You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Neutering animals is strongly advocated by Welfare Societies on the basis that neutering reduces the number of unwanted puppies. Neutering is a routine procedure in veterinary practice - with minimal risk for the patient ...but what are the down-sides ?

Surgical removal of the uterus (usually with the ovaries) is a routine procedure in veterinary practice. It is commonly called "spaying" or "speying", or "neutering" and the proper medical term is hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or ovarohysterectomy (removal of the uterus and ovaries). Very few bitches suffer adverse consequences as a result of the surgery, but there is always a small risk associated with the administration of a general anaesthetic and a major surgical procedure. There can also be complications because of the changed anatomical and physiological status of the animal. So what are they ?

1. Anaesthetic risk

The risk of problems occurring due to the anaesthetic agent are very small indeed for normal healthy animals. However, there is likely to be an increased risk in geriatric animals, in animals with major organ disease and in bitches which are being neutered because of pyometra. With pyometra toxins are present in the bloodstream.

    2.   Surgical risk

Although ovarohysterectomy is a routine procedure it is a major abdominal surgical procedure. Exposure of the organs can be difficult - especially in obese individuals, and post-operative complications do occur occasionally :

• Post-operative internal bleeding - if a ligature slips off a blood vessel, or if the patient has a blood clotting defect
• Wound breakdown - especially if the bitch worries the wound with excessive licking, biting or scratching. An elizabethan collar might be needed to prevent the bitch attacking the wound.
• Bloody discharge from the vulva - this can occur for a few days post-operatively and might require a re-operation.
• Discharging abscess in the side of the bitch - this is very rare, but does occur occasionally if the suture material used during surgery gets contaminated. It can take up to a year to develop, and treatment is surgery to remove the material.

   3.  Post-operative changes

Having removed the uterus and ovaries there are some complications that can occur post-operatively :

• Obesity - this is the most common post-operative complication following spaying. Body weight should be measured regularly and weight gain should be avoided by avoiding excessive food intake. Some bitches need to be maintained on a low calorie diet to prevent excessive weight gain.
• Urinary incontinence - this is an uncommon complication of neutering. Affected bitches leave damp patches on the floor where they have been lying. Sometimes this can lead in turn to the development of urinary tract infection and cystitis.
• Some breeds (eg Irish Setters and Samoyeds) will develop altered coat texture as a result of the hormonal changes following removal of the ovaries.
• Post-operative "seasons". If both ovaries have been totally removed the bitch should stop coming "on heat" (into season). However, if some residual ovarian tissue is present they can still go through their oestrus cycle - so one of the advantages of neutering is lost.
• Post-operative "false pregnancy". This is rare and is only likely to occur if neutering has to be performed at an inappropriate time in the bitches cycle.
• Post-operative pyometra. This is rare but is seen occasionally affecting the small uterine stump that is left following surgery.

If your bitch has been neutered and she is showing any unusual signs ask your veterinarian for his/her advice.

Finally, this impressive list of disadvantages to neutering should not be taken out of context. Serious complications are very rare indeed and the advantages of neutering greatly outweigh the potential disadvantages. Click here for the "other side of the story" ie the advantages of neutering.

Updated October 2013