WHY NEUTER?
At least 100,000 dogs are destroyed every year because they cannot be found homes, which is a very good reason for reducing the number of pups born.
It is possible to keep a non neutered bitch without breeding from her, but it takes discipline. She has to be strictly controlled when is season – kept in the house at all times or on the lead when out – but this can be difficult in a house full of people, and accidents do happen. It is also not much fun for the bitch. Seasons can be prevented by hormone injections, but their timing is strict - if you are late with the injection, she can become pregnant. The onus is on the owner to remember the dates.

THE BITCH
WHY SPAY?
Once you have made the decision not to breed from your bitch, there are many good reasons for having her spayed:
- there are health benefits for the bitch – no false pregnancies and no pyometra (a potentially life-threatening womb infection). If the bitch is spayed before her second season, the chances of her developing mammary tumours (breast cancer – the most common tumour in bitches) are dramatically reduced. The risk factor if the bitch is spayed before her first season is 0.05%, if spayed before her second season it is less than 10%, but after her second season it is 25%
- you no longer have to remember about anti-heat injections, or worry about her becoming pregnant. You no longer have a bitch that drips blood on the carpet twice a year, or the other problems of being in heat.
Spaying does not normally make a bitch nervous, unintelligent, vicious or fat. These are often used as excuses by owners who have bought the wrong pup, can’t train their dog or overfeed. All guide dogs are spayed (and the males castrated) and there are few nicer, better-balanced and more intelligent dogs, usually with very trim figures. If any dog is overfed it will become fat – you may need to feed less after the operation, but there is certainly no need for the dog to put on weight.

THE OPERATION: Spaying involves removing both ovaries and the uterus (womb). It is not normal to tie the Fallopian tubes as in humans, as this would still allow the heats to occur – the bitch would still attract nuisance males and be sexually active.
The operation is performed under general anaesthetic, and involves a day, or day and night, at the vet’s surgery. There is a risk with any operation but this is minimised with the use of modern anaesthetics and skilled surgical teams. Most bitches are back to normal within 24 hours and need no after treatment except stitch removal 7-10 days later.
There are different views as to the best age to spay and the best time in relation to the last season, so talk to your own vet about this. They can still be spayed after having a litter, and when they are old. Costs do vary throughout the country and according to the weight or size of the bitch. For instance it may cost £120 for a small puppy and over £200 for an adult overweight St Bernard.

THE DOG
WHY CASTRATE?
– stops the dog wandering in search of a mate. Dogs can smell a bitch in heat from miles away and will roam far and wide to find her. (but if they roam due to boredom, castration will not stop this)
– controls aggression – un-neutered males are dominant and will fight other dogs for territory or for a mate. They also tend to be more dominant with humans, and castration can help stop this, in addition to good training and control by the owner.
– stops over-exuberant sexual activity in dogs – marking territory with urine, and trying to mate with pieces of furniture or guests can be an embarrassing nuisance.
– prevents testicular tumours, which are common in older dogs, and helps prevent some forms of disease of the prostate.

THE OPERATION: Castration involves removal of both testicles, not simply a vasectomy as in humans. The intention is to neuter and stop hormone production, which causes the wandering, aggression and other male behaviour. The operation can be done at any age over 5-6 months old, but the younger the operation is done, the better the results will be. Some older dogs (over 2 years old) have learned the male behaviour and it may still continue, to a lesser extent, after castration.
A general anaesthetic is required, and the dog spends a day, or a day and night, at the surgery. The only after care is normally stitch removal at 7-10 days. The cost is usually a little less than a bitch spay.

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