Should Giant Breed Dogs be Spayed?

Today we are looking at an important subject! Should giant breed dogs be spayed? Of course, the decision is ultimately yours to make but (There’s always a “but” isn’t there?) the experts have some compelling reasons for saying…

“Yes! Giant breed dogs should be spayed (or neutered).” Today I will arm you with all the information you should know to make this important decision.

I’ve gathered every bit of the most up-to-date and accurate information available and will present it right here today, in one convenient place. I used only the most trusted sources in the world of all things canine so that you’ll be receiving facts and not opinions or hearsay. Sources like The American Kennel Club (AKC), The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society, and The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In this Article You’ll Discover:

3 Reasons to Have Your Giant Breed Dog Spayed
When to Have Your Dog Spayed
How to Care for a Dog That’s Been Spayed
Whether or Not Male Dogs Should be Neutered
How to Prevent Your Dog from Becoming Pregnant

As a bonus, I’ll reveal the answers to the top 5 frequently asked questions (FAQs) I receive pertaining to the spaying of dogs. I’ll even through in some fun facts you might not know! We’ve got a lot of interesting information to cover today, so let’s get started!

DID YOU KNOW? We describe the days that your dog can potentially become pregnant as her being “in heat”, but the real name for that time is the Estrous Cycle.

3 Reasons to Spay Your Giant Breed Dog

Of course, if we spayed every dog in the world, dogs would eventually cease to exist, and that would be a shame! That being said, though, statistics show that overpopulation of an animal species will come to tragic results. Additionally, there are medical complications to be considered.

Before you decide to have your giant breed dog bred (or she accidentally becomes pregnant) please consider each of the following points:

More than 670,000 dogs are euthanized annually in shelters within the United States alone simply for being unwanted. This is why you’ll often see the Big Dog Den recommending you rescue a dog.
The risk of your dog developing certain health problems is lowered when you have her spayed. The three biggest being breast cancer, lymphoma, and Pyometra, which is an infection within the uterus.
Unless bred by quality standards, things like inbreeding “miss-matching” will occur, often to the detriment of the offspring. Accidental breeding among dogs increases the risk of health problems, behavioral problems, and can even affect a dog’s capacity for intelligence!

Finally, receiving an honorable mention, is that having your giant or big dog spayed can ease the discomfort by eliminating her “in heat” cycle and/or improve some behaviors. The results are as individual as your dog but to be certain, there will be changes.

Changes You Might See in Your Spayed Dog:

A More “Mellow” Attitude
Less Tendency to Roam
All Behaviors Associated with Being “In Heat” (Spaying Eliminates this Cycle Altogether)

DID YOU KNOW? In most dog breeds, the female will go “in heat” about twice a year. However, giant breeds usually only have one cycle annually.

How a Giant Breed Dog is Spayed

There are two kinds of surgery that will effectively prevent your female dog from becoming pregnant in her lifetime. After either, we say the dog has been spayed.

The first surgery is called an ovariohysterectomy. With this procedure, the dog is placed under general anesthesia and her ovaries and uterus are removed. She receives stitches to close the incision and is closely observed in a recovery area while the effects of the anesthesia wear off.

The second type of spaying surgery is called an ovariectomy. This surgery is done laparoscopically, which means the ovaries are removed through a tiny incision using long tools. The incision is smaller, causing less pain, and the recovery time is shorter. Your dog likely wouldn’t need stitches after this surgery.

DID YOU KNOW? Having a dog spayed became an option in the 1930s, but wasn’t routinely encouraged until the 1970s when shelters were overrun with unwanted pets. Game show host Bob Barker was a huge proponent of controlling the pet population used his public platform to encourage everyone to have their pet spayed or neutered.

Is it Expensive to Have a Giant Breed Dog Spayed?

2020 has introduced financial troubles in ways no one could have expected. It seems we’re all a little more budget-conscious! Depending on where you live, having a veterinarian spay your dog will cost in the vicinity of 400 USD. The cost will be higher if your dog has other health issues or is “in heat” at the time of the surgery. If your finances have taken a “hit” during this current Covid 19 crisis, be encouraged! There are other options.

Spaying clinics are routinely offered in most cities across America, These clinics perform the same safe spaying surgery at a fraction of the cost! In Florida, where I live, there are even opportunities to have a pet spayed free of charge to those in need.

You can call your local animal shelter for information about any low-to-no-cost spaying options in your area.

