What is neutering?
Let's start with a few basic facts about neutering:
- Females are spayed - this means the womb and the ovaries are removed.
- Males are castrated or snipped - this means the testicles are removed.
- It's done under general anaesthetic and your pet should recover quickly.
- Neutering shouldn't mean weight gain - your vet will be able to advise on this.
- You don't need to let your pet have one litter first - your vet will advise on the best time to neuter your pet.
Benefits of neutering
Neutering:
- Prevents females from coming into season, attracting unwanted male attention which can lead to pregnancy or false pregnancies.
- Prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females.
- Reduces urine marking and roaming in male dogs and cats.
- Can reduce aggressive behaviour in mature male ferrets, as well as the smell often associated with them! (Neutering a female ferret can also prevent often severe health problems such as alopecia and anaemia.)
- Reduces mess - unspayed female animals can be messy when they come into season, as they can bleed for up to three weeks.
- Stops birth defects - animals don't respect family relationships and siblings will mate. This increases the risk of offspring with birth defects and deformities.
- Reduces the risk of theft - neutering animals can reduce the risk of them being stolen for breeding.
- Avoids expensive vet bills - vet fees for problems during or after pregnancy and birth can be expensive. Offspring might need veterinary attention too.
Don't forget, that pregnant and nursing animals need even more care, and their offspring will be equally as demanding. It's best not to end up with an unexpected pregnancy!
If you do, when the young are ready to be rehomed, you'll need to ensure that they're vaccinated, wormed and flea treated. You'll need to be able to afford these treatments.
Tackling the cat crisis
The cat population in the UK has reached a crisis point, so we're asking cat owners to help us tackle the cat crisis by ensuring their cats and kittens are spayed or snipped at an early age.
Talk to your vet
If you want to get your pet neutered, the best thing to do is speak to your vet. They'll be able to advise you about the cost and the best time to neuter your pet.
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