NEUTERING YOUR DOG

MALES

Neutering the male dog reduces unwelcome sexual behaviour, the tendency for him to roam and can often reduce aggressive behaviour patterns. Neutering also reduces the incidence of prostate disease in older dogs. The only real disadvantage to the pet dog is that his metabolism is altered and he will tend to put on excess weight. We therefore monitor the nutrition and weight of our neutered pets.

The surgery of neutering a male dog is known as castration. During surgery both testicles are removed.

FEMALES

Neutering your bitch (speying) has a number of advantages. The advantages are such that statistically speyed bitches live longer with less health problems during their life. The reasons for having your bitch speyed include:

Inconvenience- many bitches discharge heavily when in season.

Mammary tumours- the risk of your bitch developing breast cancer increases dramatically with each successive season. Speying your bitch before her second season almost eliminates this risk.

Pyometra- this is an infection of the womb which in its early stages causes lethargy and progresses to blood poisoning and death in advanced cases. It is quoted that 50 % of unspeyed bitches develop this condition.

False pregnancy- many unspeyed bitches go through the symptoms of pregnancy, including producing milk and nesting, although not pregnant due to hormonal upsets. They are often very lethargic and depressed at this time.

Unwanted puppies- even the most careful owners have ended up with their bitch having an unwanted pregnancy. Although there is a contraceptive injection which can be given after the mating (misalliance) it has significant side effects including pyometra.

The case against speying includes the factors of weight gain after speying due to fewer calories being required by neutered animals. This is easily resolved by feeding appropriate levels and types of food. There are methods of contraception available for bitches but there are significant, we feel unacceptable, side-effects from these. Such medications are costly and will add up far above the cost of a spey in a dog's lifetime. There is however a slightly increased risk of urinary incontinence in older speyed bitches. This is treated successfully with hormones with minimal side effects.

The surgery of speying involves removal of the ovaries and womb (ovariohysterectomy). It is best carried out 3 months after the first season. As with any surgery there is a risk but this is a lot less in a young healthy dog than an older dog ill with a pyometra which needs surgery to save her life.