Why spay (non-breeding) females?
Why castrate male dogs?
What do the operations involve?
Are there any disadvantages to be aware of?
When should the operation be performed?
Myths about Neutering:

Why spay (non-breeding) females?

• The risk of them developing mammary (breast) cancer is dramatically reduced.
  (If spayed before the second season).
• The risk of a life threatening condition called a pyometra, is eliminated.
  (A pyometra occurs when a bitche,s womb becomes infected during a season. It is a serious infection that antibiotics cannot treat; in most cases an emergency ovarohysterectomy (spaying), is required. Unfortunately, despite emergency surgery, some dogs suffer complications from the septicaemia that often accompanies the condition, such as long term kidney damage.)
• The risk of diabetes is significantly reduced.
• The inconvenience of a bitch being in season, and the risk of an unwanted pregnancy is avoided.
• The sometimes unpleasant effects of a false pregnancy are avoided.

Why castrate male dogs?

• Behavioural reasons.
  (Many young males between six months and two years of age can develop behavioural issues such as excessive urine marking, mounting and other manifestations of hypersexuality, running away, territorial aggression, aggression with other dogs and occasionally attempts to dominate their owners, which might include aggressive behaviour. These issues can be prevented or reduced in intensity, by castration.)
• Health reasons.
  (In the older dog, testicular tumours, prostate problems, and anal tumours are all prevented or the incidence dramatically reduced, by castration.)
• A young male dog will often be more family orientated and more responsive to training, having been neutered.

What do the operations involve?

Females undergo a complete ovarohysterectomy; this means that their ovaries and uterus are removed. The operation is performed through a small incision in the midline of the ventral abdomen (their underside); once everything has healed up, the scar is barely detectable. We perform this operation frequently so are very experienced with the procedure. We also view it has a major operation and consequently many precautions are taken as a matter of routine. These factors result in it being a very safe procedure to have done, but please take the time to discuss it with your vet, especially if you have any reservations or concerns.

Males undergo castration which means that both testicles are removed. The operation is performed through a small single incision, just in front of the scrotum on the dog’s underside. It is not as major a procedure as a bitch spay since the abdominal cavity is not actually opened up, and all the structures are very accessible.

Are there any disadvantages to be aware of?

The biggest problems in both sexes stem from the potential risk of weight gain. However, a neutered dog does NOT have to be overweight. By careful, controlled feeding of a good quality, but reduced calorie diet, a healthy body condition can be maintained. This ensures that your dog enjoys the same level of activity with the same vitality as before. Please discuss ongoing feeding with your vet or nurse, and seek advice if your pet’s weight is increasing.

Both sexes require an operation under general anaesthetic . However, the many precautions we take and the standards that we have to work to (to be a Tier 3 Hospital), means that the procedures are very safe and the risks of complications very low.

Recovery from surgery is rapid; so much so you need to be very careful to restrict your dog’s activity- keeping them on a lead, only going for short walks and minimising excitement for at least 2 weeks- after their operation. Occasionally males try to lick their surgical wounds which can cause infections or soreness. For that reason it is advisable to use an Elizabethan (buster) collar for 5 days after the surgery.

Spaying has been shown to be one of several factors that can increase the risk of a female becoming incontinent. (The commonest cause is weight gain- see above). Should this occur it can be readily controlled with medication.

Very rarely a dog’s coat can change after being neutered; this might be a slight colour change or a change in texture.

When should the operation be performed?

Males can be neutered at any age from four months onwards; we suggest at around six months, thereby preventing many of the behavioural problems discussed earlier.

Females can also be spayed at around six months, before their first season, with a few exceptions. Some individuals have very small external genitalia, which can cause urine to “spray” when they urinate, soiling themselves. These bitches should be allowed to have a season which will cause their external genitalia to develop more, thus eliminating this problem. Your vet will assess this on a pre-examination check up. Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs and Irish Setters seem more prone to developing incontinence if spayed before a season, so these breeds are best done between the first and second seasons. There is a wealth of confusing and conflicting information on this subject; please discuss the situation with your vet, if you have any doubts or questions.

If a bitch has already started to have seasons, we avoid spaying them for ten weeks, following the end of their season. (This allows time for the uterus and its blood supply to regress following the very active phase it goes through during a season, when it is more swollen and its blood supply increases.

Myths about Neutering:

Having a litter is good for a bitch. FALSE.  Having a litter has no physical or psychological benefits. Bear in mind that complications can arise in pregnancies causing, at worse, tragedies, at best, the need for costly and stressful interventions such as caesarean section.

Neutering will cause a change in personality. FALSE. The only behavioural changes that are seen are usually in male dogs and relate to a reduction in undesirable traits such as aggression. Vigour and vitality is unaffected unless obesity is allowed to develop.

Neutering causes weight gain. FALSE. A mismatch between calorie intake, activity and metabolic rate causes weight gain. Being strict about feeding, changing to a lower calorie food and regular weight checks will ensure your dog maintains an ideal body condition.