Dog Neutering Complications

Neutering or spaying your dog is beneficial for its health and for reducing the unwanted pet population. However, some complications can accompany the surgery for neutering.

Mortality

Approximately one in 500 young, healthy pets dies during or after surgery. The risk increases as the dog ages, so it is best to neuter all dogs during the first year, before the animal reaches breeding maturity.

Licking

Licking is the most common complication of the surgery and can lead to skin damage and infection if your dog persists. Elizabethan collars restrict the dog's ability to move its neck and keep the dog from licking.

Anesthesia

Some animals have more sensitivity to anesthesia than others. This can make them sleep longer, be more difficult to wake up or impair their neurological responses and physical coordination for up to 24 hours following surgery.

Infections

Some dogs develop infections at the site of the wound, but most are easy to treat with an oral antibiotic.

Rare Complications

Some complications have a low risk of occurring, but can be serious if they do. These include fistulas--abnormal networks of tissue that form between organs--urinary incontinence, infection of nearby internal organs (more common with female dogs) and renal failure. Serious complications require immediate veterinary attention.

References

• USDA NAL
• Pet Place
• Placerville Vets