Did you know… neutering can have significant preventative health care benefits for your pet? 86% of owned cats and 71% of owned dogs in the UK are neutered* *PSDA Paws report 2020
Benefits of Pet Neutering
Pet neutering has many benefits for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets. Woodward Vets is here to help you decide on what’s right for your pet and advise on when to go through with the procedure for your furry friends. Whether you have a new puppy or kitten at home, or a slightly older pet, neutering can play an important part in their healthcare for a happy and healthy lifestyle.
What is Involved in Pet Neutering?
There are two types of neutering methods and it depends on the sex of your pet. Males are castrated and females are spayed.
Males:
Castration is a surgical method that takes place under general anaesthesia and involves the removal of a pet’s testes. The surgical process is performed by making an incision in front of the scrotum to remove the testes and the skin is sealed neatly with stitches that will either dissolve over coming months or need to be removed around 10 days following surgery.
Why Choose to Neuter Your Male Pets?
Many pet owners decide to neuter their male pets for several reasons, and there are many benefits to the removal of the reproductive organs.
- Preventing Pregnancies in female pets- controlling the population and preventing breeding means fewer unwanted pregnancies and a reduced number of young females getting pregnant.
- Castration can prevent testicular cancer and prevent diseases in the reproductive system.
- Some male testes don’t develop into the optimal position in the scrotum, and they can have increased chances of developing tumours if they’re not removed.
Females:
Traditionally, female neutering, or ‘spaying’ removes a pet’s ovaries as well as the uterus (womb). This is done with an incision in the abdomen. In recent practices, however, female spaying can be performed with keyhole surgery and only the ovaries are removed. Your vet will discuss the best method for your pet depending on their breed, medical history and size and they will look after your pet for the day while they recover.
What are The Benefits of Female Pet Neutering?
- Preventing pregnancies- unwanted litters, especially in females that are too young, can be avoided with spaying.
- Female pet neutering also reduces the risk of certain reproductive diseases like ovarian cancer and uterus infections.
- They’re less likely to develop mammary tumours (breast cancer)
- Your female pet won't come into season anymore, which also means they won’t want to go seeking mates for breeding.
How Does Pet Neutering Affect Hormones?
Males:
Testosterone is a hormone that motivates typical male behaviours that you may recognise in dogs and cats; including wandering off from their garden, or urinating on posts, fences and bushes. The behaviours your pet shows after castration may also still depend on their breed and other hormonal or physiological events. Castration can affect your dog’s behaviour positively in ways such as reducing their urination in the home and you may notice less aggression, although habits are developed early in life so howling and protective instincts in dogs, for example, could still be present even after pet neutering.
Females:
Where male pets’ behaviour can be impacted by castration, females don't have many behavioural changes with spaying other than they’re less likely to roam around in seasonal periods for a mate.
Pet Neutering: When's the Right Time to Neuter Your Pet?
Talking to your vet about pet neutering will help determine the best time to have your pet castrated or spayed, as it can also depend on the species, breed, age and weight of the pet. Woodward will advise on when to book in for their appointment.
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Male |
Female |
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Cat |
From four months |
From four months |
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Dog |
From six months although we will consider your pet’s weight, breed and behaviour |
Pre-season or at least three months after season |
Woodward’s Pet Health For Life Plan
Whether you’re a breeder with a new litter of puppies or kittens or adopting and want to ensure your pet’s health is the best it can be, Woodward has put together a pet plan. Our Pet Plan covers multiple preventative health services, including pet neutering, but at a reduced cost.
See here for our Pet Health for Life Plans
Click on the links below to find out more.
Veterinary Care in Ashby
Call us on 01530 412035