Neutering

Neutering Clinic for Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

Neutering procedures are carried out at our veterinary clinic in Shepshed, Loughborough. We are conveniently located off junction23 of the M1 and are thus easily accessible from Leicester, Nottingham and Derby. We have full operating and anaesthesia facilities on site together with radiography and ultrasound facilities and your pets only need attend as day patients.

Prices are shown below and include:

  • A pre-neuter check.
  • Sedation.
  • Hospitalisation
  • A general anaesthetic.
  • The surgical procedure.
  • Post-operative care during recovery.
  • Pain relief injections.
  • Post-operative chat and discharge with instructions.
  • Elizabethan collar.
  • A post operative check.
  • Stitch removal – if required.

What is neutering?
Neutering is the term for a range of surgical procedures each of which has the effect of sterilizing your pet. In other words it will prevent your female pet from having babies and your male pet from fathering babies.

Female Neutering “Spaying”

In the dog, cat and rabbit female neutering is known as spaying and involves the removal of the ovaries and uterus.

Why many dog owners spay their female dogs.

  1. To prevent unwanted pregnancies.
  2. Seasons are stopped, which means that a bitch will be more content and less likely to wander and there are no false pregnancies.
  3. If done before the third season it greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumours, the most common malignant tumours in female dogs.
  4. It nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra which affects about 23% of un-spayed female dogs.
  5. It reduces the risk of perianal fistulas.
  6. It removes the risk of uterine, cervical and ovarian tumours.

At what age should a bitch be spayed

Bitches can be spayed before their first season at approximately 5-6 months of age. If they have had a season then approximately 3 months after their season. There are pros and cons regarding the decisions surrounding the appropriate time for spaying and these should be discussed with the veterinary surgeon.

Other issues that you should consider.

Spaying, although a routine procedure for small animal veterinary surgeons, is a major operation for the individual concerned, involving entry into the abdominal cavity. A small number of animals have problems with anaesthetics, the operation itself and with post operative complications. These can partly result from too much activity but are reduced by surgical experience, good nursing help and careful supervision.

Why many cat owners spay their female cats.

  1. To prevent unwanted pregnancies.
  2. Seasons are stopped. In season the behaviour of your cat and she may try to escape from the house to find a mate. When cats come into season your cat may start wriggling around on the floor, demanding attention and calling out. Following a spay they will appear more content and the calling associated with the season will be stopped.
  3. Spaying greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors.
  4. It nearly eliminates the risk of pyometra.
  5. It removes the risk of uterine, cervical and ovarian tumours.

At what age should a cat be spayed?

It is important to neuter before the first season to avoid unwanted pregnancy. Timing of the first season depends on breed, time of year born and individual development. The first season usually occurs around six months but can be earlier. Queens can have up to three litters in a year.

There are pros and cons regarding the decisions surrounding the appropriate time for spaying and these should be discussed with the veterinary surgeon.

Other issues that you should consider.

Spaying, although a routine procedure for small animal veterinary surgeons, is a major operation involving entry into the abdominal cavity. A small number of animals have problems with anaesthetics, the operation itself and with post operative complications. These can sometimes result from too much activity but are reduced by surgical experience, good nursing help and careful supervision.

Rabbit Spays

Rabbit spays are carried out from 16-18 weeks of age.

Male Neutering

In the Dog, Cat and Rabbit male neutering involve the removal of the testicles.

Why some dog owners have their male dogs neutered.

  1. As a treatment for straying.Dogs may stray in order to find a bitch in season. If a dog is not under control it may cause or be involved in road accidents or may cause unwanted litters.
  2. Controlling Unacceptable Sexual Behaviour.Dogs that are not castrated can sometimes exhibit behaviour which may be embarrassing to the owner. If an owner attempts to intervene this may sometimes result in an aggressive response.
  3. Controlling Dominant Aggression.
    Dogs are pack animals and some male dogs have an urge to take over the leadership role. The dog may include members of the family in his understanding of “his pack” and may try and dominate them with aggressive displays and biting. The changes in hormones resulting from the removal of the testicles may assist in the moderation of this dominance behaviour. Please note that behavioural problems may not be solely related to hormone induced dominance behaviour.
  4. To Prevent the Perpetuation of Genetic Defects.If you are concerned that your dog has a genetically caused defect please discuss it with the veterinary surgeon.
  5. To prevent testicular cancer and significantly reduce the chance of prostate problems in later life.
  6. Veterinary advised medical treatment.
    There are certain cases where castration is advised as part of a treatment. These could include the treatment of testicular tumours, treatment of perineal hernias, of perianal adenomas, and prostatic disease.

Why some cat owners have their male cats neutered.

  1. To prevent unwanted kittens from being produced.
  2. To reduce the roaming of male cats. Male cats often roam quite far from home looking for females in heat. This roaming increases the dangers of road accidents, leads to fighting and consequent cat bite abscesses and the transfer of fatal infectious diseases.
  3. To reduce spraying. A male cat marks out his territory by spraying urine. This scent marking is done by the cat backing up to an object, raising his tail and squirting urine onto the vertical surface of the object. The urine of a male cat has a very strong and offensive odour. Spraying is often done in the house, particularly if there is more than one cat in the household. Castrated cats will not usually mark territory and certainly do not have foul smelling urine.
  4. Behaviour towards family. Castrated cats show more affection as the owner becomes the primary focus of their lives rather than the pursuit of females in heat.