Q. Why should I get my pet neutered/spayed?
A. If you have a pet that
you don't intend to breed, it is generally worth considering neutering
for all the reasons given on the neutering advice page.
Q. I am thinking of getting my dog spayed but have heard that she is likely
to put on weight afterwards – is this true?
A. It is true that spayed
dogs generally put on weight more readily than entire dogs – but it is easy
to prevent any weight gain by simply reducing their daily intake of calories
by 15-20% by either reducing the amount you feed or switching to a lower
calorie ‘light’ diet.
Q. When will my bitch first come into season?
A.
Female dogs become sexually mature between 6 and 12 months of age. Smaller
breeds reach puberty at a younger age than larger breeds. Most bitches will
come 'into season' 'on heat' or 'oestrus' when they reach puberty at
6-7 months of age, but possibly as early as 4 months or as late as 2 years.
Generally it is around the 12 months mark.
Q. What are the signs that my bitch is in season (oestrus)?
A.
The first
sign is likely to be a slight discharge of white or pale yellow mucus from
the vulva (the opening to the womb) which may also swell slightly.
Conception is more likely to occur if mating takes place 10-12 days after
the first obvious signs of heat are noticed but can occur earlier or later.
After a day or so, the discharge becomes blood-stained and the vulva swells
much more. The main discharge continues for the first 5 to 10 days of
the season, which is technically called "pro-oestrus". After this it will
gradually reduce until it dries up altogether - this part of the cycle is
officially called "oestrus".
Some bitches may show signs of abdominal
discomfort, increased excitability and be less inclined to eat for a few
days before heat commences. Some will start territory marking just before
and during pro-oestrus, by passing small amounts of urine at frequent
intervals around the garden or when they are taken for walks. Bitches
become attractived to dogs, usually from the first day of heat, but mostly
they are not interested in their admirers until 7-10 days have passed.
At this stage she is equally anxious to escape to meet the male.
Straight after her season is the time of
"met-oestrus". Slight physical or behavioural changes (e.g. milk glands
enlarging, 'nursing' toys) may occur at the time when the puppies would have
been born if she had been mated. If this is severe, see your vet as she may
need hormone treatment to correct it.
Remember the first season is often irregular
and not typical and it may be 'silent' or shorter than usual. Some
bitches can take up to a year or longer to settle into a regular cycle.
Split heats where the bitch bleeds, stops bleeding and then returns to heat
around 6 weeks later are common during the first oestrus. It is
advisable not to breed on first heat as it may increase the risk of an
abnormal or difficult whelping. The life threatening condition called
pyometra occurs most commonly one to two months after the bitch has been in
season.
Q. How long will my bitch be in season for?
A.
As a rough guide bitches
are in oestrus (or season) for 3-4 weeks. Blood spotting occurs first but
many owners do not see this initially as bitches tend to clean themselves.
As a rule, blood spotting occurs until days 7 -14 when it changes to a
clear/straw like fluid. This is the optimum time for mating so care must be
taken if no pregnancy is to take place. Male dogs have been known to jump
out of high windows just to get to a bitch in season! Where there is a
will……..! Please ring the surgery for advice. It is best to remain vigilant
for the entire time of the bitch’s season to be sure of not having an
unwanted pregnancy.
Q. Help! My in season bitch has been ‘caught’ by a dog and I don’t want her
to have puppies. What can I do?
A.
Ring the surgery as a vet
can administer two injections, 24 hours apart which will terminate any
possible pregnancy.
Q. Is it best to let my pet have one litter first?
A.
No, this is a myth. There
is no good reason for letting a dog or a cat produce a litter and the normal
health risks associated with birth and pregnancy can actually be harmful.
Q. I have a new puppy/kitten. When should I have them neutered?
A. Dogs and cats can be
neutered from 6 months of age. If your bitch has been in heat, you should
wait for 2 months before having her spayed. This is to allow the uterus to
return to normal before the operation.
Q. Can I get any help with the cost of neutering?
A. Yes, if you are on certain means tested
benefits, you may be eligible for financial assistance when booking in your
pet for neutering.
For dogs, the Dogs' Trust provides
subsidized neutering and for cats, the Cats Protection League has a similar
service available.
Please contact us for
details and to see if you are eligible for assistance.
What does the operation involve?
Firstly your animal will
be checked for heart disease or other health issues. If these checks are
clear, the animal will be placed under general anaesthetic and operated on.
In males, the testicles
are removed. Male dogs have stitches and male cats do not.
In females, the ovaries
and uterus are removed. Female cats and dogs will have stitches on their
belly. These are usually removed after 10 days.
When the animal has come
round from anaesthetic and we are happy they are well enough to go, they are
allowed home for some TLC.
What are the risks?
Unfortunately, all
anaesthetics involve a certain amount of risk. This is unavoidable, although
we take every precaution. We have modern anaesthetic equipment and your
animal is constantly monitored while under anaesthetic.
The risk is higher in old
or overweight animals and also in animals with other health issues (kidney
problems, heart disease etc). Your animal will be thoroughly checked before
surgery and if we are concerned about anything we will let you know before
we start.
After surgery animals can
sometimes bite at their stitches causing infection and wound breakdown.
Whilst we give pain relief and antibiotics to help your pet recover in a
less stressful way, it is important that you keep an eye on your pet until
the stitches are removed and use the Elizabethan Collars or ‘buckets’ as
instructed.
Whilst recuperating and
daily exercise is restricted, reduce the food your pet is given. Nutrients
are necessary for good recovery and healing so it is advisable to give a
healthy, balanced diet especially at this important time.
In some cases, animals can
put on weight after surgery. This is because the metabolism sometimes slows.
If you see your pet gaining a few pounds, you can help by increasing
exercise or by feeding a low fat food, which can be obtained from us. In
fact, we have special foods for neutered animals that hopefully should
prevent this.