Neutering

Bitch Spay

On the whole an excellent idea as it prevents seasons, false pregnancies, avoidable womb problems later in life and if done early enough prevents breast cancer. It has the drawback of being associated with urinary incontinence occasionally, although this can almost invariably be controlled if it does occur. This practice advocates operating 4 months after a season � when the womb is at its most quiescent. Current knowledge suggests spaying after the first season but before the second.

Dog Castration

We feel this is a good idea because it can prevent testicular cancer later on in life and prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement) which is quite common in older dogs. It also reduces the tendency to vagrancy and urine marking and also stops indiscriminate breeding. It can be done anytime from 5 months of age, however we now tend to recommend over a year for most breeds of dogs.

Cat Neutering

Early neutering is the norm in both male and female and can be safely done at 5� months of age. Most felines have grown to a robust and healthy size to undergo the anaesthesia at this age.

Rabbit Neutering

Neutering the female is considered a good idea to prevent cancer of the womb later in life.It will also prevent phantom pregnancies, fur pulling for nesting and as a result reduce gastric fur balls and aggression towards humans and other rabbits. Neuter from 5 to 6 months of age.

Castration of males allows keeping in groups without explosive rises in population. It helps to prevent aggression and urine spraying.

Guinea Pig Neutering

Female neuter from 5 months of age. Prevents breeding and uterine cancer.

Male neuter from 5 months of age. Helps to prevent fighting. If there is already fighting in a colony neutering of all males and not just the dominant male should be undertaken but may not fully resolve the problem although it will help to ease it.

Chinchilla Neutering

Males can be neutered from 5 months of age.

Gerbil

Male neuter from 4 to 5 months of age.

It has to be stated that any rodent anaesthetic carries a slightly higher risk than an anaesthetic carried out on your dog and cat. We use the most modern of drugs and techniques but however this slight risk remains even in an apparently healthy animal.

As a Practice we are all of us content to neuter our pets. We realise it is an operation that the animal itself might not wish to have done, but the frustrations and health hazards involved with leaving our pets entire far outweighs any temporary discomfort they may feel at the time of the surgery.