
German Shepherd Lifespan: How Long Can A GSD Live?
On average, German Shepherd dogs can live for 9 to 13 years if they are healthy and well taken care of. This longevity is largely due to the healthy nature of the German Shepherd breed.
One of the responsibilities of a dog owner is to ensure that their pet is neutered. Unfortunately, this is a topic that’s rarely discussed, which is why first-time dog owners are often at a loss when it comes to neutering their dogs.
Before you get your dog to undergo the process, you should first find out what are the steps involved in the neutering procedure and if there are any potential risks. Of course, you may also want to know how much this procedure will cost you.
So here’s everything that a pet parent should know when it comes to dog neutering.
What Are The Benefits Of Neutering?
The main benefit of neutering your male pet is for it not to sire any puppies that could lead to pet overpopulation. According to the ASPCA, thousands of dogs are getting euthanized every year due to overpopulation. As such, neutering is necessary.
But aside from that, here are more reasons why dog owners should neuter their dogs:
When Should You Neuter Your Dog?
You can neuter a male dog any time after it reaches eight weeks old. Several years ago, veterinarians used to advise pet owners to wait until the dog reached puberty or after it reached the age of six months. If you’re not sure as to when you should neuter your dog, ask your vet for advice.
Dogs that have been neutered before reaching puberty tend to grow bigger than dogs that were neutered after puberty. The reason for this is because neutering before puberty prevents hormones such as testosterone from being produced. This causes a delay in the closing of your dog’s growth plates in its bones, results in taller and bigger dogs.
Most dogs become sexually mature upon reaching the age of 5-6 months, which is quite fast.
How To Prepare For Surgery
Your pet’s vet will first provide pre-surgical blood work to your pet to ensure that it’s healthy enough to undergo surgery. This is also to make sure that your pooch is not suffering from any health condition that could affect the anesthesia that will be used. Generally, young dogs that are healthy will not have any issues with the surgery.
It’s crucial that you follow the advice of the vet when it comes to preparing your dog for the surgery. Usually, the vet will advise not to feed your dog for at least 8 hours before the surgery starts since the anesthesia could make your dog feel nauseated. Drinking water before the surgery should be fine.
What Happens Post-Surgery?
The process of neutering is simple and straightforward. Your dog’s vet will give you advice on post-surgery care. It will only take about a couple of weeks for the dog to be able to recover completely.
Here’s what to expect:
What Should You Be Careful with After Surgery?
If you notice a discharge from the incision, you should take your dog to the vet. Also, if your dog seems to be suffering from extreme pain in the area, then better check with the vet.
Observe your dog after the surgery, and if you notice any unusual symptoms or strange behavioral changes on your dog, go to the vet immediately. You will probably notice that your pet is not in its usual self after the surgery. It will feel lethargic and may lack the energy to play or even walk around.
Give your pooch some time to recover fully. Besides, one of the purposes of the surgery is to make your dog stay calm. But most dogs should be able to bounce back and go back to their usual self after some time.
How Can Wearing A Dog Cone Help?
One of the things that you’ll notice on your pet after the neutering surgery is that it will attempt to lick the stitches. This is normal for dogs, but if you let your pet do it, this could worsen the incision. Thus, it will take more time for your dog to heal, and this could put it at risk of infection.
It’s for this reason why you should get a dog cone for your dog. Also known as the Elizabeth collar, the cone can help to prevent your dog from licking. You can also get your pooch to wear it while it’s sleeping to allow for the incision to heal faster.
Pete Decker is the Lead Editor at The Goody Pet. He is a passionate wildlife educator and loves to share his experiences on pets. During his free time, you can find him cozying around his 2 adorable Labradors (Tobi & Kobi).
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