Own A Westie Dog? – Learn The Importance of Spaying or Neutering

If you have a westie dog as a pet and you will not be using him or her for breeding or for show, you should have your pooch spayed or neutered.  Why?  By removing a canine’s reproductive capabilities you not only prevent unwanted pregnancies but you can also improve their quality of life and their health.

To give you a better understanding of the positive impact this can have on the life of a westie dog, the following is a brief breakdown of how it can benefit both genders:

A spayed female…

•    Cannot accidentally become impregnated.  No risk for unwanted puppies.
•    Will not experience heat.  You won’t have to worry about keeping her confined when she is in season or worrying about her staining carpets, furniture, etc.
•    Will never suffer from ailments that can affect the reproductive system including uterine infections, tumors, etc.

A neutered male…

•    Has less aggression
•    Is less tempted to wander off, escape or become distracted from his family.
•    Will not be effected to the point of becoming stressed or upset from the scent of a female westie dog in season.
•    Will never develop testicular cancer and has a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

A few things you should keep in mind:

1.    Most reputable breeders will make you sign a contract stating that you will neuter or spay the westie dog when they are of proper age, if you are only adopting for the purpose of owning a family pet.  A good breeder will insist on a controlled breeding program and will not want the canines they produced bred without their knowledge.

2.    Find out what the recommended age is for this procedure.  Typically a west highland terrier should be no younger than 6 months of age.  However, you should consult with the breeder as well as your vet to determine the proper time.  You don’t want to make the mistake of having it done too early as this can have a negative effect on the puppy’s mental and physical development.

3.    Be prepared to deal with the recuperation period.  You will want to keep your companion away from their stitches to prevent them from licking them open and causing infection.  Make sure they wear the cone collar at all times when they cannot be watched and follow all instructions to ensure proper healing.  Due to the fact that the surgery is more invasive for females they will take a few extra days to heal, but once completely recovered a westie dog will go back to normal.