What is neutering?
Let’s sort out the terminology first! Neutering is a catch all term for the removal of an animals’ reproductive organs, whether they are male or female. In males, neutering is called castration. In females, it’s called spaying.
Neutering is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic. There are also chemical options available, for example, a hormone implant in dogs resulting in chemical castration.
In males, both testicles are removed leaving the scrotum in place. Neutering is more invasive in females, as the surgical incision goes into the abdomen. The female reproductive organs are removed – either the ovaries plus the uterus or just the ovaries.
Why should I neuter my pet?
The number one reason to neuter pets is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. There are so many unwanted pets in the UK that need rehoming, so we don’t need any more. Some people believe that their pets would benefit from having a litter of babies before being neutered but this is not the case. She won’t miss what she doesn’t know.
Neutering also has behavioural and health benefits. These are summarised in the table below:
When should I get my pet neutered?
Cats should be 4-6 months of age or at least 2kg in weight. Rabbits should be 4-6 months old.
In dogs the timing can be a little more complex. Male dogs can be done from 6 months although we prefer to wait longer in larger breeds. This is to ensure that their bones are fully developed and therefore prevent orthopaedic problems in later life.
Female dogs should also be over 6 months and can be done before their first season. However, we prefer to wait until after the first season if possible, and even later in larger breed dogs. Regardless of their age, timing relative to their season is critical. We must wait until 3-4 months after the end of a season to ensure all hormones have settled down and prevent a false pregnancy.
What is involved with the surgery?
All pets will need a general anaesthetic for the procedure. Cats and dogs will need to be starved overnight from 9pm the night before. Rabbits do not need to be starved. All pets must always have access to water.
In female dogs, it is important that she is not having a false pregnancy at the time of spaying as this can cause ongoing hormonal imbalances post-op. The vet or nurse will check for any milk in the mammary glands at the time of admit, and if some is present, they are unlikely to do the op. If there is a lot of milk, there is medicine that can be prescribed to stop milk production. The op normally needs to be delayed by a few weeks.
At most practices, pets should be dropped off in the morning (8.30 - 9am) and are ready for collection in the afternoon.
There is a consent form that you must sign explaining the risks of the anaesthetic and surgery which the vet or nurse will go through with you at the time of admission.
All animals will require some clipping of their fur for the procedure – this tends to occur on the front legs (or ear in rabbits) for access to veins and over the site of the surgery. This enables the vets to make these areas as sterile as possible. Don’t worry though, the fur will regrow!
At time of discharge, the vet/nurse will go through all you need to know with regards to ongoing care in your pet. Recovery time from surgery is generally 10-14 days. Our pets are so resilient that they often seem to feel fine in much less time and your biggest challenge will be to keep them as quiet and rested a possible. Most vets like to see pets back at least once in the post op period to check that their recovery is progressing as expected.
Sometimes there are stitches to remove. Some practices use dissolving sutures within the skin so you won't see any stitches and there are no stitches to remove.
The costs
Most vets believe that neutering is an essential part of pet ownership, so they want to make it affordable for all. For this reason, they subsidise the cost of the procedure making it less expensive than other surgical procedures, but still take the greatest care when neutering your pets.
The cost of neutering will include the following:
· The anaesthetic
· The surgical procedure
· Post operative pain relief for 48 hours if required
· Post operative check with a veterinary nurse as required
· Buster collar to prevent your pet licking their wound
If you don’t think your pet will tolerate a buster collar, there are often alternatives available including inflatable collars and/or medical shirts, which do the same job but may be more comfortable for your pet during their recovery.
What are the risks?
This is a routine procedure, that is performed daily by vets. Nevertheless, it is still a surgical procedure done under general anaesthetic so there is always a risk, albeit a low one in young healthy animals.
Lots of vet practices now offer some additional services to improve patient safety. These are:
· Pre-op blood tests to check for pre-existing health conditions e.g. liver, kidney, anaemia
· Intravenous fluids during the procedure to maintain blood pressure and blood flow to the vital organs, and aid recovery from the anaesthetic.
You can decide on the day whether you would like any of these after discussion at your admission appointment. They can be added on for any pet (for an additional fee) but they are particularly important for older and/or unwell patients.
There is an increased risk of your pet becoming overweight following neutering as animals require fewer calories post-op. It is important to ensure that your pet is not overweight prior to the procedure, and reduce their food intake following the op to avoid weight gain.
A small number of female dogs develop bladder weakness in later life following neutering and may leak out urine when lying down. Often this can be controlled with ongoing medication.
It is not advisable to castrate male dogs if they are particularly anxious or nervous as there is a chance it could make their behaviour worse. If in any doubt, chemical castration may be preferable in these cases as it is reversible so these behaviour changes would not be permanent.
As you can see, there isn't a simple answer as to whether you should neuter your pet or not! I would recommend considering all the above points for your own pet and also having a chat with your vet about it. Most practices will offer a pre-neutering consultation where you can discuss this in person.
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