unpleasant phenomena. However, castration is still an intervention in the natural processes and structure of the body. Therefore, before making an important decision, it is necessary to weigh the pros and cons, and also read the reviews of breeders and those dog breeders who have kept a toy in their home for several years. In addition, it is important to know what kind of care a neutered animal requires.

The public is divided. Some people believe that castration helps make life easier for both the owner and the dog. The rest, on the contrary, are ardent opponents of this operation, arguing that this is a gross interference in nature, and unnatural actions cannot give a positive result. There are many arguments on both sides to support their point of view. For a person who decides to castrate or neuter his animal, it is important to listen to every point of view.

So, what positive consequences of castration await you:

First of all, these are noticeable changes in the character of the animal. These are numerous improvements in his behavior: the baby becomes more affectionate, calm, stops biting, does not shake, and does not show aggression. For those whose pets are overly nervous or even angry, castration is perhaps the only way out of the situation.
This is a way to eliminate excessive hyperactivity. The dog will stop running around the house as if stung, crushing and breaking everything in its path. In addition, it is important to understand that when an animal is too mobile, we are not even talking about the safety of your things, but about the health of the pet. He can break his fragile legs by falling from a chair, or drop something heavy on himself and injure his head.
An undoubted advantage is that castrated dogs live longer than non-castrated ones. Life time increases by several years, and this, you see, is a very long time for a dog.
Of course, all dogs are susceptible to hormonal diseases, but toy dogs are especially prone to them. Sterilization will be an excellent prevention of multiple complications and will help keep your dog healthy and strong. Protecting yourself from these types of serious problems will also ensure your pet lives longer.
If your dog categorically does not want to use the litter box, and because of its marks there is an unbearable smell in the apartment, then perhaps this is the only way out of the situation. One hundred percent results will save you from constant cleaning.
Of course, castration is primarily an opportunity to avoid unwanted offspring. In addition, Toi girls often suffer from false pregnancy, which brings a lot of trouble to their owners.
Walking a neutered dog is much easier. She doesn't pull at the leash with all her might, doesn't growl at everyone she meets, and doesn't make you nervous.

Pros and cons of the procedure for males and females

The positive aspects of castration and sterilization for toy terriers are::

reducing the risk of cancer in both sexes;
reducing the risk of hormonal imbalances;
absence of unpleasant odor in the house, since the pet stops “marking the territory”, reduction in the number of cleanings;
absence of unwanted pregnancies;
increasing the life expectancy of a pet;
improvement of character, behavior, suppression of aggression;
the pet will not run away from the owner in search of a “groom” or “bride”.

However, the castration/sterilization procedure also has its negative aspects, here they are:

possible increase in animal weight;
individual intolerance to the procedure (for example, the presence of heart disease);
possible complications before and after surgery.

Minuses:

Weight gain – after castration, terriers gain weight noticeably better.
Risk of complications during and after surgery.

As you can see, castration of toy terriers has many more advantages than disadvantages. Undesirable weight gain after castration is quite easy to avoid if you change the dog’s diet and pay enough attention to its activity. All surgical interventions without exception have risks of complications. To exclude them, pay close attention to the qualifications of the doctor operating on your pet.

What time can the procedure be performed?

Russian veterinarians advise castrating toy terriers after puberty, this occurs at the age of 6-12 months.

NOTE!

Surgery is not recommended for puppies under 6 months of age, as this can trigger the onset of chronic diseases.

At the same time, castration of older dogs is not prohibited by specialists, but you need to know that they will take longer to recover.

It is recommended to sterilize Toy Terrier girls before their first heat (approximately 6-7 months of age), since in this case it is easier to tolerate.

But even after offspring, the female can be sterilized to exclude further pregnancies and estrus without harm to her health.

Possible complications after castration

Complications after castration of a toy terrier can arise due to the individual characteristics of the dog’s body or due to medical unprofessionalism.

