Spay and Neuter Surgery

Are you considering whether to have your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel spayed or neutered? Here are some dog health issues to think about:

1. Are dogs harmed by the surgery? In fact, the general belief is that spayed or neutered dogs make better, happier pets.

• Having a male dog neutered may diminish male aggressiveness and his natural tendency to mark his territory and dominate others, although you should not be concerned that it will adversely affect his personality. Removing the male dog’s testicles at a young age clearly eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer later in life.

• Unaltered female dogs go into heat every 6 to 9 months, with all the hormonal changes that accompany the oestrus cycle. Female dogs that have not been spayed are, of course, subject to uterine and mammary cancer and infections.

2. Are spayed and neutered Cavalier King Charles Spaniels more likely to get fat? No, there’s no real evidence that dogs get fat as a direct result of the sterilization surgery.

3. The large number of dogs in animal shelters that must be either adopted or euthanized every year is reason enough for many owners have their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels spayed or neutered. Shelters and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescue organizations routinely have animals sterilized to help manage pet overpopulation.

4. Some Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeders will also insist that the new puppy owners have their Cavalier Spaniel pets spayed or neutered, in order to protect the breeder’s business and eliminate possible competitors. Most new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners looking for a family pet understand that breeders may have invested years in developing a top quality, healthy bloodline.