Dog Neutering in Dublin

In male dogs, both testes are removed; this is known as ‘castration’. In female dogs, either the ovaries are removed or both the uterus and the ovaries; this is known as ‘spaying’.

Spaying a female dog eliminates the ability to reproduce, and your dog will no longer come into season. Females can be neutered from six months of age; for most breeds, we suggest spaying females before they have had a season, known as pre-season. If your dog is older than six months or has already started having seasons, we would need to wait three months after a season to ensure we are operating at the best possible time.

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Benefits of neutering or spaying your dog:

Prevents unwanted pregnancies and womb infections
Can help prevent tumours and breast cancer
Can also help prevent testicular cancer and prostate disease
Assists in preventing roaming and aggressive behaviour

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Laparoscopic Spays

Laparoscopic neutering is a recent development in veterinary surgery. Similar to “keyhole” surgery in humans, this procedure involves the removal of the ovaries (ovariectomy) using specialised techniques. 2 small incisions are made in the wall of the dog’s tummy and through these incisions, the vet places a specialised camera and instrumentation.

Your pet’s tummy will be inflated with Carbon Dioxide which will allow the vet a clear view of the surgical site on a special monitor via the camera. Using the specialised instrumentation, the surgeon will remove your pet’s ovaries which will prevent your dog ever coming into heat again and will also prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Laparoscopic neutering is not suitable for every dog and we ask that, if you are interested, you allow us assess whether we believe your pet will be a suitable candidate by examining her.

At what age are dogs neutered or spayed?

Neutering is usually carried out from 5–6 months of age for small to medium dogs, and from 12–14 months for larger breeds. We would also consider your dog’s breed, size, behaviour and other risk factors to provide the most suitable recommendation.

For females, if not spayed before their first season, we recommend waiting three months after the season before proceeding.

Should I let my dog have one litter before spaying her?

This happens to be a common question, and there are no known health benefits to letting your dog have a litter; this is also the same for cats and rabbits.

General anaesthesia

Your pet requires a general anaesthetic for neutering; here at Nutgrove Veterinary Hospital we have measures in place to ensure their safety during the procedure. A dedicated Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) will monitor your pet throughout their surgery and recovery. All anaesthesia comes with some form of risk; however, these are very low, especially neutering, as pets are often young, fit, and healthy when having this procedure.

Risk levels of anaesthesia increase with a pet’s age, certain breeds and if your pet has any underlying health conditions. We can perform a pre-anaesthetic blood test before your pet’s surgery, to detect any underlying illnesses; this can be discussed when booking in for the procedure and on the day of their surgery. Your pet will receive a premedication to relax them and will also receive two types of pain relief. Rest assured the Nutgrove Veterinary Hospital team will be with your pet every step of the way.

Your pet will stay the day with us

On the day of the procedure, please bring your dog on a secure harness or lead; during the admission appointment, we will discuss the procedure and go through the consent form. Please note we must gain a signature from the registered owner (over 18) or authorised agent on the consent form. Your dog, cat or rabbit will be admitted as a ‘day patient’, and they will be discharged later that day once our team are happy with how your pet has recovered.

During your pet’s discharge appointment, the team will go through everything you need to know about caring for your pet after their surgery and their pain relief medication. We are always at the end of the telephone for you and your pet, so please contact us if you have any further questions once you have your pet settled back at home.