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Table of Contents
Introduction
Getting your Bichon Frise neutered or spayed is one of the more serious things you should be considering when you bring your puppy home for the first time.
There are many positives and negatives to getting your Bichon Frise neutered or spayed. However, on the whole, the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks.
It is recommended that your Bichon Frise be neutered or spayed within the first 4 – 6 months of their life. With that said, every dog can be different, so it is important to consult with your vet to ensure you are doing it at the optimal time.
It’s important to be as informed as possible on the subject of spaying or neutering your Bichon Frise. This will ensure you know what’s involved and how you can care for your Bichon after they have had their surgery.
That’s why in this article we will cover just what exactly is spaying and neutering, the benefits of spaying or neutering your Bichon as well as if it’s safe to neuter an older dog. We’ll also look at tips for helping your Bichon recover after their surgery.
What Is the Difference Between Spaying and Neutering?
A question you likely have if you’re reading this article is what exactly is the difference between spaying and neutering?
This is a common question among new dog owners. That is because these terms can sometimes be used interchangeably even though they are pretty different.
Spaying
Spaying is a medical procedure where a female dog’s reproductive organs are removed. This will prevent them from having puppies and will prevent them from going into heat.
The process of spaying a female dog involves the removal of their uterus and ovaries. It is usually recommended that this is done before the female’s first heat. This will likely prevent mammary tumors from developing.
We’ll talk more about that in the Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Bichon section.
Neutering
Neutering is a medical procedure where a male dog’s reproductive organs are removed. This prevents them from being able to produce puppies. It also helps to reduce aggressive and dominant behavior.
The process of neutering involves the surgical removal of a male dog’s testes.
You can read more about spaying and neutering from a medical perspective by reading this article: Spaying and Neutering Dogs 101: Everything You Need to Know
The Benefits Of Spaying Or Neutering Your Bichon
Now that we have learned just what the terms neutering and spaying mean, it’s time to examine the benefits for your Bichon Frise.
1 Prevents Infections and Diseases
The most positive benefit of spaying or neutering your Bichon is that it will dramatically reduce the risk of infection or disease.
Females that are spayed before their first heat have a highly reduced risk of developing mammary tumors.
In a similar way, neutered males are much less at risk of developing testicular cancer.
2 Your Bichon Will Live A Longer Life
As your neutered or spayed Bichon will be at less risk of infections and diseases, this means they will live a longer and healthier life.
This in itself can be enough of a motivator for owners to have their Bichon Frise neutered or spayed. Who wouldn’t want to spend as much time as possible with these loveable dogs?
3 Female Bichons Won’t Go Into Heat
Spayed females will no longer go into heat. This is the most fertile period of the dog’s reproductive cycle.
Heat cycles typically last between 2 to 4 weeks. They will typically happen every 6 – 8 months, though some dogs can differ slightly.
When a female Bichon is in heat, they will need to be kept indoors and away from male dogs.
Male dogs, particularly those that haven’t been neutered, will do absolutely anything to get to a female in heat. This can include climbing over walls and gates as well as digging under fences.
As well as this, the female Bichon may also leave a bloody discharge in their bed or on furniture.
Another trait of females in heat is that they will whine frequently and urinate anywhere they can. They will do this in an effort to attract a male dog.
All of these things are difficult enough to deal with once in a dog’s life but having to manage this every 6 – 8 months is definitely a large undertaking.
4 Male Bichons Will Be Better Behaved
Neutered males can oftentimes show a marked improvement in behavior over their un-neutered counterparts.
Un-neutered dogs are much more likely to mark their territory everywhere including in your house which can be quite messy.
Male dogs that are neutered won’t be super anxious to try and get out of the house to a female in heat as we mentioned above. As well as this they will be less likely to hump other dogs, people or pieces of furniture.
An important benefit of neutering a male dog is that it can usually prevent them from being overly aggressive or territorial. Neutering a male dog can ensure the safety of everyone in the household which is why it’s an extremely important thing to mention.
5 Spaying Or Neutering Is Cost-Effective
Though you might not think it at first, the cost of Bichon Frise neutering or spaying is far cheaper than the cost of caring for a litter of puppies.
The cost and attention required with raising a litter of puppies is quite high. And let’s face it, isn’t suitable for everyone.
An unwanted litter of puppies can often lead to the puppies being left at an animal shelter or worse, abandoned. This is definitely something I don’t like thinking about so I’m sure you don’t either. This is why it’s so important to consider spaying or neutering.
Can You Spay Or Neuter An Older Dog?
While it’s recommended to spay or neuter your dog from a young age, it is certainly a question owners of older dogs can have.
As your Bichon ages, you may change your mind about having a litter of puppies. Or maybe your Bichon has already produced a litter of puppies and you have decided you wouldn’t like anymore.
There are a lot of reasonable factors for having a dog neutered or spayed later in life. This is why you might be asking yourself, is it safe to spay or neuter an older dog?
From the research I carried out on this topic I was able to find out that it is generally OK to have older male dogs neutered. This is described as generally safe at any age.
Though this can be the same case with female dogs, it is still highly recommended to have them spayed from a young age. This will prevent tumors which can be likely for them to develop later in life if left un-spayed.
As well as this, it’s important to note that older dogs are at a higher risk of post-op complications, as with older humans. This is the reality of an older dog, unfortunately.
With that said, I would highly recommend consulting with your vet to discuss the best option for your particular dog.
