It is a sad fact that many thousands of dogs are euthanised across the country each year. Some of them will have had owners looking for them, but most of them will be unwanted as a result of over-breeding or due to being part of accidental litters.
Many people don't realise how many benefits there are to neutering their pet.
Castrating your male dog
This may seem unnerving for many male owners, but dogs actually aren't all that bothered about getting the snip. They don't even seem to notice and are back to their normal selves within a couple of days. It usually makes them calmer and more focussed on their owner, rather than constantly trying to seek out a bitch in heat. Other than that, it doesn't tend to change their personality.
Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer (obviously) - a type of cancer that is sadly not so rare in dogs. It also decreases th risk of prostate problems and hernias. Studies have found that castration reduces humping and indoor marking in 60% of cases, and reduces incidences of straying (after a bitch in heat) in 90% of cases.
Spaying your female dog
Neutering eliminates the risk of a deadly womb infection called pyometra. This is sadly a fairly common affliction in entire bitches, with one in four likely to suffer in their lifetime, and the only way of curing it is to perform an emergency hysterectomy (spay) which would be a lot safer - and cheaper - on a healthy dog as a preventative measure.
Cancer of the mammary gland (the canine form of breast cancer) is also very common in unspayed bitches, and the risk increases with age. In fact, a bitch spayed before her first season only has a 0.5% chance of developing it, and this increases to 8% after her first season and a staggering 26% after her second. A bitch that is left unspayed for her whole life is seven times more likely to develop mammary cancer than one that is spayed.
Cancers of the ovaries and uterus are also impossible in a spayed bitch for obvious reasons!
An unspayed bitch has an oestrous cycle which means she comes into ‘heat’ on average twice a year, and this lasts about three weeks. During this time, she will bleed and become very interesting to unneutered male dogs, which may stray from miles away to try and enter your house or garden and get to her. She may also try to escape your property to get to a male.
The changes in her hormonal levels throughout the cycle can sometimes cause distress and odd behaviours.
Pregnancy and raising litters puts a huge strain on a bitch's body, and there are many risks and expenses associated with it.
There isn't really a good reason not to neuter your dog, providing they are healthy. The risk posed by general anaesthesia is markedly tiny, and the costs of leaving your dog 'entire' for its whole life is more than likely to outweigh the cost of neutering.
Castrating your male cat
The problems that can arise with unneutered tom cats are much the same as with intact dogs - straying (often resulting in death on the road) and indoor spray marking are usually eliminated, as is the risk of testicular cancer. They are also far less likely to contract FIV and the feline leukaemia virus, as they are much less inclined to fight with other cats.
Spaying your female cat
Cats are also susceptible to pyometra (fatal womb infection) and mammary cancer (spayed females have a 60% lower risk of developing cancer of the mammary glands). Unspayed cats also have a higher incidence of ovarian cysts.
Queens continually cycle into oestrus throughout the entire breeding season (spring to autumn). A queen in heat will become very stressed if she cannot find a mate, and will often pace and howl and exhibit other out of character behaviours.
Neutering can double the life expectancy of both male and female cats. It is also vital to reduce the amount of unwanted cats and kittens ending up in rescue centres - many of which are euthanised due to the lack of homes out there for them.
Neutering your rabbits
Even if you are not intending on keeping unneutered rabbits of the opposite sex together (which is advisable given that rabbits are prolific breeders but not popular pets and many end up neglected or abandoned), there are plenty of benefits to neutering. The high levels of testosterone and oestrogen in 'entire' rabbits can cause them to be very aggressive. Neutering tends to make them calmer and easier to handle. Does are also at high risk for developing uterine cancer.
Worried about the cost? There are many organisations out there to assist with the expenses of neutering.
The Mayhew Animal Home in North London is offering free neutering for any bull breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Boxer, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, or a cross of any of these) regardless of the owner's income.
You may also be eligible for neutering vouchers from Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, RSPCA or The Blue Cross.
Castrating your male cat
The problems that can arise with unneutered tom cats are much the same as with intact dogs - straying (often resulting in death on the road) and indoor spray marking are usually eliminated, as is the risk of testicular cancer. They are also far less likely to contract FIV and the feline leukaemia virus, as they are much less inclined to fight with other cats.
Spaying your female cat
Cats are also susceptible to pyometra (fatal womb infection) and mammary cancer (spayed females have a 60% lower risk of developing cancer of the mammary glands). Unspayed cats also have a higher incidence of ovarian cysts.
Queens continually cycle into oestrus throughout the entire breeding season (spring to autumn). A queen in heat will become very stressed if she cannot find a mate, and will often pace and howl and exhibit other out of character behaviours.
Neutering can double the life expectancy of both male and female cats. It is also vital to reduce the amount of unwanted cats and kittens ending up in rescue centres - many of which are euthanised due to the lack of homes out there for them.
Neutering your rabbits
Even if you are not intending on keeping unneutered rabbits of the opposite sex together (which is advisable given that rabbits are prolific breeders but not popular pets and many end up neglected or abandoned), there are plenty of benefits to neutering. The high levels of testosterone and oestrogen in 'entire' rabbits can cause them to be very aggressive. Neutering tends to make them calmer and easier to handle. Does are also at high risk for developing uterine cancer.
Worried about the cost? There are many organisations out there to assist with the expenses of neutering.
The Mayhew Animal Home in North London is offering free neutering for any bull breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Boxer, American Bulldog, English Bulldog, or a cross of any of these) regardless of the owner's income.
You may also be eligible for neutering vouchers from Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, RSPCA or The Blue Cross.
