Pomeranians are a lively breed known for their high spirits, love for an active lifestyle, and the company of humans. But as every dog owner knows, dogs in general and Pomeranians, in particular, need to be spayed to avoid problems down the road.
Most experts agree that the best age to spay/neuter your Pomeranian is between the ages of 4 to 9 months. The earlier you get it done and over with, the better. The reason being that Pomeranians are early bloomers. They grow fast and reach puberty much quicker than other breeds. So you’d want to get this out of the way as soon as you can.
Spaying or neutering your pet is a delicate process. Lots are involved and you really need to handle it gently and tiptoe among the tulips so to speak. So how would you go about dealing with this problem and how do you ensure your Pomeranian doesn’t get scarred for life in the process?
The Best Age to Spay/Neuter your Pomeranian (Male and Female)
Before we answer this important question, we need to clarify the difference between neutering and spaying your dog. It has to do with the gender of the dog. Spaying is for females while neutering is for the male dogs. So how does it work?
When it comes to female dogs, spaying involves removing the dog’s sex organs including the womb and all the tubes. This prevents the female dog from getting pregnant if she happens to meet a frisky dog and she’s in the mood. This process doesn’t diminish the dog’s capacity for sex and she can still have it. It’s better to do it as soon as possible for the female dog.
Neutering is for male dogs. During this procedure, the vet removes the male dog’s testicles thus rendering them infertile. It also takes away the dog’s sex appetite and the desire to engage in sex acts with a female dog, the couch, or its owner’s leg. Vets recommend you don’t delay the neutering of the male dog. It keeps naughty shenanigans at bay.
Health Benefits of Spaying/Neutering Your Pomeranian
While many people are of the opinion that all animals should have the life they were supposed to have when nature gave them all those organs and tools, it’s not always a good idea to keep a horny dog at home. Why is that? The answer might surprise you.
For one thing, there’s nothing worse than a frisky dog who has a sexual desire and can’t satisfy it. It will get versatile and let its imagination run wild. It will go after the cat, the pillows, the leg of the guest, and anything else that moves. You will be embarrassed when your dog treats your guests or acts in that way in front of them.
Unbridled sex urges can turn into hostile behavior if not satisfied. Your dog becomes restless and hyperactive. It’s not their fault. They will destroy things around the house and become hard to control or manage. In short, your household becomes a warzone and everyone in it is not safe from the moody dog.
Neutering and spaying help solve all these issues. Your dog becomes the mild and lovable thing you always liked it to be. They focus their energies on playing and getting along with the cat and other pets in the house. They no longer hump the guest’s legs nor destroy the pillows and couch.
Furthermore, a neutered or spayed dog will not fill your house with puppies. Just think of the mess and responsibility this act alone entails. Unless your plan all along was to have a brood of puppies, then preventing your dog from getting pregnant should be the ideal course of action. It keeps the dog healthy and maintains the peace around the house.
Cons to Neutering/Spaying
That said, there’s always the downside to everything. Neutering and spaying are after all invasive medical procedures. And when you’ve been in life long enough, you’ll know that things could go wrong even when the most meticulous precautions have been taken. So what could go wrong when you try to spay or neuter your dog?
A lot actually. If your vet is not qualified or have enough experience in this process, then infections or complications could occur. So you really need to make sure your vet has the right credentials to perform this kind of procedure. Don’t go for a cheap vet that you got their information online. Always double check your sources.
Another side effect of this procedure has to do with the impact on the dog itself. After the operation, the dog might get depressed or feel down. This is normal and it doesn’t last for long. During the time the dog is healing, they will act withdrawn and because of the wounds, they will not be able to take part in all the normal games and fun they enjoyed before.
Like we said this is just temporary. Once the vet gives the all clear, your dog will be able to enjoy their life with as much gusto as before. The operation will fade in their memory and they will live a healthy and long life without bothering about sex or procreation ever again.
Risks Associated with Spaying/Neutering Too Early or Too Late
All that is fine and dandy. But what if you rush this process or wait until it’s too late to have it performed on your dog? As we said the best time to spay or neuter your dog is between 4 and 9 months. Before that age is not recommended and waiting after 9 months might be too late.
If you try to have the dog spayed before it is 4 months old, there’s a risk involved. One of them is that the dog’s sex organs and reproductive system isn’t well developed yet. The dog might suffer from serious complications that would affect its growth and development. It might also lead to psychological problems that afflict the dog for the rest of its life.
But what if you have the operation performed when the dog is one year old or even later? By that time the dog’s behavior is kind of set. It has already created so much havoc with its raging hormones and developed habits that are hard to unlearn later in life. If the dog takes to attacking the couch or ripping apart the pillows in its horny state, this behavior might stay with the dog even after you have spayed or neutered them.
Another problem has to do with the dog’s age. Older dogs might not respond well to an invasive operation of this kind. The risks of complications and psychological scars are higher the more advanced in years the dog is. So it’s better to do it when they’re young and resilient. They will forget about it and it won’t affect their life later on.
Tips to Prepare Your Pomeranian Before Surgery
Before you put your dog under the vet’s knife you need to prepare them for what’s coming. It’s important to contact the vet and follow their instructions carefully. These instructions might involve not giving the dog food on the day of the operation just to be safe.
It’s also important to be nice to the dog and try to talk to them. Dogs understand and are smart enough to pick on the emotions in your voice. They will know that you’re preparing them for something important and they feel reassured when they know that you’re by their side.
Of course, the dog will not know what is going on during the operation. But it’s important that they see your face before they go under. Don’t take the dog to the vet then go run errands. They will feel your presence and that will give them courage and boost their morale.
Tips to Take Care of You Pomeranian After Surgery (Environment, Diet, Recovery, Mood, etc)
After the surgery, your vet will advise you on the best diet to give the Pomeranian. Treats should feature prominently in their diet. Not only are their body recovering but there are so many questions they will be asking themselves.
You need to know that the Pomeranian doesn’t understand what happened or why. So be nice to them and keep away anything that might trigger them. Their mood will be low during recovery. So try to cheer them up. Offer them their favorite toy and spend a lot of time with them if you can.
During this critical time, your Pomeranian will not be able to enjoy their normal life so be patient with them. Keep the place as quiet as possible since they need a lot of sleep. Sleep is important for their body to heal. Check on the Pomeranian often and make sure they’re comfortable.