Neutering your dog can prevent some serious health problems and provide you with peace of mind. Certain behavioural problems may also be improved by neutering. Discuss the benefits of neutering with your vet as soon as possible.

Potential advantages

Bitches

Spaying bitches at an early age reduces the chances of developing breast (mammary) cancer, as well as helping to eliminate the threat of uterine and ovarian cancer, and uterine infection. Unplanned pregnancy can risk your bitch’s health, as well as producing puppies that need homes and potentially large vet bills.

Some vets prefer to neuter bitches before they have their first season, but others don't, so discuss the timing with your vet. If obtaining a puppy from a rescue centre it is likely she will already be neutered, or you will need to guarantee that this will be done at the appropriate time.

Male dogs

Neutering a male dog will prevent testicular tumours and might reduce the risk of prostatic infections. It decreases the possibility of perianal tumours and hernias, which are commonly observed in older, un-neutered dogs. Neutering may reduce the aggressive impulses of your dog, and thus decreases the likelihood of injury due to fighting, although this will vary depending on when the dog is neutered and individual personality. Neutering certainly will help prevent your dog roaming in search of females and may improve inappropriate behaviours such as territory marking or trying to mate with objects/humans. Effects on behaviour may reduce the older the dog becomes so consider neutering your puppy at an early age, before the effects of testosterone are irreversible.

For male dogs, neutering involves removal of both testicles; for bitches, the removal of the womb and ovaries (ovariohysterectomy), or just the ovaries (ovariectomy).

Dog overpopulation is a problem

Every year, thousands of unwanted dogs are put to sleep at shelters across the country. Many of these are the result of accidental breeding by free-roaming, un-neutered dogs. The more dogs spayed or neutered, the fewer will have to be destroyed.

Potential concerns:

My dog will get fat and lazy - neutering may diminish your dog's natural tendency to wander, but will not affect overall activity levels. Neutered dogs have a slightly reduced calorie requirement that should be taken into account when feeding. When dogs do gain weight after being spayed, it is usually attributed to a combination of overfeeding and lack of exercise. Discuss with your vet a feeding plan for after your dog is neutered and of course maintain their exercise regime.

We can sell the puppies and make money - even well known breeders are fortunate if they break even raising pure-bred litters - and that is dependent on getting a pure-bred bitch to a stud dog before she becomes pregnant to an unknown wanderer. The cost of raising such a litter (which includes stud fees, vaccinations and other health-care costs) offsets most of the profit. Finding good homes for these puppies can be difficult, and shelters are already crowded with unwanted dogs. It's best to leave breeding to professional dog breeders.

I am concerned about my dog undergoing anaesthesia - the medical benefits of having your dog spayed or neutered far outweigh the slight risk involved in undergoing anaesthesia. Modern veterinary procedures employ equipment and staff to monitor your dog closely during the procedure, ensuring the patient is doing just fine. If you are concerned tell your vet who will be able to explain the operation to you and provide reassurance.

Before and after the operation

Normally, your vet will tell you to withhold food and water from your dog for 12 hours before the operation. Most dogs go home the same day, but sometimes your vet may prefer to keep a pet in slightly longer. Ask your vet what their usual procedure is.

After the operation, your vet will provide ‘after-care’ instructions: follow these carefully and ask if anything is unclear. In most cases dogs should be restricted to short walks, on a lead only, for a few days, kept quiet and prevented from jumping, or biting at their sutures. External sutures/staples or internal sutures may be placed and your vet will explain when these need to be removed. See 'Recovering from Surgery'.