You may have heard about neutering but don’t know enough about it to determine if you should carry out the surgery for your pet Akita. Neutering and spaying are a form of population control for canines, male and females respectively for which they will no longer be able to breed.
Since the Akita is infamous for its aggression and tendency to dominate, neutering is almost an immediate and required solution for new owners bringing their new furried friend home, as it helps eliminate many behavioral issues and even prolong their lives by preventing diseases.
Read on to learn the answers to the most common questions about neutering, before and after for your Akita, and more, including how to prepare for taking care of your pet post-surgery.
The Best Age to Neuter for Both Male and Female Akitas
Veterinarians typically suggest that the best age to neuter an Akita would be around 4 months to 9 months, usually as soon as possible for Akita puppies, although the individual Vet’s opinion will vary on time frame depending on their assessment of the dog.
However, you would most likely be adopting an Akita at a much later age, especially if it’s from a shelter, for which it would likely be a few years old. This is no excuse not to neuter an Akita, as it’s never too late to neuter a pet to ensure a long and happy life.
Pros and Cons of Male Neutering
There are not many cons for neutering a Male Akita, other than a few animal rights activists’ disapproval that the act itself is “inhumane,” removes the natural “beast nature” of the Akita and the obvious (if you were looking forward to Akita puppies, that’s no longer possible after neutering).
However, the pros of neutering an Akita are numerous and overwhelmingly so…
It’s Painless.
The process itself is carried out like any other surgery, under anesthesia, and your dog will wake up none the wiser in regards to any sensation (or lack of it) under there!
Removes the Fear of Accidental Breeding.
You know some irresponsible pet owners who let their dog owners wander around the city or village and mate with a stray mutt? That’s not going to be you.
By removing the drive as well as very means for reproduction you won’t have the worry of accidentally having another litter of puppies, which also saves thousands of lives as hundreds of thousands of unwanted puppies find themselves sequestered into adoption centers every year as a result of owners not neutering or spaying their pets.
Prevents Many Diseases and Promotes General Longer Life Span.
When you remove the reproductive organ of a pet, it renders the origin of many diseases such as uterine cancer to testicular cancers no longer a threat. Even breast cancer becomes less likely as a result! The consequence is a pet that can live a longer and happier life, as expected.
Curbs Aggression and Territorial Behaviors.
Since Akita are infamous for their aggression and other expressions of territoriality and dominance, one effective means to put a damper on this is to neuter them, resulting in a calmer and friendlier temperament.
Pros and Cons of Female Neutering (Spaying)
Similar to the males, there are almost no cons of neutering a female Akita, which is called “spaying.”
The pros of spaying a female Akita include all the same benefits for a male, including diluting aggression, the pursuit for a mate, inhibiting disease and increasing their lifespan (see above).
An added benefit would be females would cease their “dripping” during their heat cycles, which would save their owners from a mess during those seasons.
Risks of Spaying/Neutering Your Akita too Early
There are many benefits to neutering an Akita before their first heat cycle, although some owners worry about the risks of early neutering, specifically concerning hormones.
Two of these fears include the Akita growing faster, especially females who will have a spike of testosterone which can make socializing harder for the puppy. This will be temporary, however.
Neutering or spaying an Akita shouldn’t delay its maturation, although it is slightly possible that it may prolong it, with some hearsay from owners that early neutered pets end up growing slightly taller (although the difference is barely noticeable).
Another shared fear is the belief that the puppy neutered before maturation would lock in a “puppy mindset” for most of its adult life, while also growing with a tiner penis which may appear “unnatural” to some owners.
When Is It Too Late to Neuter or Spay?
While a veterinarian will likely not have a reason to tell you that it’s “too early” to neuter your Akita dog, some owners may wonder when their pet’s age may be considered too old to be safely neutered or if it’s even worth it at their length in lifespan.
It is said that if you have to think when asked “is it too late to neuter your dog,” while considering the dog’s age and health, then the answer is “yes.” Most experts agree that an older dog can still safely enjoy the benefits of neutering, as long as it is healthy and has no signs of illness.
The first thing a Veterinarian would check for is checking for pre-surgery bloodwork, which enables them to check the pet’s liver and kidney functioning. Afterwards it will amount to seeing if the dog gets nauseous after anesthesia.
If the dog can tolerate 2 days of fasting pre-surgery, you should feel safe to proceed with the surgery.
Things to Consider Before Neutering a Pet
Most breeders would consider the neutering of an Akita an individual case-by-case thing. The timing for neutering a pet ultimately comes down to an evaluation of the dog’s individual behavior and physiology.
Obviously, things to consider before neutering your dog would be the risks, as well as if the reasons you want it neutered meet or outweigh them. If your dog isn’t in a healthy condition, you shouldn’t be considering neutering yet.
You may also want to take the cost of neutering into equation, although it shouldn’t cost more than 45$-150$ USD, depending on the breed.
What Happens When My Akita is Neutered?
When an Akita is neutered, the male’s testicals will be surgically removed. Its chances of acquiring testicular cancers and prostate cancers are greatly lowered, and its aggressive, territorial behaviors such as marking the house furniture would be seen less, if nonexistent.
When a female Akita is spayed, her chances of developing ovarian cancer and uterine cancer are no longer possible. Mammarian cancers and pyometra (which is a potentially fatal disease) are greatly reduced as well, and hormone-driven behaviors such as finding a mate no longer happen.
How to Care for Your Pets When They Come Home after Neutering/Spaying
After the successful surgery, you may be tempted to just return your pet to its regular routine and snuggle or even play with it when it comes home.
While you should still keep it on its regular diet, for a limited time frame, you’re going to have to limit its daily activities. During walks the dog must be kept leashed, and prevented from seeking further mates, for about 2 weeks.
Make sure that their incisions are kept dry, so prevent them from licking or chewing this area to prevent an infection. This can be greatly aided by an Elizabethan collar. Walks in the rain will be a no-no, of course.
Your pet will also have been given pain medication. Monitor their pain levels by observing their behavior. If it appears that your pet is still in pain, DO NOT give it more medication and instead, call the veterinarian immediately. This includes any complications that occur whatsoever (source: ASCPA.org)
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