USEFUL ADVICE WHEN CONSIDERING NEUTERING YOUR CAT OR DOG
CAT NEUTERING
If your cat is a girl (Queen) then the operation is called 'spay', sometimes spelled 'spey. Unless you know that you want to breed with your cat it is a good idea to have her spayed at about 6 months old because it will stop the destructive and noisy behaviour which may occur when she is on heat, and if she is not spayed then every time she mates she WILL get pregnant, cats release the egg as a response to the act of mating. Litters are generally between 4 and 8 kittens and she is likely to have more than two litters a year. Spaying also means she will not attract all the local Tom cats who want to mate with her! Tom cats will fight each other and spray to mark the territory they claim, so battling Toms may be a real nuisance. In addition it will reduce her chances of having certain health problems. The major ones are mammary cancer and pyometra.
If your cat is a boy (Tom) then the operation to neuter him is called 'castration'. Unless you know that you want him to be a father it is a good idea to have him castrated at about 6 months old. There are not any particular heath problems which will be prevented but fight injuries and road accidents are less likely if he is not roaming around searching for possible mates. He will also be a less troublesome pet as he is won't have as strong an urge to spray to mark his territory and if/when he does it will not smell as bad. The 'scent' from an un-neutered Tom is very strong, and unpleasant to us. For more information please discuss neutering with the vet next time you come to see us.
If you are considering having your pet microchipped it is ideal to do it at the time of neutering when under anaesthetic, and you also get a 10% discount.
DOG NEUTERING
If your dog is a girl (bitch) then the operation is called 'spay', sometimes spelled 'spey'. Unless you know that you want to breed with your bitch it is a good idea to have her spayed before 2 years old because it will reduce her chances of developing certain health problems. The major ones are mammary cancer and pyometra which is a very serious disease of the womb. If she is spayed BEFORE HER FIRST SEASON the operation is a smaller and easier one, and it is therefore less costly too
If your dog is a boy then the operation to neuter him is called 'castration'. We do not advise castration for all dogs, it is something which needs considering on an individual basis. Castration MAY affect the temperament of a dog but is not guaranteed to do so. If you are thinking of using castration to cure aggressive or anti-social behaviour you need to be aware that it might have little effect.
All dogs needs to be socialised with people and other animals from an early age to maximise the chances of them developing into friendly companions. The use of an Adaptil collar has been shown to aid this process as it reduces fearful responses.
For more information please discuss neutering and Adaptil collars with the vet next time you come to see us. Also take the chance to discuss socialising and training for your puppy, it will leave you with a more contented adult dog.
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