Unless you are planning to breed with your animal we advise you to consider neutering.

Benefits

In both males and females neutering has beneficial effects:

Dogs

We recommend you should get your bitch neutered from the age of 4 1/2 months - except for docked breeds which should have a first season. Benefits from this procedure include a reduced risk of mammary tumours, and avoids pyometra (a womb infection).

Castrating a male dog also has benefits in male dogs - it can prevent aggressive behaviour and roaming. We can perform dog castrations from the age of 1 year.

Neutered animals of both sexes also tend to live longer.

When your dog should be neutered, the benefits and small risks can all be discussed with your vet at the initial consultation.

Cats

Neutering females reduces the incidence of mammary tumours later on in life. It is not correct that a female cat should be allowed, on humane grounds, to have one litter before neutering. We recommend speying at 4 1/2 months.

A neutered male should refrain from spraying about the house and leaving an unpleasant smell; he should also be disinclined to wander or to fight. Hollow Park will castrate male cats from 9 months old.

Cats Protection run a scheme to help those in dire financial need to have their cats neutered. Click here for more information.

Rabbits

Speying rabbits is essential if keeping male and female rabbits together (unless you want to have lots of little bunnies!).

Neutering female rabbits helps prevents uterine cancer, as well as helping control behaviour problems. with rabbits. The procedure can be performed on both male and female rabbits from the age of 4-6 months.

Castrations help reduce male dominance and other behavioural problems. Males can be castrated from when they become sexually active - over 12 weeks of age - when both testicles are visible.

The Procedure

Neutering is carried out and pets returned on the same day:

• Phone us first or come in to discuss the procedure as we need to book you in
• Don't feed your pet on the day of the operation
• Bring them in to the morning surgery
• The procedure is routine, although females need a longer operation.
• Collect them during evening surgery
• Females may also need a visit to the surgery a week later to take out stitches - we will let you know