Ashlea Veterinary Centre Ltd, Unit 2b Port Road Business Park, Carlisle CA2 7AF  Reg no: 4759132

Neutering your dog

If your male puppy becomes aggressive, makes attempts to be domineering, or is constantly sexually active, you would do well to consider having him castrated.  Otherwise there is no rush to do so, though by the age of 7 or 8 years it may be worth reconsidering the operation to prevent the development of testicular cancer, perianal adenonomata and prostatic enlargement.

The health benefits of neutering bitches are even more profound.   Speyed bitches are at less risk of developing sugar diabetes, and with the womb removed they are spared any risk of developing endometritis (pyometra) in old age.  In addition, bitches speyed before their first season are exceedingly unlikely to ever develop breast cancer.

The precise timing of surgical neutering is an individual choice for an individual bitch and is best discussed directly with a member of our staff.

Neutering your cat

The breeding capability of the domestic cat is prodigious - a female cat can within five years be responsible for 20,000 descendents if she is not neutered.  There is no ‘need’ for a female cat to have a litter of kittens - in fact many cats who are mated at their first season grow poorly and as a consequence are far more likely to have problems giving birth.

It is much more sensible to have your cat female spayed at 5-6 months of age, which will be before she has come into season for the first time.  Male tomcats should also be neutered at a similar age.  If a male cat remains ‘entire’ then he is likely to spray strong smelling urine around your house, marking his ‘territory’  - he is also more likely to wander, to get hit by a car and to fight with other cats.  A cat who regularly fights is at a high risk of catching Feline Aids, a viral condition very similar to the human disease in that it makes the cat far more prone to other infections and illnesses.

Neutering your rabbit

Your rabbit’s temperament is strongly influenced by its sex hormones.  Sexually mature females may become aggressive towards owners, destructive towards objects in the house, and very territorial.  Mature rabbits, whether male or female,may ‘scent mark’, spraying urine onto furniture etc.

And beyond behavioural modification, neutering can help to prevent significant disease.  Anywhere between 50 and 80% of ‘entire’ female rabbits will suffer ovarian or uterine cancer by the age of four.   For these reasons we would advocate the neutering of all pet rabbits at around the age of 5-6 months

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Neutering

your pet

(01228) 549177