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Neutering Male Dogs (castration)
Deciding whether to have your dog neutered can depend on a number of factors and we would recommend that you discuss this with one of our vets to help you decide.
Neutering helps stop unwanted puppies and can help to control some undesirable behaviour, such as running away and being aggressive to other male dogs as well as a tendency to mount cushions and people's legs.
It also prevents or greatly reduces some diseases such as testicular tumours and prostate gland problems. Male dogs can be neutered at any age from about five months old. We usually suggest six to twelve months for young dogs. Studies have shown that it tends to be more effective in changing behaviour if it I carried out before three years of age.
Castration is not a reliable treatment for aggression towards humans but may be useful a part of an overall strategy to manage aggression in particular cases. Nor will it automatically make a very excitable dog docile.
The operation itself is usually straightforward. It is carried out under a short general anaesthetic and both testicles are surgically removed, usually through a single cut just in front of the scrotum.
If we haven't seen your dog recently we would want to do a check over first. At the check over the vet checks that your dog seems fit to have a general anaesthetic, is in good health and that both testicles are present in their normal place.
Sometimes the vet may recommend additional tests such as a blood test to check things like blood count and liver and kidney function or an electrical recording of the heart (ECG), just to make sure the anaesthetic is as safe as possible. Whilst we are happy to carry out the tests on any patient, the vet will usually only recommend them for older patients or those who have other medical problems. The blood test does incur an additional charge.
The check up is usually done at an appointment on the morning of the operation. It is important that your dog does not eat or drink anything after 11.00 pm on the evening before his operation.
After his check up if one was needed, we will weigh the patient and put him to bed. A short time later we give him a tranquiliser and a painkilling injection as the pre-medication for his anaesthetic. Once that has had time to work he will have his anaesthetic and his operation. Provided there are no complications most patients go home later the same day.
We usually shave a small patch of hair on one or sometimes both front legs and a little hair around their scrotum. Generally now we use dissolving that do not have to be removed.
We usually ask you to come back for a check up two or three days after the operation. The charge for this is included in the charge for the operation.
Some dogs may need a little pain relief for a day or two after the operation, and if they do we can provide this. It is not advisable to use human pain-killers as some, particularly Ibuprofen are unsafe.
Neutering Female Dogs (spaying)
Deciding whether to have your bitch spayed can depend on a number of factors and we would recommend that you discuss this with one of our vets to help you decide.
Having your bitch spayed avoids unwanted puppies and stops the mess and inconvenience of your bitch coming in season. It also goes a long way to preventing some important serious illnesses.
Mammary tumours are the dogs' equivalent of breast cancer. Spaying is most effective preventing mammary tumours if it is done before the first season but still greatly reduces the risk if it is done between the first and second season and reduces the risk even if it is only done later.
Spaying prevents pyometra, which is a life-threatening and often fatal illness of, usually older, bitches caused by a sudden build up of pus in their womb.
The old idea that bitches need to have a litter before they are spayed is now discredited.
Spaying will not automatically make an excitable dog docile.
The operation itself is usually straightforward. It is carried out under a short general anaesthetic and the womb and both ovaries are surgically removed, usually through a single cut just behind the belly button.
If we haven't seen your bitch recently we would want to do a check over first. At the check over the vet checks that your dog seems fit to have a general anaesthetic, is in good health and that she is not in season or suffering from a false pregnancy. Spaying a bitch when she is in season is dangerous.
Sometimes the vet may recommend additional tests such as a blood test to check things like blood count and liver and kidney function, or an electrical recording of the heart (ECG), just to make sure the anaesthetic is as safe as possible. Whilst we are happy to carry out the tests on any patient, the vet will usually only recommend them for older patients or those who have other medical problems. Theses tests do incur an additional charge.
The check up is usually done at an appointment on the morning of the operation. It is important that your dog does not eat or drink anything after 11.00 pm on the evening before her operation.
After her check up if one was needed, we will weigh the patient and put her to bed. A short time later we give her a tranquiliser and a painkilling injection as the pre-medication for her anaesthetic. Once that has had time to work she will have her anaesthetic and her operation. Provided there are no complications most patients go home later the same day.
We usually shave a small patch of hair on one or sometimes both front legs and the hair under her belly. Generally now we use dissolving that do not have to be removed.
We usually ask you to come back for a check up two or three days after the operation and a final check up a week later. The charge for this is included in the charge for the operation.
