Having Your Pet Desexed

Castrating Your Pet

In this operation, which is performed under general anaesthetic, both testicles are removed, thus removing the source of sperm and the male sex hormone (testosterone).

Why should I consider castrating my dog?

There are many advantages:

• Usually the dog becomes more placid
• The dog is less likely to wander and chase bitches on heat
• Many councils charge more for entire (i.e. undesexed) animals
• Desexing prevents tumours of the testicles
• Desexing reduces the incidences of problems occurring in the prostate gland, perineal hernias, and hormone-related tumours

Why should I consider castrating my cat?

There are many advantages:

• A male cat is dominated by his sex drive, so he will wander in search of female cats who are in season
• When a male cat wanders, he invariably crosses other cats' territory which can often lead to vicious fighting, nasty fight wounds, and abcesses
• A female cat is capable of being served by more than one male during her season, which results in many toms searching and fighting for the one female
• A male cat will mark his territory by urinating (spraying). Castration will decrease the frequency of this behaviour
• A desexed cat (male or female) will not produce unwanted kittens
• Minimising fighting also reduces the spread of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
• Male cats often become more homely after castration because they are not as motivated to wander

Will castration change my pets's nature?

There is no great character change, although the dog may be quieter.

Will it cure my dog of aggression etc.?

Maybe. It depends on the dog and the nature of his aggression. If it is due to hormone-related dominance, the chances are good that he will be less aggressive after castration. If he is aggressive while "guarding" his territory then he will usually keep doing so. (Talk to one of our vets if you have this sort of problem.)NB: The dog's libido may remain the same for up to two months after the operation. The change is not immediate and he may still want to wander and mount bitches at first.

At what age should my pet be castrated?

We recommend that the desexing operation takes place at about 6 months of age. However, there is no problem with performing the operation on older pets. We prefer not to perform castrations at earlier ages because males reach sexual maturity when they are about six months old. By this time, both testicles have usually descended, and thus the surgery becomes more straightforward.

How long after the operation is the patient himself again?

It does not take long - usually after two days he is back to normal.

What precautions do I take after surgery?

Do not allow your dog to jump or exercise vigorously until the stitches are removed or your veterinarian says that it is OK. There should be no games or forced exercise for the first week.

Castration is unlikely to cause your pet to become overweight. However, sensible feeding and adequate exercise are important to maintain your desexed dog in top shape!!

Spaying Your Pet

What is meant by "spaying"?

Spaying, or desexing, is the term applied to the operation in which the ovaries and uterus are removed from the female . The object of spaying is to stop the pet from coming on heat and reproducing.

Should your pet be spayed?

There are four main advantages in having your pet desexed:

• It avoids the pet coming into heat twice a year, with the accompanying messy discharges and invasion by all the neighbourhood males.
• Desexing prevents unwanted pups and kittens - population control in our pets is a very real and serious problem
• Spaying greatly reduces the likelihood of mammary cancer in dogs(if the bitch is desexed before her first cycle)

Should my pet have a litter before being desexed?

No. Well-meaning people may tell you that your pet should have a litter or at least a heat period before she is desexed. There is no clinical evidence to support the view that this enhances her "female" characteristics.

At what age should she be desexed?

The female will come into heat anytime from 6 months of age onwards. We recommend that the desexing operation take place at 6 months of age regardless of the breed.

How long after the operation before the patient is herself again?

It does not take long. After 3 days she is usually back to normal.

What precautions should I take after surgery?

Do not allow your pet to jump or exercise vigorously until the stitches are removed. There should be no games or forced exercise for the first week.

Desexing is unlikely to cause your pet to become overweight. However, sensible feeding and adequate exercise are important to maintain your desexed pet in top shape!