Neutering

Cats

Female - cats are routinely neutered from 5.5 months of age, just before puberty. Mature cats can have several litters per year and can become pregnant with the next litter before they have finished feeding the last one. The neutering operation removes uterus and ovaries and apart from the breeding control, has additional benefits of preventing life-threatening uterine infections and markedly reducing the risk if cancer of the mammary glands. Neutered (speyed) cats tend also to be less inclined to stray and make more homely pets.

Male - cats should always be castrated. Uncastrated toms are strongly territorial and tend to wander into other cats' territories in search of mates. This leads to fighting with often severe wounds, straying and often serious or fatal road traffic accidents. Entire males also develop a very strong smelling urine that they use to mark their territory and this can extend to include spraying the furniture inside your home, especially in multi-cat households. Castration is advised at six months of age.

Dogs

Female - unneutered female dogs usually come into season twice a year. This season typically last three to four weeks and during this time, they become responsive to the advances of roving male dogs. They often have to be kept at home and confined at this time.

Seasons can be controlled (generally temporarily) by other means but neutering produces excellent long term control and includes the surgical removal of ovaries and uterus. There are several advantages to ovariohysterectomy.

• Prevents ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer.
• Prevents pyometra - a serious and common internal uterine abscess requiring hysterectomy often later in life. 
• Significant reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer, especially if the operation is performed before second season. 
• Eliminates seasons and the associated confinement. 
• Prevents false pregnancies (common in bitches). 
• Prevents unwanted pregnancies. 
• No effect on personality occurs.

The operation is best performed eight weeks or more following the first season - at this stage the ovaries are inactive (as they are for several months of each cycle). It is preferable to undergo the first season but not essential. Speying does not cause obesity but it is important to recognise that speyed bitched have a reduced calorie requirement. Weight checks are always available at the Clinic.

Male - Unneutered male dogs can be driven to distraction when a bitch is in season and may escape from home if they can, becoming lost or injured. Neutering involves the surgical removal of both testes and the advantages are -

• Reduces aggression to other dogs.
• Reduces territory marking behaviour such as urinating in the house. 
• Reduces hypersexed behaviour such as mounting furniture, people etc. 
• Reduces tendency to roam. 
• Reduces interest in bitches on heat and associated behavioural disorders. 
• Reduces numbers of unwanted puppies, which are subsequently euthanased. 
• Eliminates risk of testicular cancer.
• Reduces prostate disease and perineal tumours in later life. 
• There is no guarantee that neutering will cause a reduction in aggression.
• The operation can be performed from puberty at approximately eight months of age. If it is part of a behaviour control programme, it should be performed as soon after that behaviour commences as possible. Delay can lead to learnt and less reversible abnormal behaviour.
• An injection can be used to temporarily chemically castrate a dog to see if surgical castration may be of value.