Neutering

Spaying
We would recommend spaying female dogs and cats if owners do not want to breed. This means removing the ovaries. Unneutered animals have much higher health risks such as developing mammary cancer (breast cancer) and pyometras (uterine infections) which can be fatal and are often difficult to identify. There is a 1 in 200 chance of getting mammary tumours if spayed before the first heat. This increases to 1 in 4 if spayed after the third heat. It is also easier to cope with neutered pets as they are not going to come on heat and will not have the risk of male animals chasing them when they are on heat. Females do not have to have a litter before they are spayed.
Castration

In male animals the testicles are removed. If done early, castration can make pets less aggressive and less likely to show territorial traits such as spraying or marking. In cats there is less risk of fighting and so less risk of getting FIV (Feline Aids Virus). This is spread by bites and scratches and can’t be treated.

Neutering male dogs protects against testicular cancer and against some of the prostate diseases. It is also difficult to keep male pets home if there is a female on heat in the neighbourhood and some dogs can become dominant if not neutered. However, if you have a problem of aggression with your pet, please get advice as there are lots of causes and neutering may not be the correct solution in certain cases.

Side Effects

Once pets are neutered they can have a tendency to put on weight. If you have your pet neutered just watch their weight and cut back on their food if they are gaining weight. Neutered animals do not have to be overweight. Female dogs may have a higher tendency to incontinence but this can usually be medically managed and can occur in older unneutered female dogs too.

As neutering has been shown to increase life expectancy by approximately a year due to fewer diseases, we would recommend neutering within the first year. If there is anything you would like to know please contact us for more information.

Did you know we offer keyhole surgery?

Your pet’s health is at the heart of everything we do; now we are able to carry out a number of procedures, including spaying, by keyhole, we can minimise the trauma and recovery time for so many animals.

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