It's as simple as this - unless you have a pedigree dog or cat that you intend breeding from then your pet should be neutered at 6-7 months of age.
Neutering will prevent unwanted puppies and kittens - tens of thousands of unwanted animals are put to sleep every year in Ireland - and will also prevent or reduce the risk of many serious diseases and cancers. It will also make your pet less prone to aggression and will make your life substantially easier.
Having your pet neutered is basic responsible pet ownership and should be seen as a normal procedure for your pet to undergo. Full stop!
What does the procedure involve? Will it be painful and is it risky?
The operation involves a day in hospital - no overnight stay is required - and a general anaesthetic. In males the procedure involves removal of the testicles and in females removal of the womb and ovaries. We use very potent pain relief and administer medications which will keep the pet comfortable and free from any pain. Very occasionally a pet will require some extra pain relief once the initial pain medications ware off and we are always on hand to do this if required.
The risk from the surgery is minute and recovery is usually rapid and uneventful with the patient up and walking 30 minutes of the operation. The anaesthetic is the riskiest part of the procedure but we do everything that can be done to reduce this risk by means of using the very best of equipment and the gold standards of anaesthesia protocols and monitoring. Post surgical complications are rare and infections such as MRSA are just about unheard of.
How long does it take for my pet to get over the operation?
On going home your pet may be a little quiet the evening of the operation but by next day they are generally back to normal. To ensure a full recovery you will need to ensure they do not lick at their stitches until they are removed 10 days after the operation. We will supply a 'lampshade' collar if required to prevent your pet licking at their stitches. (Male cats do not require stitches). Dogs can go for good long walks but they should be kept on a lead when outdoors until the stitches are removed.
What about all the down-sides of neutering like behaviour changes or becoming overweight?
The stories of detrimental behaviour changes are a myth - if done at an early age you will notice no difference in your pet apart from perhaps a decreased tendency towards aggression and dominance. Indeed most animals will become more 'pet like' when neutered so any behavioural changes are going to be positive, not negative.
The changes in the amounts of circulating sex hormones due to neutering may result in a drop in your pet's metabolic rate. In other words you pet will burn off less energy in their normal day-to-day activities and thus may need less food to maintain their normal weight.
Any animal - and this includes humans - can only put on weight if they eat more than you expend. Therefore any increased propensity to put on weight after neutering is easily managed by a slight reduction in feed intake. To this end we offer free weight check ups 3 and 6 months after neutering or indeed anytime you ant to pop in. If there is evidence of weight gain we can recommend a change in feed amount or type.
When and why?
DOGS
Females should be done before their first heat - this reduces the chance of them developing mammary tumours ('breast cancer') in later life by about 98% compared to those not neutered or neutered after their second heat. It being better for them to have one heat or even one litter of pups is a complete myth and ignore anyone who says otherwise - your vet knows best! Do them at 6-7 months of age and don't listen to anyone who says otherwise, they don't know what they are talking about!
Males should be done at 6-7 months of age which is just before they reach sexual maturity. As well as preventing them roaming and reducing any dominant or aggressive behavioral tendencies neutering also reduces the incidence of some tumours and other uro-genital problems later in age. Neutering will also stop them cocking their legs on everything (including our waiting room chairs!) and being a tad over-friendly with your pillows or your leg.....or Mrs. O'Brien's leg next door!
In short the hassle of every male dog within 5 miles calling to your door if you have a female in heat and having to keep her in for 3 or 4 weeks or your male dog getting excited at the scent of a female and running off looking for love is just not worth it. Added to that is the huge problem in Ireland of unwanted puppies which have to be needlessly put to sleep as well as the fact that neutered pets will live on average two years longer than un-neutered pets and there is no real reason to not have the job done.
CATS
Neutering should be done at 6-7 months of age which is just before they reach sexual maturity.
Females ('Queens') will reproduce at 8 months so you can get caught out easily and end up with a load of kittens.
Toms will start to get big and begin spraying your house at about this age as well so unless you want a big stinking cat who'll get into all sorts of scraps and be out after love all night get him done at 6 months of age!
Sexual contact and the fighting associated with sexual aggression and territorial behavior of entire cats will expose your pet to diseases such as Feline AIDS and Feline Leukaemia Virus as well as potentially serious injuries. We have seen cats lose legs from cat bites - they are deadly, worse than dog bites in some ways, and should never be ignored.
Added to that is the huge problem in Ireland of unwanted kittens which have to be needlessly put to sleep as well as the fact that neutered cats will live on average several years longer than un-neutered cats and there is no real reason to not have the job done.
If you have a cat you MUST have him or her neutered. Not to do so is both unfair to the pet and socially irresponsible.
