Neutering
Dogs
Males
Males can be castrated from 6 months old. We normally recommend waiting a bit longer if you have a larger breed. You should only castrate your dog if he is confident with people and other dogs. If you think your dog might be a bit nervous or aggressive please ring us for advice.
​
Castration involves removing their testicles through a small incision just in front of their scrotum.
​
Advantages of castration are:
-
Less likely to roam
-
No chance of them developing testicular cancers
-
Reduces the risk of prostate problems
Females
Females can be speyed 2-3 months after their first season. (Speying before their first season can increase the risk or urinary incontinence and orthopaedic problems.) Speying involves removal of their uterus and ovaries
​
Advantages of speying are:
-
No seasons
-
No unwanted pregnancies
-
No phantom pregnancies (and therefore a reduced chance they will develop mastitis)
-
No possibility of developing a pyometra (a life-threatening womb infection)
-
Reduced chance of developing mammary tumours (especially if you spey them before their second season)
Cats
Both males and females fan be neutered from 5 months old. There are numerous behavioural and medical advantages to having your cat neutered:
Males
Castrating your cat involves surgical removal of their testicles, through 2 holes in their scrotum Advantages of castration include:
​
-
Less likely to roam, as they won’t be interested in searching for females
-
Less aggressive, therefore less likely to fight. This in turn reduces the risk of the developing abscesses or becoming infected with serious diseases such as FeLV and FIV
-
Prevention of unwanted litters
-
Reduction of the strong odour of their urine
​
Females
Speying your cat involves removing their uterus and their ovaries, through a small incision normally on their side. Advantages of speying are:
-
No unwanted pregnancies
-
Can’t develop pyometra (a life threatening womb infection)
-
Less chance of developing mammary tumours