How does neutering work?

An issue almost all pet owners must tackle at some stage is that of unwanted litters of babies and the decision of whether to get their animal neutered. Although it may initially seem cruel to deny your furry friend the chance to become a parent, and remove a fairly delicate part of its anatomy, it's actually much fairer than ending up with litters of unwanted puppies or kittens. However, it's important that you entrust the procedure in the hands of a fully trained professional such as a vet – DIY jobs just aren't an option. Here's our guide to getting your pet neutered and why it's worth looking into. What happens? There are two different types of operations, which are carried out depending on the gender of your animal. Males are castrated, which involves removing the testicles, while female animals are spayed, where the ovaries and womb are taken away. The operations are usually pretty straightforward and are carried out under general anaesthetic. The exact length of the operation can depend on the type of animal being neutered. Are there any after-effects? Animals tend to recover pretty quickly from their operation, although recovery times can vary between animals. Some pets can have a tendency to put on a little weight after being neutered, although this can be controlled by knowing what to feed and when. However, no one can accurately predict the after-effects of neutering, so it's best to be prepared for a number of different outcomes in your animal. What are the benefits? Neutering female animals stops them coming into season, when it's normal for them to attract unwanted attention from male animals, fall pregnant or have false pregnancies, along with reducing the risk of uterus infections and cancers. Meanwhile, in males it can remove the risk of testicular cancer. In most cases, it will reduce behaviours such as urine marking and roaming. It's a common misconception that an animal needs to have had one litter before being neutered – they can have it before they've become a parent. How can I find out more? Your first questions should be <'where is my nearest vet', as they will be the best qualified to carry out the operation. They'll be able to advise on the best time to carry out neutering and any possible side-effects. The cost of the procedure will depend on the species of your pet, along with its size and sex.