In the first case, we are talking about problems with blood clotting, due to which the sutures can bleed for a long time, as well as the individual reaction to anesthesia and suture material. It is almost impossible to predict such undesirable reactions, but to reassure owners it is worth noting that they are extremely rare in dogs.

Much more often we have to deal with medical negligence - improper treatment of blood vessels, failure to comply with hygiene requirements and infection during surgery, incomplete castration or sterilization of the animal. All this can be avoided by carefully choosing a clinic and specialist.

When should you prepare your dog for surgery?

As soon as you decide to spay/neuter your toy terrier, you need to prepare for the operation in advance.

It is important to remember that this procedure is a surgical intervention and is performed only on healthy individuals . Therefore, it will not be superfluous to undergo a full examination by a veterinarian in advance.

It is further recommended not to give your pet difficult-to-digest or fatty foods 3-4 days before surgery.

Mandatory requirements are:

do not feed the toy terrier 9-12 hours before surgery;
do not give water for 3-4 hours.

If you decide to have your pet neutered

If the decision you made is clear, and you decide to castrate your toy terrier, then it’s worth considering that this is not good at any age.

There is an age when surgery will be least harmful. For males, this is 8-10 months of age, and females are best spayed before their first heat, as otherwise the female terrier may begin to develop mammary tumors. Do not forget to also “prepare” your terrier for this action. Namely: it is not recommended to feed your pet 9-12 hours before, and even water it 3-4 hours before.

Of course, castration or sterilization is a separate choice for each owner, since this issue is quite controversial. If a decision is made to carry out such an operation, you need to try to ensure that it has as few negative consequences as possible for the animal, because, as the well-known phrase says, we are responsible for those we have tamed.

Castration (Latin Castratio – accumulation, circumcision) – surgical removal of the gonads in males and females.

Indications: neoplasms of the testes, orchitis, deep injuries of the scrotum, testes, spermatic cord, relieving sexual desire.

The optimal age for castration of animals is immediately after puberty, i.e. at 8 – 10 months. It is believed that earlier castration inhibits the physiological development of animals. This is very important because... in cats castrated at an earlier age, the urethra is often narrower and the penis is underdeveloped, which increases the risk of urethral blockage due to urolithiasis, and also complicates catheterization of the bladder in cats. When castrated at a later age, animals may retain habits associated with sexual behavior, but this is extremely rare.

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Today, the surgical method is the only reliable means of castration. Although many different chemical and other alternative methods of spaying and neutering have been proposed in the past, they have all proven to be unacceptable and ineffective.

Before surgery, animals are kept on a 12-hour fasting diet. Animals must be clinically healthy. The operation is performed under general anesthesia.

Castration of cats

Operation technique: the incision is made by dissecting the skin of the scrotum, subcutaneous tissue, fascia using a blunt preparation, dissecting them from the common vaginal membrane, stitching them with a ligature, tying them twice around the spermatic cord, cutting off the spermatic cord above the ligature by three to five mm. The spermatic cord stump is cauterized with a 5% iodine solution. The edges are lubricated with a 5% alcohol solution of iodine. This method of castration takes a long time.

The animal is put under general anesthesia, the surgical field is prepared (clipped, plucked, shaved), processed according to aseptic rules, local anesthesia is administered along the incision line and intertesticular anesthesia is administered into the testis.

Operation technique: all layers of the scrotum (skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia and common vaginal tunic of the testis) are dissected with a scalpel, the testis is removed out. The proper ligament of the testis is crossed. The testis is extracted outward as much as possible, the testis is held with one hand (left), and a stitching ligature is applied as far as possible down to the base of the exit of the spermatic cord and vas deferens with the other (right).

The stitching ligature passes between the spermatic cord and the vas deferens, is tied around the spermatic cord and vas deferens, and the blood vessels and lymphatic ducts are compressed. Then the spermatic cord with the vas deferens is cut off three to five mm from the piercing ligature towards the testis. The edges of the wound are treated with a 5% iodine solution.

