Bedfordview Vets

Spaying and Neutering Sterilisation is known as Spaying (Ovario-Hysterectomy) in the female dog and cat and as Castration (Neutering) in the male of the species.

Sterilisation has a primary function in controlling unwanted populations - we recommend that all household dogs and cats be sterilised before they old enough to begin breeding. Even in the case of secure households - having a 'bitch' on-heat - can become messy due to oestral bleeding and can attract male dogs for miles-around Ð who can create a problem outside the property. Owning an unsprayed bitch may be in contravention of certain local by-laws as well.

A bitch/dog will come on-heat from 6mnths age (up to 12-14 months in larger breed dogs), and will then come on-heat every 6 months. They stay on heat for up to 3 weeks long and Oestrus is characterised but swelling of the vulva and an initial bloody discharge (which can be quite profuse) and becomes a clearer discharge later in the oestral period. Dogs can breed at this early age. Spaying will prevent the signs of heat.

A cat/queen will come on heat from 5 months and will stay on heat until mated. Cats can have quite strange behaviours due to oestrus including abnormal affection and "calling for a mate" - which can be socially demanding!

Early Age Sterilisation (Pre-pubertal Gonadectomy) - this is sterilising in the 8-16 week age bracket - also to reduce the population numbers of unwanted pets. Animal Welfare Societies and Shelters have introduced it because people who adopt animals are unco-operative in getting their pets sterilised. This allows the Welfare groups to have the dogs/cats sterilised before they are adopted.

We have always regarded that the optimum age for sterilisation is between 5-7mnths due to anaesthetic and surgical constraints - but scientific data is slowly accumulating that early-age sterilisation is just as safe and successful Possible complications are: effect on urethral diameter in male cats (leading to FLUTD and blacked bladders); Obesity; Urine Incontinence; and Growth Stunting - but there has been no documented proof of adverse effects so far.

Sterilisation in male dogs and cats has the added benefit of reducing aggression and less territorial dominance (marking territory and fight wounds/abscesses).

Medical reasons for spaying: oestrogen plays a strong role in the cause of mammary tumours - which can be regarded as fatal cancers - since they tend to spread (metastasise) quite early to the lungs. Spaying before first heat has strong protective qualities against mammary cancer- reducing incidence of cancer to 0.5%.The risk factors increase to 8% when spayed after first heat and to 26% if spayed after 2 or more cycles (or even pregnancy).

Medical reasons for castration: the intact male dog has a very high incidence of Prostatic Infection / Cysts and eventually Prostatic Cancer. This also has a strong hormonal origin (testosterone) and early age castration has a protective function.