Certainly, even a full-cost surgery to have your dog spayed will cost less in the long run than raising a litter of 6 (or more!) puppies!

DID YOU KNOW? An adult giant breed dog can eat 3-5 pounds (1-3kg) of dog-food every day!

When to Spay a Giant Breed Dog

The ASPCA, AVMA, the AKC, and more than 90% of veterinarians recommend having your female dog spayed before her first heat (which usually occurs between the 4th and 6th month of age, but can take up to 18 months with giant breed dogs). The ASPCA sums it up nicely: “Spaying helps prevent uterine infections and breast tumors, which are malignant or cancerous in about 50 percent of dogs… Spaying your pet before her first heat offers the best protection from these diseases.” They go on to say, “Dogs can be neutered as adults as well, although there’s a slightly higher risk of post-operative complications in older dogs, dogs that are overweight or dogs that have health problems.” (Source)

Please note: The same perspectives apply for when to have your male dog neutered.

DID YOU KNOW? When you rescue a dog from a shelter, the females will already be spayed and the males, already neutered. This is part of the massive effort to control the pet population by preventing unwanted pregnancies.

Caring for Your Spayed Giant Breed Dog

In most cases, you can expect to drop your dog off for her surgery in the morning and pick her back up in 6-8 hours. She may be groggy when you pick her up and even a little nauseated. For this reason, be sure you’ve prepared a safe place for her in the vehicle. Additionally, you may want to cover the seat with an old sheet or towel in case she vomits.

Your dog’s veterinarian is going to provide you with some specific instructions for after surgery care. Those instructions are your primary reference and should be followed exactly. They may vary from the basic after-surgery care list below, but please do heed the veterinarian’s instructions primarily.

Your dog won’t be feeling her best after surgery, so provide her with a quiet and comfortable space to recover. Keep her indoors in a well-ventilated room. She’ll be most comfortable with her regular bedding and her favorite toy within reach if she has one.
Be sure she has fresh and clean water within her reach, and feed her at normal feeding times. Your dog may have some lingering wooziness or nausea after surgy, she may have less of an appetite for a day or so.
Keep other animals (and children!) away from her. Without question, your spayed dog may feel agitated when she first comes home to recover. To prevent this agitation from manifesting as aggression, let your dog have some time alone.
Running and jumping is prohibited for about two weeks following surgery. Keep pottying walks brief and at a slower than normal pace. Within a couple of days, you’ll notice your dog’s pace return to normal. Follow her lead to gradually return to her regular exercise regime.
Prevent your pet from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by distracting your pet with treats or by using an Elizabethan collar. Do not put ointments on the incision site unless your dog’s veterinarian has recommended it.
Avoid bathing your pet for at least ten days after surgery. It’s best the incision site stays dry as it heals. Use wet towelettes or wipes if spot-cleaning your dog is necessary, avoiding the incision site. The site should be cleaned only as per the veterinarian’s instructions. Your dog will likely be sent home from surgery with a product formulated for post-surgical care.
Check the incision site daily to confirm proper healing. With today’s less intrusive surgeries, you’ll be able to see daily progress in the healing process. The incision site will continue to close until it’s barely noticeable. it may even scab over but don’t worry, if left alone, the scab will fall off when healing is close to complete. What’s not okay is if you notice the incision site to be an angry red and swollen, oozing pus or blood, or seems to be excessively painful to your dog if you touch the skin around it.

A WORD OF CAUTION: Studies indicate that dogs that have spayed (or neutered) have a 50-100 percent chance of developing obesity. You’ll want to re-evaluate your big dog’s caloric intake and daily exercise routine after the surgery.

Preventing Obesity in Your Spayed (or Neutered) Dog

Obesity in otherwise healthy dogs comes down to simple math. If the dog has more calories going in their mouth than they are burning off in exercise, the pounds will creep on. Your goal as a responsible owner is to keep the calories and exercise in balance.

