So, youβve just arrived home with your adorable new Shih Tzu and youβre totally enamoured. All you want to do is cuddle and squeeze them, and spend literally every day locked in the house playing with them β foreverβ¦
But, thereβs a serious side to the first few months of owning a Shih Tzu. Vet visits, injections and health checks are all too often in the early stages and, following all that, the final decision you have to make is whether or not to have your Shih Tzu spayed or neutered.
Itβs a major decision β we get that β so hereβs all you need to know about what you should be considering and whatβs best for your Shih Tzu.
Spayed or Neutered?
Everyone assumes youβll know which is which but, to be honest, we still get confused which is which, so donβt panic. Hereβs the basics:
SpayingΒ is when a female dogβs uterus and ovaries are removed. The procedure usually involves cutting a small incision in the abdomen.
Neutering, therefore, is the surgical removal of a male dogβs testes (enough saidβ¦).
When Should I Have My Shih Tzu Spayed or Neutered?
Whilst recommendations vary, vets typically suggest that you should have your Shih Tzu spayed or neutered between the ages of four and nine months. There are various reasons for such a broad timeframe, although some vets suggest that timing can have positive effects on your Shih Tzuβs behaviour, dependent on their sex.
Although there is no 100% definite answer, it is often suggested that you should have your male Shih Tzu neutered after he has reached the age of puberty. This is thought to have long-term health benefits, as well as helping to prevent behavioural traits, such as marking and aggression.
For female Shih Tzuβs, there is no dead set answer as to when you should have them spayed. Whilst some recommend spaying before first heat (as young as five months), others suggest that this can increase the risk of mammary tumours. We would always recommend consulting your vet for a personalised opinion.
Some studies have said that spaying and castration can prolong the life of dogs and possibly reduce future problems later on in life. Castrating a male reduces the risk of prostate and testicilar cancer.
Why Should I Have My Shih Tzu Spayed or Neutered?
There are many reasons why you should have your Shih Tzu spayed or neutered, not least of all because it will likely improve their quality of life (and stop you from worrying about a litter of puppies). Hereβs what you need to know:
Firstly, youβre going to have a happy and healthy Shih Tzu. Spaying is proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer and uterine infections, and neutering similarly prevents testicular cancer. So, if you want to prevent these major Shih Tzu killers, neutering and spaying is a sure fire way.
Neutering your male Shih Tzu will also ensure that he is on his best behaviour at all times. Neutering prevents aggressive and territorial behaviours, and also means that he wont be spending his entire walk hunting for a partner. So, if you want to prevent these embarrassments, get your Shih Tzu neutered early on!
You could save the lives of countlessΒ Shih Tzu puppiesΒ (no, really)! Millions of animals are euthanised every year because there are simply not enough willing owners to cater for endless litters of puppies. Having this doneΒ will prevent unwanted litters and ultimately save the lives of millions of baby Shih Tzu that would end up in shelters.
Rememberβ¦
- No, the procedure is not painful. Well, itβs no worse than any other surgery, and itβs carried out under general anaesthetic, so they wonβt feel a thing.
- YourΒ Shih Tzu wonβt become fat and lazy. Just because theyβre not βat itβ doesnβt mean theyβre going to pile on the pounds. With regular dog walksΒ (thanks to Tailster π )andΒ exercise,Β theyβllΒ stayΒ slimΒ andΒ trim.
- Donβt worry about age, the vet will ensure that your Shih Tzu isnβt too young to be spayed or neutered. Female Shih Tzus can reproduce as young as four months old, and male Shih Tzus can as of six months.