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The animal is put into anesthesia (general), fixed in a dorsal position, the thoracic limbs are pulled cranially, and the pelvic limbs are tied caudally, the surgical field is prepared (shaved), processed according to aseptic rules, and local anesthesia is administered.

The stitching ligature passes between the spermatic cord and the vas deferens, is tied around the spermatic cord and vas deferens, and the blood vessels and lymphatic ducts are compressed. Then the spermatic cord with the vas deferens is cut off three to five mm from the piercing ligature towards the testis. At the final stage, resection of the scrotum is performed, which prevents disruption of the wound healing process due to scrotal edema and gives a good cosmetic effect.

Normally, animals experience postoperative swelling in the scrotal area for several days. There should be no discharge or bleeding. Otherwise, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Often in the practice of a veterinarian we encounter such a problem as animal cryptorchidism.

Cryptorchidism (from the Greek kryptos - secret, hidden; orchis testicle; -ismos pathological condition) is an anomaly in which one or both testes are retained in the abdominal cavity (abdominal cryptorchidism) or in the inguinal canal (inguinal cryptorchidism) and do not descend into the common cavity vaginal membrane. Such animals are not allowed for breeding.

After castration, it is necessary to control the animal’s weight and prevent its obesity. Currently, ready-made food has been specially developed for castrated animals. You can also feed with natural food, but it is quite difficult to balance the diet yourself, as well as take into account all the physiological characteristics of castrated animals.

It is imperative to exclude sea fish from a cat’s diet, as it contains a large amount of mineral salts, which can subsequently cause urolithiasis. The need for calorie food in castrated animals is reduced by an average of 30%, which significantly increases the likelihood of obesity, which, in turn, leads to a decrease in physical activity and, in addition, is a predisposing factor to a number of diseases. For example, fatty liver and cardiovascular failure.

The operation to castrate a Yorkshire terrier is carried out either for medicinal purposes or to exclude the animal’s reproductive function. If in the first case the operation is necessary to restore the dog’s health, and in some cases can even save its life, then the second option completely depends on the decision of the pet owner. Today we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of such an operation, and everything that is connected with it.

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There is a difference between these operations.

Sterilization is done only to ensure that the animal is no longer able to reproduce. The vas deferens of a male Yorkshire Terrier are ligated, and the oviducts of a female are ligated. The reproductive instinct, as well as the desire and behavior associated with it, remain the same in the dog. Males continue to chase after females, and those, in turn, continue to suffer.

Sometimes sterilization is done due to doctor's orders. For example, if a bitch is diagnosed with a tumor in the area of the uterus.

After sterilization surgery, the owner of the dog may encounter some changes in its usual lifestyle. The animal may show aggression, be nervous and restless, and may lose its appetite.

Your pet may develop problems with the genitourinary system, inflammation of the genitals, and an increased risk of tumors. Bitches may exhibit all the symptoms of false pregnancy and their consequences. For example, mastitis is hardening of the mammary glands.

Castration is the complete removal of the gonads in animals: in males - the testes, in females - the ovaries. As a result of such an operation, the dog’s sexual desire completely atrophies, which means that the dog’s behavior changes radically.

If you are not going to engage in breeding and do not want to bother with offspring and solve all the problems associated with this process, then, of course, you can have your Yorkshire Terrier neutered. Especially if, on top of everything else, your pet behaves inappropriately during moments of sexual arousal.

But remember that once the surgery is done, there is nothing you can do to fix it. Therefore, before making a serious decision, thoroughly weigh the pros and cons. So that you can fully understand what awaits you and your dog if it is castrated, let's look at what such a surgical intervention is.

Recovery period

The pet completely recovers from the effects of anesthesia after a few hours. The consequences of anesthesia can be nausea, dizziness, thirst and dry mouth, weakness throughout the body.

After the procedure, the veterinarian will prescribe the necessary medications and tell you how to treat the suture.

As a rule, after 3-4 days the dog is shown to the doctor to exclude possible complications, and after 7-10 days the stitches are removed, and the pet is ready for a full and active life.