5 Helpful Tips for Preventing Obesity in Your Spayed Dog

High-Quality Nutrition: Having a giant breed dog can make a person budget-conscious. However, dog-food is not a place for cutting corners on a budget! Like humans, a dog’s “output” is directly affected by, and in proportion to their “input”. From puppyhood, you’ll want to feed your giant dog food formulated for large breeds. This food’s primary ingredient should be protein from a single source and shouldn’t include fillers or by-products. You can discover all you need to know about dog-food right here in the Big Dog Den by following this link.
Adequate Hydration: Water plays a major role in your giant breed dog’s overall health and well-being! Be sure there is always fresh and clean water available for her (or him). The only time it’s advisable to remover your dog’s water bowl is at feeding time (especially if your dog eats dry kibble, the water can cause uncomfortable bloating in the stomach) or bedtime (for preventing house-training accidents in the night). In either event, just remember to replace the water bowl! About 30 minutes after eating or in the morning. Remember to wash your dog’s water bowl daily, as bacteria gather quickly on the bowl, even when it’s filled with water.
Healthy Snacking: Have you noticed the nutrition label on pre-packaged dog snacks and biscuits? They’re not nutritious at all! Rather, they are heavily laden with chemicals and calories. Instead, experiment to learn the kinds of healthy snacks your dog enjoys. Bananas, sweet potatoes, bite-sized carrot pieces, and even leafy greens are great things to try. Your dog will indicate her preference! And if the dog has a need to gnaw, consider a knuckle-y bone from the butcher instead of a pre-packaged “bone” to gnaw. Want to know about bone safety for your dog? I’ve got you covered with “Can Big Dogs Eat Chicken Bones?”!
Sufficient Exercise: The rule of thumb is to aim for an hour a day of exercise when it comes to your giant breed dog. Diving the time into smaller increments (usually 2 or 3) spread throughout the day is recommended. This needn’t change after a spaying surgery, once the veterinarian has “released” the dog for regular activities. Please remember that exercise should be encouraged but never forced and that your dog’s most enjoyable exercise will be the things she (or he) does together with you! To the extent you are able, enjoy being active with your dog.
On-Going Medical Attention: How can regular exams by a veterinarian help your giant breed dog from becoming obese? Like humans, dogs are subject to certain medical conditions, hormonal conditions, and injuries. Any of these things have the potential to affect weight loss or gain. The ABCs of good heath look like this:

A: Prevention
B: Early Intervention
C: Treatment

I know you want to do all you can to ensure your dog lives a long, healthy, and happy life! I do too, for my own big dog!

HELPFUL AND HEALTHFUL TIP: Playing frisbee or catch with your dog is a great way to for her to quickly burn more calories than she burns when walking. If she’s recently been spayed, though, make sure she is fully healed before playing jumping or running games.

Should Male Giant Breed Dogs be Neutered?

I’ll touch briefly on this subject today because we’re mainly looking at spaying today, but I would be remiss not to mention it at all. In a nutshell, the benefits of having your male giant breed dog neutered outweigh any risks involved. If you want to learn all the pros and cons of having your male dog neutered, I’ve chiseled them all out right here, in the Big Dog Den, using a Great Dane as an example.

DID YOU KNOW? Having a male dog neutered may decrease unpleasant behaviors such as “spraying” and roaming from home, and can even reduce aggressive tendencies.

Preventing Pregnancy in Your Giant Breed Dog

A giant breed dog can be as old as 18 months of age before she experiences her first “heat”, but it could happen much, much earlier! For this reason, it’s best you have your dog spayed as soon as the veterinarian recommends it. I understand, though, that circumstances can arise where the spaying hasn’t occurred before the dog goes “in heat”. We’ll take a few minutes to go over the ways you can be sure an unwanted pregnancy doesn’t occur, but first, let’s take a look at how you can know your dog is “in heat”.

Knowing When Your Dog is “In Heat”

If you haven’t experienced owning a female dog who is “in heat” and with the broad range in time when her first reproductive cycle could materialize, it’s good to know the signs that your female dog is nearing (or in) her cycle. These signs include:

The area around the dog’s vulva (female genitals) will become swollen.
She will have a somewhat bloody discharge. It can be a small amount or quite noticeable.
She’ll take a keen interest in male dogs, showing herself very receptive to their “advances”.
She may excessively lick her genitals (to keep the area clean).
She may exhibit agitated, nervous, or even aggressive behaviors. This is because of the hormonal changes that occur during this time.

It is of the utmost importance that you know there are only two ways to prevent your dog from becoming pregnant. They are:

Having Your Dog Spayed
Your Dog Having ZERO Exposure to Male Dogs While She’s “In Heat”

That being said, There are “doggie diapers” like the ones pictured below. Many dog owners who’ve not had their dog spayed or spayed yet opt to use them.

Although the diapers are convenient for preventing the staining of carpet or furniture from your dog’s discharge, they can be easily displaced by two dogs determined to breed. Do NOT leave your female dog unattended with a male dog if a diaper is the only defense against an unwanted pregnancy!

