Neutering

We recommend that all  bitches are neutered at a young age unless they are to be used for breeding purposes. Male dogs should be assessed on an individual basis.  The pros and cons are listed below so that you can make an informed decision when the time comes:

 

Dogs - castration

PROS CONS

No risk of testicular tumours

 

Less risk of prostate disease

 

May reduce aggressive behaviour towards other dogs

 

May reduce inappropriate behaviours

(marking in house, leg mounting etc)

Neutered dogs are more prone to obesity

 

Surgery and full anaesthetic carry minor risk

 

Fearful/dogs lacking confidence may benefit from being "intact".

PROS

No risk of testicular tumours

Less risk of prostate disease and prostate cancer

May reduce aggression towards other dogs

Less inappropriate behaviour (leg mounting, etc...)

Less chance of wandering/straying

 Bitches - Spaying

PROS CONS

99.5% less likely to develop mammary tumours if spayed before first season

 

No more seasons/risk of unwanted pregnancies

 

No risk of pyometra*

 

No risk of uterine tumours

 

No phantom pregnancies

Possible link between spaying at young age and incontinence in later life

 

Spayed bitches are more prone to obesity

 

Surgery and full anaesthetic carry minor risk

*Pyometra is an infection of the uterus and usually occurs in middle aged to older bitches.  It is a very serious medical emergency and the best treatment is immediate surgery to remove the infected uterus.  By the time they are picked up, bitches are often very sick, so the risks of surgery are high.

 

 

The decision on when to neuter your pet should be made on the advice of your vet.  Dogs can usually be castrated at around 6 months depending on when the testicles descend.

Another possible complication of spaying after the first season is that bitches may sometimes go into a pseudopregnancy (or "phantom pregnancy").  During pseudopregnancy, bitches may show nesting behaviour, changes in temperament and will often start to produce milk and develop swollen nipples. If your bitch has a pseudopregnancy, we cannot go ahead with spaying until all of the milk has dried up from the teats. There are medications available to speed up this process so that the spay may be completed before the next season.

The timing of spaying is a contentious issue which has strong arguments on both sides. If a bitch is spayed before her first season, she is 99.5% less likely to develop mammary tumours than an entire bitch but the incidence of incontinence in bitches spayed at this age is thought to be higher.  On the other hand, bitches who are allowed to have their first season are 95% less likely to develop mammary tumours but are less likely to become incontinent. They also obviously run the risk of getting pregnant at their first season.

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Business hours - consults by appointment only.

 

Montrose

Monday-Friday

08:30-17:00

Saturday*

08:30-13:00 *Emergency/non-routine appointments only*

 

Arbroath**

Monday 1400-1700

Wednesday 1400-1700

Friday 0900-1200 and 1400-1700

 

Carnoustie**

Monday 1600-1700

Wednesday 1600-1700

Friday 1000-1200 and 1600-1700

 

**Out with the above hours all calls will be diverted to our main site in Montrose where our Out Of Hours Service is based.

 

 

 

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