Spaying dogs: the procedure

If you’re considering getting your dog spayed, it’s only natural to wonder what happens during the procedure or what to expect as your canine companion recovers.

In case you haven’t already seen our article all about spaying and neutering dogs, the term ‘spay’ describes the process of removing a dog’s ovaries and uterus (womb). Also known as an ‘ovariohysterectomy’, spaying prevents dogs from getting pregnant, along with offering a range of other health benefits (more about this later!).

Explore the reasons you might want to spay your dog, the procedure itself, and a few potential ways to keep the costs of this surgery as low as possible… 

Reasons to spay your dog

There are many reasons for (and benefits of!) spaying your female dog, including:

• Prevents seasons.
• Prevents pregnancy and its associated risks.
• Removes the risk of womb infections (like pyometra).
• Greatly reduces the risk of mammary cancers. 

Procedure for spaying a dog

When your dog is spayed, it’s likely to be the very first time she’s had surgery – so, it’s understandable that you might feel a little anxious about it. Remember to use your dog’s pre-op appointment to ask your vet anything you’d like to know, from what happens during the procedure to top tips for supporting your dog’s recovery. 

However, we realise that knowing what to expect could help you feel better about your dog’s surgery. So, read on, to discover what usually happens before, during, and after a dog is spayed…

Please note: All surgeries carry an element of risk, which is something you’ll have opportunity to discuss with your vet prior to getting your dog spayed. 

What happens before a dog is spayed?

Before your dog is spayed, you’ll have to check with your vet as to when it’s safe to stop feeding your dog the night before the operation. 

On the morning your dog is due to be spayed, you may be asked to stop her from drinking water a couple of hours prior to her appointment. 

Please note: Although it’s safe for your dog to be spayed before her first season, if she’s had a season, she won’t be spayed until around three months after it’s ended. 

What happens during a spay surgery?

After you’ve dropped your dog off at the vet practice, she’ll be checked over by a vet to confirm she’s healthy enough for the procedure. If the vet is happy to go ahead with the surgery, your dog is then taken to a comfortable space where she’s given a sedative to help her feel calmer.

Once your dog is fully relaxed, she’ll be moved to the operating theatre where she’ll be given a general anaesthetic that allows her to drift gently off to sleep. While your dog is under anaesthetic, she’ll be cleaned, and her surgical site will be clipped ready for the operation. 

Next, the vet will make a small incision (cut) along the middle of your dog’s tummy, so that her ovaries and uterus can be safely removed. 

Throughout the procedure, experienced vet nurses will ensure your dog’s condition remains stable by monitoring:

• Vital signs.
• Respiration (breathing) rate.
• Reflexes.
• Temperature.
• Blood gases (e.g. blood oxygen levels).

The vet then stitches each layer of the body wall including the skin until the incision is completely closed, performs a final check of the surgical site, and slowly wakes your dog from the anaesthetic. 

What happens after your dog is spayed?

Your dog will be taken to a comfortable, warm kennel once she has woken up.  As she recovers from the anaesthetic, she’ll be closely monitored by a vet nurse for a few hours before she can be sent home.

Since dogs are individuals, just like us, it can take some longer than others to recover from the effects of general anaesthetic. If you have any questions or you’re worried about your dog’s recovery time, please speak to your vet or vet nurse, who should be able to provide an update.

Spay aftercare for dogs 

To protect your dog from injury and infection, you must follow your vet’s aftercare instructions – making sure you contact your vet immediately if you have any concerns. 

Every dog’s recovery may differ, depending on their individual circumstances, though if your dog has been spayed successfully, you should expect to:

• Keep her calm and allow her to rest in a quiet, comfortable, clean bed where she can fully recover from the anaesthetic (which could take up to 48 hours).
• Put a plastic cone, inflatable collar, or medical pet shirt onto your dog to prevent her from licking her wound as it heals.
• Attend all follow-up appointments at the vet practice, and make sure you don’t exercise your dog until your vet has said it’s safe to do so. 

For further advice about caring for your dog after they’ve been spayed, you can visit our spaying and neutering aftercare guide.

Lowering costs when spaying your dog

Sometimes, the costs of spaying a dog can be the reason pet parents avoid going ahead with this procedure, even if they know it’ll benefit their canine companion. 

If cost is a factor in your decision to have your dog spayed, find out if you’re eligible for financial support through low-cost services, neutering vouchers, or local neutering schemes. Alternatively, you could ‘shop around’ and choose a vet practice that can accept payment plans, to help you spread the cost of your dog’s surgery. 

Don’t forget! The vet experts over at Joii Pet Care are available 24/7 to answer any questions you may have about spaying your dog. (Plus, if you have an Animal Friends dog policy, you get access to FREE vet video calls with Joii at any time, from anywhere.)