You can grab the pictured doggie diapers from Amazon by following this link.

DID YOU KNOW? A male dog can smell a female dog “in heat” from miles away!

5 FAQs About Spaying Giant Breed Dogs

There is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to the health and well-being of your big dog (or any pet, really)! The more you know, the better you can provide for your dog’s unique needs. The end goal is to have a healthy dog that lives a long life. Here are some common questions pertaining to having a dog spayed:

Can a Pregnant Dog be Spayed?

Yes, a pregnant dog can be spayed. Certainly, this is an aggressive end to an unwanted pregnancy, but it can be (and is) done. Far better to have your dog spayed before she reaches her first “heat”.

What if My Giant Dog Gets Pregnant by Accident?

Rut-Roh! (said in my best Scooby-Doo voice) your giant breed dog is facing an unexpected and/or unplanned pregnancy. Whatever should you do?!? You will have to make the choice between three things. (1) Call your dog’s veterinarian immediately and schedule an appointment to terminate the pregnancy and spay the dog. (2) Provide prenatal care for your pregnant dog and have a litter of unplanned puppies.

The last option is (3) Ask your dog’s veterinarian to write a prescription for Mifepristone (RU486) a pill that will promote the termination of the pregnancy. This drug is very effective in terminating canine pregnancy after 25-30 days of gestation and without adverse side-effects.

DID YOU KNOW? A blood test can confirm pregnancy in your dog by detecting the hormone relaxin in her blood three weeks after mating has occurred. If the result is negative, it is recommended you have the test repeated one week later to confirm.

Can My Dog Die While Being Spayed?

Today’s spaying procedure is scientifically leaps and bounds ahead of surgeries performed even 20 years ago but no surgery comes without risk. The risk of death is minimal to none, but other complications can arise.

The 3 Risks Involved with Spaying Your Giant Dog are:

(1)Infection: With any surgery, an infection can occur internally or at the incision site. Additionally, dogs who’ve been spayed run a slightly higher risk of developing urinary tract infections for the rest of her life. Call your dog’s veterinarian at the first sign(s) of infection. These signs include swelling, redness, or puffiness at the incision site, fever, and pus or blood at the incision site or in the dog’s urine.

(2) Hypothyroidism: The thyroid is your dog’s regulator of her hormones. You can help promote good thyroid health after spaying surgery by adding supplements to your dog’s diet. Speak with the veterinarian to see which supplements would be beneficial for your dog.

(3)Allergies: Unfortunately, we don’t find out a dog is allergic to anesthesia or medication until the allergic reaction has occurred. The risk is minimal, but not absent, that your dog could experience an allergic reaction to anesthesia or medication provided after the surgery. If your dog experiences swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps, is having trouble breathing, is vomiting, or having diarrhea after surgery, call the veterinarian immediately.

Can Spaying be Reversed?

Having your giant breed dog spayed is a permanent procedure. I know it can seem daunting to make this life-long decision while your dog is yet a pup. You may worry that you’ll change your mind when she’s older but here’s the thing. I know far more dog owners that regret having not spayed their dog than I do owners who’ve regretted having them spayed.

If you own a giant breed dog, you already know how much space, time, and money they can “eat up”! That is not an insult to giant breeds, no it isn’t. Any dog owner will tell you it is worth any cost to have such a fine and loyal four-legged companion. But can you imagine multiplying the cost by 8 or more?!? Because that’s how big a giant dog breed litter can be… 8 or more puppies!

Can Dogs Get Pregnant Before Going “in Heat”?

No, dogs can not get pregnant until they have gone “in heat”. BUT (there’s that “but” again!) your female dog can be “in heat” and get pregnant before you’re aware she’s “in heat”!

Be proactive and not reactive! Follow the sound advice of your dog’s veterinarian. Schedule the spaying surgery when the time is right and avoid unwanted pregnancies.

DID YOU KNOW? You can expect your healthy giant breed dog to live from 6-12 years, depending on the breed.

I sincerely hope this article has been helpful in answering all of your questions pertaining to the spaying (or neutering) of your giant breed dog. The more we know about our dog’s health needs (both physical and mental) the more pleasant our journey will be with our loyal four-legged companion!

Don’t forget to utilize our search bar to search The Big Dog Den for whatever’s on your mind. Until we “meet” again, I wish you and your big dog(s) good health!

*This article has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial policy.