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Thornhill Surgery 01848 330 220
Nithsdale Vets Ltd, Dumfries 01387 253 402

Spread the cost of your pet's preventative healthcare and get peace of mind with Pet Health Club!

Neutering

Why should you neuter your pet?

Female

Prevention of unwanted pregnancy or expensive misalliance injections

Improved lifestyle – not restricted by seasons throughout the year

Reduces the risks of mammary tumours (risk reduced by 99.5% if spayed before 1st season)

Prevention of ovarian cancer

Will prevent pyometra (infection in the uterus)

Prevention of false pregnancy

If your puppy has been diagnosed with juvenile vaginitis, she should not be neutered until after her first season to allow this condition to resolve. If your female dog shows any signs of urinary incontinence, this should be discussed with the vet before getting her neutered.

Male

Reduces likelihood of cats contracting infectious diseases from other cats

Can aid in some behavioural problems including roaming, fighting, spraying

Prevention of testicular cancer

Will help prevent prostate enlargement

Help prevent some anal tumours

Help prevent perineal hernias

Prevention of unwanted litters

If your dog has retained testicles (where the testicle(s) are not present in the scrotum, but are instead in the abdomen), castration is strongly recommended due to the high risk of testicular cancer developing.

Recommendation

Our practice policy is to recommend neutering at 6 months of age however you can book a free spay/castration check appointment and chat to one of the vets about what is best for your pet. It may be recommended to neuter later in certain large breed dogs. Typically this would be 3 months after their first season in female dogs, and at 1 year of age in male dogs. This is because there is evidence to suggest that in breeds such as Rottweilers, Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs, Irish Setters and Weimaraners they are at a higher risk of developing an osteosarcoma (bone tumour) when neutered before full growth plate closure has occurred.

All our neuters return home the same day. All injections on the day and post op checks are included in the price. Bitch spays are also sent home with two days’ painkillers included in the price to ensure they are not in any discomfort in the days post-surgery.

To help encourage neutering, we work closely with the Dogs Trust and Cats Protection to help offer discounted rates for neutering if eligible. Please contact the surgery for information.