Our team at Portland Vets believe that neutering is an important part of responsible pet ownership. We offer neutering procedures for dogs, cats and a number of small furry pets which provide them with many health benefits along with helping to control the pet population and unwanted litters. All procedures are completed under a general anaesthetic which our nursing team will discuss in detail with you ahead of your pet’s booking.
Don’t forget that our team is always happy to chat if you have any concerns about neutering your pet, please do not hesitate to contact our team.
To find out more information, please click on the sections below.
If you would like your dog neutering we always recommend an appointment with one of our registered veterinary nurses to discuss the process, recovery time and what options you have for the surgery.
Male dogs undergo a ‘castration’ which can be performed from 6 months of age, with the exception being some large breeds. Female dogs undergo a ‘spay’ procedure which we recommend is done before their first season. If your bitch has already had her first season then it is best to wait 3 months.
As the spay procedure is an abdominal surgery, we do recommend that pet owners choose to have the neutering completed laparoscopically (keyhole). This allows your pet to be more comfortable with a smaller surgical wound and promotes a faster healing time. Visit our page for more information on laparoscopy.
Neutering your dog provides many health and behavioural benefits, such as reducing the risk of certain types of cancer, aggressive behaviour and the likelihood of roaming or your dog becoming lost.
Both male and female cats can be neutered from 4 months of age but we always advise booking in with a member of nursing team for a pre-neutering assessment. This will allow the team to check your cats are healthy to undergo the spay/castration and to make sure there are no abnormalities that could affect the procedure, such as your male cat having undescended testicles.
Neutering your cat will help to control the cat population, as roaming and un-neutered pets often lead to undesired litters of kittens, resulting in more cats needing to rehomed.
We recommend that rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and rodents are at least 6 months of age before you book them in for a neutering procedure. Our nursing team will assess your pet before any neutering procedure is booked because they need to determine whether your pet could have an underlying respiratory condition that may affect whether they are healthy enough to undergo a general anaesthetic. Our nurse will discuss both the benefits and risks of the neutering procedure at your initial booking, giving you all the information to be able to make an informed choice about your pet’s treatment.
To book your pet in or to chat to our veterinary team, contact our East Grinstead clinic.
You might also wish to read our guides on Pre-op and Post-op care.
Contact us for more information