Should a Chihuahua be spayed?

In this article, we will answer the following question: Should a Chihuahua be spayed? What we are going to write next is not a personal opinion, nor we want to tell you what you should do. Each owner of a dog decides what’s the best for his furry friend. We hope that by knowing the pros and cons, your decision will be easier.

Should my Chihuahua be spayed?

Whether your Chihuahua should be spayed or not, it is up to you. Our advice is to consult a trusted vet and to make a responsible decision. Sterilization is an act of responsibility of the owner towards the health of his dog. With sterilization, a lot of diseases are avoided.

Although this article only talks about the advantages of spaying a dog, we all know that any operation carries risks. One of them is the anesthesia itself. Thus, we strongly suggest reading through the risks and the benefits of spaying your Chihuahua.

Advantages of spaying a female Chihuahua

There are very solid medical arguments, perfectly verified and proven, that suggest that early sterilization of female Chihuahua or any other breed of dog very significantly reduces the rate of breast cancer, which is the most common tumor in females whose reproductive system remains intact. 

Thus, in the group of intact females, the risk of a mammary tumor appearing in adulthood is 3 to 7 times higher than in other females that are sterilized. Moreover, if sterilization is carried out even before the first heat, the rate of breast cancer is reduced to only 0.5%, while in females that are sterilized between the first and second heat the rate increases to 25 or 26%.

This is what comparative studies carried out by the Cornell Veterinary School (USA) say, which is considered the most important in the world.

But this is not all, there is still more, apart from the fact that with the early sterilization of the females the risk of appearance in adulthood of breast tumors and other tumors of the reproductive system is avoided, another equally important risk is also avoided, which is very common in females who continually suffer from pseudopregnancy or psychological pregnancy, which can lead to pyometra; It is pus in the uterus, and it can be open or closed.

If it is open, the owner will be able to tell by the secretions that the female eliminates through the vulva. Not being so if it is closed. Pyometra can be fatal in the female, even resulting in death if it is not detected and treated in time.

In addition, we must bear in mind that the safest and most direct way to treat and cure a pyometra is to practice in the vast majority of cases an ovariohysterectomy, which is the removal of the female’s ovaries and uterus, in an emergency operation.

This is another good reason to think about sterilization, not when the bitch is in a critical phase and at high risk, but when she is perfectly healthy, young, and undergoes the operation in optimal health.

So the intervention, the postoperative period, and the recovery will be much easier and faster.

Advantages of spaying a male Chihuahua

In the case of male Chihuahuas and any other breed, it also has its benefits, since it has been studied and shown that skin cancer is the first in importance, being the second cancer of the testicles.

With sterilization, this risk is significantly reduced. But this is not the only medical reason to defend sterilization. Other reasons to consider are, for example, the avoidance of prostatitis. It is a benign thickening, which nevertheless is not without complications of the prostate. It affects approximately 60% of unsterilized males, from 5 years of age. 

Other health complications are, for example, torsion or infection of the testicles, which sometimes even present gastrointestinal disorders. There may be an inflammation of the testicles that causes orchitis and also an inflammation of the prostate that causes prostatitis. 

Although both conditions are temporary, they are still terribly painful for the dog, producing mechanical and functional alterations that affect the movement of the hindquarters, giving a picture very similar to that which occurs when there is kidney pain and causing problems with passing stool or urine.

Worst of all is that in sexually hyperactive males these problems recur over and over again. Especially whenever there are bitches in heat around him.

Therefore, it does not make much sense to keep the dog intact, that is, without sterilization, if it is not going to be used as a stud on a regular basis. By sterilizing, we prevent all these complications that may force an urgent surgical intervention.

The right age to sterilize your Chihuahua without risk

The right age to sterilize your Chihuahua would be between six and 12 months of age in females, it is the relevant age since their reproductive organs are already hormonally developed. Regarding males, she stressed that castration can be at an early age, that is, from five months onwards.