Disadvantages of the operation

After castration, the Yorkshire Terrier may begin to gain weight. This can lead to obesity, which can cause the dog to develop physical problems. This is due to the fact that the pet began to spend less energy. To avoid such complications, you need to reduce the amount of food he consumes when feeding him natural products.

You should also take your dog for walks as often as possible so that he can continue to develop properly physically.

Due to castration, the already long-haired Yorkshire Terrier may begin to increase hair growth in the neck, sides, and limbs. In this case, you will have to trim your pet more often.

But most importantly, after surgery, the risk of diseases such as malfunction of the thyroid gland, bone or urinary tract cancer, and tumors inside the heart vessels increases.

Caring for your dog after sterilization

There are several important recommendations for caring for your toy terrier after surgery.:

immediately after the operation, in the first hours, the owner should not leave the pet, since he has not yet fully recovered from anesthesia and can harm himself with rash actions;
it is important to show care and warmth, since the pet is excited and the body temperature decreases after the operation, the dog may experience tremors in the body, you can cover the pet with a blanket or cuddle it;
While the dog is still under the influence of anesthesia, you should close its eyelids with gentle movements so that the conjunctiva of the eye is not damaged, these actions should be carried out until the pet begins to blink on its own;
after the pet recovers from anesthesia, he will ask to eat, do not load the body with a large amount of food, you should offer about half the usual portion;
For several days after surgery, try to give your pet food that is soft for the digestive system;
After sterilization, daily treatment of sutures with an antiseptic is required.

Care and maintenance of toy terriers

Toys have very thin fur, which does not allow babies to stay outside for a long time during the cold season. The first purchase you should make along with food, a leash and other basic accessories for caring for your dog should be warm sweaters and waterproof suits. This will save you from unnecessary problems with your pet's health.

Many owners mistakenly believe that since a dog is able to go to the litter box, they can go without walking it for months. Naturally, this is not so. Going outside is very important not only for the physical, but also for the psychological health of the toy. While walking, he explores the world, discovers new things, breathes fresh air, and gets acquainted with other animals. If all this is excluded from the pet’s life, then it will become lethargic, capricious and aggressive. There is also no need to accustom your pet to holding hands; for this breed, movement is very important for the full development and strengthening of muscles.

Another significant advantage is the lack of undercoat in representatives of this breed. Therefore, this eliminates the possibility of shedding and allows owners not to worry about the safety of their furniture. If you have a short-haired toy, then you should brush it no more than once a week, but with a long-haired dog it will be more difficult, because they need to be brushed daily.

Some dogs are contraindicated for swimming; some, on the contrary, enjoy splashing in the water. Toys are more likely to belong to the latter . These dogs need to take a bath every month, but no more than once. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to the safety of their ears. They must be plugged with cotton wool to prevent water from getting in there. Otherwise, there can be a lot of problems with the baby’s health.

As you can understand, the ears of toy terriers are their Achilles heel. It is important to monitor the safety of your hearing organs and frequently check them for signs of infection. You also need to trim the claws, which grow quite quickly on toy dogs.

Toi boys often suffer from the problem of wanting to mark all the furniture in the house. Therefore, this may add additional worries to their owners .

Pet health

The health of such children should be treated with special attention. In general, if the dog is well fed, protected from the cold and allowed to splash out its energy, then there should be no problems. However, it is very important to monitor the active activity of the animal, because with its weak muscles and thin legs it is easy to get a dislocated kneecap. It takes a long time to treat and requires a lot of effort. Terriers are also prone to eye diseases, so it is worth visiting a doctor periodically.

Optimal time

The operation to castrate a Yorkshire Terrier can be performed at any time, but Yorkies have a certain age when the likelihood of developing cancer is minimal.

So, it is best to castrate a female dog of this breed before her first heat, that is, from four to six months. If you decide to have surgery on your bitch immediately after giving birth, then you need to wait until lactation stops.

For males, it is best to undergo such an operation before they are one year old, or better yet, from seven to ten months, until they have formed the habit of running away from the owner after the bitch or marking territory.