Neutering And Spaying
One of the many decisions facing pet owners is whether or not to have their pet neutered (or spayed as it is referred to in females).
The most obvious reason to have your pet spayed or neutered is to prevent unwanted pregnancies, but there are several other good reasons too.
Please click on the headings below for more information:
Female Dogs
Un-spayed female dogs (bitches) usually come into season (heat) twice a year.
Seasons may last for up to a month, and during this time they attract the advances of male dogs and can become pregnant. To avoid unwanted pregnancies, they have to be kept away from male dogs, which can be difficult as their natural urge will be to go to them.
Although seasons can be controlled by other means, spaying provides excellent long term control. Having been spayed, your dog won't come into season and therefore won't have to suffer the associated frustrations or experience phantom pregnancies. Better still, she will be able to enjoy her walks all year round!
Spaying also removes the possibility of pyometras (life-threatening uterine infections) and reduces the occurrence of mammary tumours later on in life.
Unless you intend to breed from your dog, we normally recommend that she is spayed at 6 months of age, or 12 weeks after her first season depending on the breed. Your vet will be able to advise you on the correct timing for your dog.
Traditional spaying (for females) is a routine operation where the uterus and ovaries are removed. However, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that, for dogs in particular, it is major abdominal surgery.
For this reason, in addition to traditional spaying, we now offer bitch spays by KEYHOLE SURGERY (laparoscopy), which is far less invasive. Click Here for more information.
Please note that if your pet is having a routine spaying operation on a Thursday or Friday, as long as you live locally, we will collect her from your home on the morning of the operation, and return her to you afterwards, free of charge.
If you would like any further information, please contact any of our surgeries and/or click on the Lifelearn link.