Spaying Or Neutering Recovery Time
If you have decided to have your Bichon Frise neutered or spayed, the next thing to focus on is the surgery and recovery time.
Generally speaking, your dog can take approximately 2 weeks to recover from their surgery. With that said, this can vary depending on the dog.
Your vet will be the best person to answer this question. They will usually be happy to help you with any questions you may have.
Helping Your Bichon Recover After Surgery
The most helpful thing you can do for your Bichon after they have been spayed or neutered is to ensure they are well looked after. You’ll likely want to make sure they are as comfortable as possible to help with their recovery.
This is why I’ve put together the following sections on helping your Bichon recover after surgery to ensure you are well prepared.
We’ll start with the best tips for a happy recovery after surgery.
Tips For A Happy Recovery After Surgery
- Questions For Your Vet – Something that’s extremely important to remember both before and after surgery is to discuss any questions you have with your veterinarian. They will be the most knowledgeable on this subject so it’s worth asking all of your important questions. It’s often a good idea to write these questions down beforehand to make sure you remember them.
- A Nice Quiet Place To Recover – After their surgery, your Bichon will be very groggy for the first 24 hours as they recover from the sedation. With that in mind, it’s important to give them a nice quiet place to recover in your house.
- Avoid Other Pets And Going Outside – Be sure to keep your Bichon inside for the first few weeks and away from other pets so as to avoid any roughhousing or play that could open their incision.
- Avoid Any Running & Jumping – To prevent the incision from opening up, it’s important to avoid any running and jumping for the first 2 weeks or so after the surgery. It’s also a good idea to avoid your Bichon running up and down the stairs, so it might be worth installing a baby gate or similar. As well as this, take care when your Bichon want’s to jump up on the couch if they are allowed. Pick them up instead to avoid any straining.
- Stop Your Dog From Licking Or Scratching Their Wound – Prevent any licking or scratching at the wound as this could cause it to open and become infected. If your dog persists with licking or scratching, it may be necessary to get a dog cone.
- No Bathing – Avoid washing your Bichon for the first 10 days after their surgery to give the wound time to heal properly.
- Check The Incision Site Daily – It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the incision site to ensure it’s healing well.
- Assemble A Spay Or Neuter Home Recovery Kit – Create your own by following the guide below.
Create A Spay Or Neuter Home Recovery Kit
In order to be well prepared for your dog’s surgery and recovery, it’s a great idea to assemble a home recovery kit. This will have everything you need for your Bichon’s recovery after their surgery.
- Food – After the surgery, your Bichon will tend to have an upset stomach. The vet will usually advise you to feed your dog very small portions for the first few days to ease them back into their diet. As well as this it’s a good idea to feed your Bichon food that will be gentle on their stomach.
- Pain Relief – This may be given by your vet and you may be given additional pain relief or antibiotics to give to your dog during their recovery. It’s important to check this with your vet to advise on the best methods of pain relief after surgery.
- A Flat Dog Bed Or Mat – By having a dog bed or mat that is low to the ground, this will allow your dog to easily get in or out of it. This will help with their recovery. It’s also a good idea to put this someplace in the house that is quiet and warm but where you can still keep an eye on them.
- Dog Toys – Giving your dog their favorite toy to sit with will make them feel much less stressed and distract them from their wound.
- Calming Aids – Dogs that are particularly anxious or stressed can benefit from the use of calming aids. This can take the form of dog calming supplements or even doggy aromatherapy. It’s always important to consult with your vet before using these calming aids just to be safe.
- Old T-shirt Or A Child’s T-shirt – If your dog doesn’t bite or lick excessively at their wound, an old small t-shirt or a child’s sized t-shirt is enough to prevent them from licking themselves.
- Dog Cone Or Collar – If your dog excessively licks or scratches at their wound, it may be necessary for them to wear a dog cone or collar.
Things To Avoid After Surgery
First 24 Hours:
- Loud noises and lots of commotion in the house
- Excessive amounts of food
First 10 Days:
- Bathing
First 2 Weeks:
- Playing with other dogs
- Running and jumping
- Excessive licking or scratching around the incision site
What To Look Out For After Surgery
While your Bichon is recovering from their surgery, it’s important to keep a close eye on them. You’ll want to ensure they are not showing the following symptoms:
- A decrease or total loss of appetite
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Any swelling or discharge developing at or around the incision site
- Excessive tiredness or fatigue
If you see your Bichon Frise showing any of these symptoms it’s important to consult with your vet immediately.
What Is The Cost Involved In Neutering A Dog?
By this point I am sure you might be wondering how much cost is involved in neutering a dog. This is a fair question and one I had no idea about until I owned a dog myself and went through the proess.
With that in mind, I recently came across an excellent article from Your Dog Advisor which does a great job of breaking down the cost of neutering as well as giving you solid advice for how to save on neutering.
You can check out this article here: How Much To Neuter A Dog
Conclusion
We were able to cover quite a lot in this article so let’s summarize everything:
- First and foremost, we answered the important question: “When should you get your Bichon Frise Neutered?”.
- We looked at the difference between spaying and neutering.
- Next, we talked about the benefits of having your Bichon Frise neutered or spayed.
- After that, we answered the question “can you spay or neuter an older dog?”.
- Finally, we covered all of the tips and advice to help your Bichon to recover after their surgery.
I hope you were able to find this information helpful and useful. If you did, I’d really appreciate it if you would share this article on social media. This will help other people with the same questions as you find this article.
If you have any questions on any of the information contained in this article, be sure to leave a comment below.
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