Dog and Cat Neutering

If you are not planning on using your pets for breeding we recommend that you have them neutered. This will guard against any unwanted pregnancies or associated disease.

Prevention of pregnancy

This is the most common reason that pets are neutered particularly if there are both male and female living in the same household.

Prevention of uterine cancer

The incidence of development of uterine tumours within unneutered females  is very high approximately 80%, the most common form of tumour is a uterine adenocarcinoma this is a malignant aggressive form of cancer that often spreads normally invading the lungs.

Other uterine disorders

Although uterine cancer is the most common reproductive disorder, it is not uncommon to see pyometra (pus filled uterus) and endometritis (inflamed uterine lining) as with uterine tumours these conditions are more commonly seen older animals.

Prevention of false pregnancies (pseudopregnancies)

Following a failed or infertile mating,  the ovaries produce hormones to prepare the body and uterus for pregnancy.  The body then acts as if it is pregnant but there is in fact no pregnancy present.   Behaviour may change to include nest building, by pulling hair from the abdomen and adding to bedding. Milk may be produced and your pet may display aggressive behaviour, as she becomes territorial, this may be directed either toward yourself the owner or other pets.

Mammary tumours

Mammary tumours are not common in rabbits but when they occur they can spread rapidly and be difficult to treat. They are preventable if neutered before 2 years of age, as they are believed to be hormone related, the most common tumour being a mammary carcinoma and are usually associated with the presence of uterine tumours.

Prevention of aggressive behaviour

Both males and females may display aggressive behaviour when sexually mature.  In our experience we have found females may become aggressive once they reach about 12months of age. They may bite, scratch, strike, chase and lunge it is therefore best to neuter just before or shortly after sexual maturity in order to keep this behaviour to a minimum.

Prevention of urine spraying

Both males and females have the ability to spray urine in order to mark their territory. Unneutered males will have very pungent urine, with a musty odour and will tend to spray more frequently then females. This behaviour can become a habit if allowed to continue it is therefore better to get your pet neutered just prior to sexual maturity.

Prevention of testicular disease

Disease of the testicles is obviously avoided if castrated but prostate tumours can also occur and the earlier a male is castrated then the less likely prostate problems are.

Neutering Your Dog.

Dogs are usually neutered any time after 6 months of age. Bitches  are speyed (ovariohysterectomy, both ovaries and uterus is removed) either before their first season or 3 months following their first, or any subsequent, season.  Speying reduces the incidence of mammary and uterine cancers later on in life. It also prevents womb infections (pyometra). If you aren’t considering breeding from your bitch we recommend speying the earlier the better.

Dogs are castrated (both testicles removed) any time after 6 months. This reduces incidence of prostate and testicular cancers. It also reduces roaming and territory marking. Aggression with other males is also reduced.

Neutering Your Cat.

Cats are routinely neutered from 5 months of age.
Male cats are castrated (both testicles are removed) which reduces the chances of them wandering, fighting and spraying urine.
Female cats are spayed (ovariohysterectomy—the womb and ovaries are removed) which eliminates the chance of pregnancy

Myths of Speying and Neutering

My pet will become fat and lazy: It is true that in many cases dogs and cats will tend to have a larger appetite after either spaying or neutering. However, we control the intake of food and the amount of exercise, if we allow them to have a sedentary lifestyle, then obesity may be a problem. We recommend that food intake be reduced by at least  ¼ after neutering if you keep everything the same.

It is better to let my pet either mate or have one litter first: Where this idea comes from we do not know, reproduction is a biological event in cats and dogs and given they are not cognisant they do not yearn for a family in the way humans do. Allowing a male to cover a female does not quench his appetite for sex it actually enhances it. He can subsequently become a serial roamer and a Houdini type escape artist.

Neutering may affect my dog's emotional identity: Dogs do not cognitively possess a macho identity. They may have a short period after the operation during recovery where they are not themselves but they make a full recovery and do not know any better.

I want my dog to be protective in the home: Speying and neutering does not affect the natural instinct to guard and protect.