Some dogs may need a little pain relief for a day or two after the operation, and if they do we can provide this. It is not advisable to use human pain-killers as some, particularly Ibuprofen are unsafe.
We strongly advise that both male and female pet cats are neutered.
Tomcats
Un-neutered tomcats will roam over a large territory putting them at risk from road accidents. Fighting with other cats and mating indiscriminately also put them at risk of catching feline leukaemia and feline aids.
We recommend neutering tomcats at six months of age. The operation can be done at any age after six months of age.
Castration stops tomcats smelling and makes them gentler to handle.
The operation itself is usually straightforward. It is carried out under a short general anaesthetic and both testicles are surgically removed. Stitches are not needed.
If we haven't seen your cat recently we would want to do a check over first. At the check over the vet checks that your cat seems fit to have a general anaesthetic, is in good health and that both testicles are present in their normal place.
Sometimes the vet may recommend additional tests such as a blood test to check things like blood count and liver and kidney function or an electrical recording of the heart (ECG), just to make sure the anaesthetic is as safe as possible. Whilst we are happy to carry out the tests on any patient, the vet will usually only recommend them for older patients or those who have other medical problems. The blood test does incur an additional charge.
The check up is usually done at an appointment on the morning of the operation. It is important that your cat does not eat or drink anything after 11.00 pm on the evening before his operation.
After his check up if one was needed, we will weigh the patient and put him to bed. A short time later we give him a tranquiliser and a painkilling injection as the pre-medication for his anaesthetic. Once that has had time to work he will have his anaesthetic and his operation. Provided there are no complications most patients go home later the same day.
We usually shave a small patch of hair on one or sometimes both front legs and a little hair around their scrotum.
You do not normally need to come back for a check up.
Cats do not usually need pain relief after they get home. Cats must never be given human pain-killers as many are very dangerous in cats.
Female cats (she-cats, queens)
Un-neutered tomcats will roam over a large territory putting them at risk from road accidents. Fighting with other cats and mating indiscriminately also put them at risk of catching feline leukaemia and feline aids.
Any female cat who is not neutered is at risk from feline leukaemia and feline aids. They often come in season every few days, screaming or crying and trying every possible trick to get out and look for a tom cat. We recommend spaying female cats at five months of age, which ensures that they will not already be pregnant. The operation can be done at any age after five months of age.
Spaying usually makes female cats less nervous.
The operation itself is usually straightforward. It is carried out under a short general anaesthetic. The womb and both ovaries are removed during the operation through a small cut on the left side. We now usually use dissolving stitches which do not need to be removed.
If we haven't seen your cat recently we would want to do a check over first. At the check over the vet checks that your cat seems fit to have a general anaesthetic, is in good health and that both testicles are present in their normal place.
Sometimes the vet may recommend additional tests such as a blood test to check things like blood count and liver and kidney function or an electrical recording of the heart (ECG), just to make sure the anaesthetic is as safe as possible. Whilst we are happy to carry out the tests on any patient, the vet will usually only recommend them for older patients or those who have other medical problems. The blood test does incur an additional charge.
The check up is usually done at an appointment on the morning of the operation. It is important that your cat does not eat or drink anything after 11.00 pm on the evening before her operation.
After her check up if one was needed, we will weigh her and put her to bed. A short time later we give her a tranquiliser and a painkilling injection as the pre-medication for her anaesthetic. Once that has had time to work she will have her anaesthetic and her operation. Provided there are no complications most patients go home later the same day.
We usually shave a small patch of hair on one or sometimes both front legs and a patch of hair on her left side.
We normally ask you to come back for a check up eight days after the operation.
Cats do not usually need pain relief after they get home. Cats must never be given human pain-killers as many are very dangerous in cats.
Both male and female rabbits are usually more docile and easy to handle after neutering. Male rabbits tend to be aggressive and very territorial if they are not neutered. Female rabbits often suffer from false pregnancies and other reproductive disorders and are strongly at risk from womb cancer which frequently strikes as young as three years old if rabbits are not neutered.
Male and female rabbits can be neutered from four months old, our routine is five months old. Although the operation is usually straight-forward rabbits do need special care and support when they have an anaesthetic so we have strict routine of warmth and supportive fluids and specially chosen anaesthetic drugs for all rabbits we anaesthetise.
Rabbits do not need to be starved before they come into hospital as it is very important to keep rabbits' stomachs working.
Female ferrets (gills) become anaemic and can die if they are neither spayed nor treated to stop them coming into season.
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