Everything you need to know about neutering, spaying and pet insurance
If you are thinking about spaying or neutering your dog or puppy, then this might be the best thing you can do for him or her.
Spaying and neutering is something many pet owners in South Africa don’t do.
There are several reasons why paw parents do not this their dogs; some of them include:
- Pet parents think the procedure is too expensive
- Pet parents think that their dog will not impregnate another dog (males) or fall pregnant (females)
- Pet parents believe that there are no risks associated with not spaying or neutering their dog and think it is cruel to do so
The thing is, what many pet parents do not know is that spayed or neutered dogs can grow up healthier and happier, but I will get to that in a bit.
The first topic I want to cover is about pet insurance and sterilisation.
I chatted to the guys at Oneplan Pet Insurance to help me answer this question and here’s what they had to say:
Does pet insurance cover sterilisation?
Yes.
With Oneplan Pet Insurance, sterilisation is covered under routine care.
Routine care includes:
● Vet consultation
● Sterilisation
● Vaccinations
● Deworming
● Flea control
● Anal gland expression
● Dental scaling and polishing
I also found out that Oneplan pays you BEFORE you see the vet using their awesome Onecard. All you have to do is upload your claim on the Oneplan App and the funds will be transferred onto your Onecard in seconds.
You then use this Onecard to swipe at your vet as you would a debit card.
It’s that easy.
So, long story short, if you have pet cover with Oneplan, then depending on what plan you choose, then they will help cover the costs of spaying and neutering.
Which, in my opinion, is another great reason to have pet insurance.
Why neutering and spaying is good for your dog
If you have a female puppy, then it can reduce her risks of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.
It will also lessen her risk of uterine infection plus the risks associated with an unplanned pregnancy.
If you have a male puppy, then neutering can prevent testicular tumours, avoid prostate issues and reduce his risk of hernias and perennial tumours.
Why neutering and spaying is good for you
The most obvious benefit to you is that you will never have to deal with an unwanted litter.
The costs of feeding, vaccinating and caring for puppies is thousands of rands and there are enough stray dogs out there in search of homes.
Even if your dog is purebred, many dog owners do not realise the amount of time, effort, hard work and expertise it takes to look after a litter of puppies.
Other benefits include:
● Males neutered as puppies are less aggressive and less likely to mark their territory
● Spayed females will stop stray males trying to get to your dog
Some concerns you may have about sterilisation
I am worried about my dog having an operation
This is a common concern many paw parents have.
What you need to keep in mind is that spaying or neutering is something your vet is likely to have done many times before as a routine procedure. This means he or she is skilled in this specific surgery.
The medical benefits of these procedures far outweigh the risks.
I am worried my dog will get fat
There is no medical reason for your dog to gain weight after sterilisation. Chat to your vet about any weight concerns you might have and he or she can help you design a diet based on your dog’s activity levels and breed.
Will my male dog’s personality change?
Yes, but for the better! Male dogs will be less aggressive and less likely to wander and mark their territory.
What does the procedure involve?
Your pet will have a general anaesthetic.
For male dogs, the operation will involve the removal of both the testicles and for females, the womb and ovaries will be removed or just the ovaries.
Your vet might ask you not to feed your dog or let him or her drink anything for 12 hours before the surgery.
Once your dog is back home, then he or she will need a few days of rest. Do not let him or her jump on any highs surfaces, run around or bite at the surgery site.
Chat to your vet about any other special care you need to keep in mind and make use of after the operation.
Remember to do the right thing and spay and or neuter your puppy as soon as he or she is old enough. If you have an older dog who is unsterilised, then chat to your vet about when you can have him or her neutered or spayed.
Until next time,
The Pet Insurance Team