At Swale Barn Vets, we suggest neutering for dogs, cats, and rabbits that are not intended for breeding. We will always consult with you to make sure it is the best decision for your pet.
Neutering offers various health benefits, such as preventing uterine infections, addressing certain behavioral issues, and lowering the risk of certain cancers, including mammary cancer in females, prostate cancer in males, and uterine cancer in rabbits. It also eliminates the chance of testicular cancer in males and prevents unwanted litters.
It is particularly important if you and your pet live in higher density areas to reduce aggressive and sexually driven behavior, as well as embarrassing situations on walks!
Neutering is recommended for pets with outdoor access. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis, meaning your pet will be sent home the same day, and recovery is usually quick, with full healing in two weeks. Post-operation appointments will be scheduled to monitor progress. All neutering is done under general anesthesia.
We also have the facilities and expertise to do neutering via key hole surgery which can be even less invasive and mean quicker recovery times for your pets.
Please contact us for more information, pricing, and pre-operative advice.
We recommend the following ages for neutering in dogs:
- Bitches can be spayed from 6 months old, prior to their first season, or 3 months post season (as this is the safest time to spay). For large breed dogs, we recommend carrying out the procedure after their first season for optimum health benefits
- We will be offering keyhole (laparoscopic) spay, which is recommended for bitches over 12kg as it improves their comfort post-surgery. Please discuss this in clinic when booking
- Dogs can be castrated at any point after the age of 6 months. For maximum health benefits it is advised that they are neutered by 5 years old. For behavioural benefits, neutering earlier is often recommended
- For giant breeds of dogs, it is recommended that they are not neutered until 12-18 months old, which allows time for their bones and joints to fully mature, as this takes longer in very large breeds
- Queens (female cats) are spayed from 6 months old
- Toms (male cats) are castrated from 6 months old
- It is possible to carry out these procedures in cats earlier than this in exceptional circumstances, that can be discussed further with a vet if required