Neutering & Surgery

Neutering (Spaying & Castration)

The decision about whether to have your pet neutered needs to be considered. We advise neutering as it is beneficial for the health of your pet (reducing the chance of cancer and infections of the uro-genital tract) and preventing unwanted litters from being born. Dogs are neutered generally at 6 months and cats slightly younger.

Neutering

Neutering is the surgical removal of the sex organs.

Spaying

Neutering a female is known as ‘spaying’ the procedure is an ovario-hysterectomy. This involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. A mid-line incision is made on the underside of the tummy in a dog or cat or a small flank incision is made in the cat.

Castration

Neutering a male dog or cat means that the testes are surgically removed. A small incision is made in front of the testicles in the dog or both sides of the scrotum in the cat.

Occasionally a male’s testicles do not descend, this is known as ‘cryptorchism‘. The testes need to be surgically removed as there is also an increased chance of cancer developing.