Neutering is by far the most common surgical procedure we perform… but what is it? Why is it important? How do we make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible? Read on to find out…
What is neutering?
Neutering involves the removal of the reproductive organs of both male and female animals. In males, the testicles are removed; this is often referred to as castration. In dogs, they are removed through a small incision in the skin just in front of the scrotum (sac); in cats, the incision is in the scrotum itself.
In females, the ovaries and (usually) uterus (womb) are removed, and this is termed a spay. Technically speaking, if the uterus is removed, it is an ovariohysterectomy, whereas if only the ovaries are, it’s an ovariectomy.
Why should pets be neutered?
Whilst many puppies have been bought throughout lockdown, they have not been able to socialise appropriately. Getting your pet neutered reduces the risks of any unwanted pregnancies, so you can relax more whilst your pet is playing with other dogs in the park. However, avoiding pregnancy isn’t the only reason for neutering.
Neutering significantly reduces the risks of a number of serious health problems:
- Testicular cancer (in males) and pyometra (a potentially fatal womb infection in females) are eliminated
- Prostate disease and some types of anal cancer (in males) and breast cancer (in females) are much less common (if neutered at the appropriate time – neutering an older pet has a less protective effect).
In terms of convenience, it is worth bearing in mind that a spayed female dog will no longer bleed every time she comes into season. Spaying also prevents phantom pregnancies which are very common following a season.
There are also behavioural benefits. While pets need to learn how to socialise with other pets, neutering them means they can socialise regardless of their sex. Neutered cats are able to go outdoors without fear of them getting pregnant and male cats are less likely to fight.
Meanwhile, male dogs are less likely to roam, seeking out a mate, and in many (although not all) cases there is also a reduction in humping and inappropriate sexual behaviour. When some females come into season, they too may sometimes try to escape in order to find a male. This can be dangerous as roaming pets may encounter traffic or even get stolen. There has been a huge increase in dog theft due to the increased price of puppies so neutering your pets will reduce the risk of them being stolen.
How are pets neutered at Castle Vets?
In order to neuter pets, we have to anaesthetise them so they’re asleep and don’t feel anything. One of our nurses will be monitoring your pet’s anaesthetic, checking for changes in heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate and checking the depth of anaesthesia (explained on our Services web page https://castlevets.ie/services/). Just like in a human operating theatre, all your pet’s vital signs will be constantly monitored, to ensure their safety.
One of our veterinary surgeons will perform the surgery and prepare any drugs that are needed for the recovery process. How long the surgery takes will depend on a number of factors, but it’s usually less than 15 minutes for a male cat, 30 minutes for a female cat or a male dog, and an hour for a female dog. Then they will be taken into the recovery ward and carefully monitored until they wake up.
Your pet will be discharged from the practice, normally the same day as their surgery, with a post operative care plan which you must follow at home.
It takes around 24-48 hours for your pet to be mostly back to normal, although it can be up to a week or 10 days before they’re completely back to their usual self. During this period, you must make sure that their surgical sites stay clean and aren’t licked – we will often supply a Pet T-shirt or a collar to help with this! It’s also important to minimise exercise and exertion that might stretch the scars, although dogs and cats bounce back much faster than humans do from these types of surgery!
Meanwhile, your pet will need to visit us for a post operative check. This check involves looking at the wound and ensuring there is no infection.
When should my pets be neutered?
Our vets can advise on the best time to neuter your pet. This will be decided based upon the age of your pet, their hormones and their breed.
When might neutering not be a good idea?
Obviously, if you want to breed from them! Neutering is an irreversible process, and the reproductive organs cannot be reattached if you change your mind. This might also be a factor if you intend to show them, although it will depend on the specific regulations of the show ring.
There are also behavioural points to be aware of. A male’s testicles produce testosterone which helps to give dogs and tomcats confidence. Removing testicles in dogs who are aggressive because they are nervous can cause problems – they need all the confidence they can get. If you are unsure about the type of aggression being displayed by your dog, book a consult with us and we can provide our expert opinion. If you are still unsure, we can perform a temporary chemical castration to see how your dog’s behaviour changes using an implant. This implant will work for 6-12 months, and then stop: providing you with the opportunity to witness how castration will affect your pet’s behaviour prior to the surgery.
In large- and giant-breed dogs, we often recommend waiting until they have reached skeletal maturity, as this can avoid certain problems down the line.
Are there any side effects of neutering?
Any neutered pets will have a small scar following neutering. Around the scar, the fur may grow back a different colour – although this isn’t common. There can also be some changes to your dog’s coat – although in most cases, these are temporary changes that will not last.
Neutering may slightly increase the risk of female dogs developing with urine incontinence later in life. However, this is a very common condition in unneutered dogs, and one which we can medically manage.
What happens if my pet mates?
We would only neuter a female dog in her “anoestrus” period (three months or so after her last season), so she would not usually mate. However, either way, a female dog and cat cannot get pregnant once neutered.
For the boys, it’s a little bit more complicated. In theory, if they mate within 4-6 weeks of being neutered, they could get a female pregnant. However, this is unlikely more than 2 weeks after surgery – although we do recommend keeping males and females apart for at least 4 weeks, just in case!
To conclude, if you are not planning to breed from your pet, we would highly recommend neutering.
Contact us to arrange an appointment today.