In the case of females, the development of pathologies in the reproductive system, especially cancer, decreases by 100%. Prostate problems are clearly avoided in males.

How much does it cost to neuter a dog?

The price is between $100 and $250 if it is a male and it can cost between $200 and $300 for females. The price depends on several factors such as the sex and weight of the dog, the type of anesthesia, the geographical area, and the veterinary clinic.

What happens during the neutering intervention?

For veterinarians, neutering is a routine procedure, but do you know what the steps of this operation are?

1. Once all the preliminary examinations are completed, the vet will arrange a date for the operation.
2. Like people, dogs must fast for general anesthesia.
3. You must stop offering them food about twelve hours before the intervention. Before your appointment, take your canine friend for a walk so he can relieve himself.
4. The first thing to do is to check that the dog is in good condition to be anesthetized.
5. After being sedated through an intravenous injection, you are given an infusion and connected to an anesthesia monitor. In addition, a tube is placed to be connected to the anesthetic gas machine and the oxygen supplier.
6. After the dog is prepared for the operation, the fur is removed from the area to be operated, it is disinfected and covered with sterilized cloths.

Will spaying my Chihuahua protect it from cancer?

Neutering is sometimes necessary for medical reasons, which are usually the prevention of cancer or other diseases related to sex hormones. It is true that castration reduces the risk of some tumors. In males, the risk of contracting testicular cancer and prostate diseases is reduced, and in females the suppuration of the uterus and other tumors (breast cancer).

This sounds good enough, but it is often overlooked that cancer prevention in females only occurs in early castrations. To reduce the risk, it is necessary to castrate the females before the first heat. Neutering after heat or when they are adults reduces the effectiveness of cancer prevention.

However, early castration can lead to musculoskeletal problems. In addition, it is said to increase the risk of developing other tumors: studies have shown that early castration appears to have a negative effect on the incidence of heart, spleen, and bone tumors.

Will spaying my Chihuahua change its behavior?

Another important aspect of neutering is the effects on the dog’s behavior. The elimination of the reproductive organs not only brings body changes but also directly influences the mind and social behavior. 

It is especially those who have a male at home who opt for castration as a last resort to aggressive and restless behaviors caused by testosterone. It is true that a neutered male is calmer compared to a female in heat, competitive behavior with other males is also no longer a problem. Howling, barking, and attempts to escape driven by sexual desire does not occur when the dog has been neutered.

However, it is a mistake to think that the castrated male is more affable. Castration only influences behaviors related to sex hormones. Aggressive behaviors are the result of errors in education. 

The dog will not learn to listen and behave after surgery. If you’re having trouble with your male dog, the first thing to do is find out where the reactive behavior of the dog is coming from. Just in case it is related to sexual desire, neutering can help, but it will not cause any change in general behavior disorders such as territorial assaults or behavior problems.

The bottom line

Considering the pros and cons, it’s no wonder that neutering a pet is such a controversial topic. Dog lovers can have long discussions about whether or not to neuter a dog. While the absence of physical and psychic sexual symptoms are a true blessing, there are those who warn about the possible influence on the natural organism of the dog. 

In these discussions, it is easy to forget that there is no decisive answer to the question of whether or not a dog should be neutered as each case is different.

Our point of view does not really matter: if you have informed yourself well and have decided to do what is best for your faithful friend, you have made the right decision.

If you have any questions or comments on the content, please let us know.

FAQ on Should a Chihuahua be spayed?

 

References

Howe L. M. (2015). Current perspectives on the optimal age to spay/castrate dogs and cats. Veterinary medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 6, 171–180. 

Oberbauer, A. M., Belanger, J. M., & Famula, T. R. (2019). A Review of the Impact of Neuter Status on Expression of Inherited Conditions in Dogs. Frontiers in veterinary science, 6, 397. 

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians veterinary medical care guidelines for spay-neuter programs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2008 Jul 1;233(1):74-86.