What is spay and neuter?
Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on
Quick answer
Spaying and neutering are surgeries that stop a pet breeding. Spaying a female removes the ovaries and usually the womb; neutering or castrating a male removes the testicles. Besides preventing litters they lower some health risks, such as womb infection in females. The right age depends on species, breed and size, so your vet decides the timing.
Also called spaying, neutering, castration, sterilisation, desexing.
Key facts
- PDSA vets recommend that all dogs are neutered unless a vet advises against it. PDSA
- Spaying stops seasons and pregnancy and lowers the risk of womb infection (pyometra), false pregnancy and breast problems. PDSA
- Castration lowers the risk of testicular cancer and later prostate enlargement, and reduces the urge to roam. PDSA
- International Cat Care recommends neutering cats routinely at around four months, before they reach sexual maturity. International Cat Care
- Neutered dogs need roughly 30% fewer calories, so portions may need cutting to stop weight gain. PDSA
What does each surgery do, and what are the benefits?
The words differ by sex, but the aim is the same: no litters, and lower risk of some diseases of the reproductive organs.
| What is removed | Main benefits | |
|---|---|---|
| Spay (female dog) PDSA | The ovaries, and usually the womb | No seasons or pregnancies; lower risk of pyometra, false pregnancy and breast problems |
| Castration (male dog) PDSA | The testicles | Lower risk of testicular cancer and prostate enlargement; less roaming and mating behaviour |
| Spay (female cat) International Cat Care | The reproductive organs | No litters; spaying before six months lowers the risk of some cancers and removes the risk of pyometra |
| Neuter (male cat) International Cat Care | The testicles | Less roaming and fighting, fewer bite-spread infections such as FIV and FeLV, less spraying |
At what age should a dog or cat be neutered?
Your vet decides, based on species, breed, size and health. These are the general starting points from PDSA and International Cat Care.
For dogs, PDSA says many can be neutered at around 4 to 6 months, but large and giant breeds may need to wait longer, because early neutering has been linked to joint problems later in some of them. A female can be spayed before her first season; if she has had one, PDSA advises waiting about 3 months after it, since spaying during a season is riskier. Very overweight or underweight dogs face more risk under anaesthetic.
For cats, International Cat Care recommends neutering at around four months, because kittens can become sexually mature from about then and a female often has her first season around six months. It says recent evidence shows no disadvantage to neutering at that age for development, behaviour or health, though very large breeds such as the Maine Coon are worth discussing with your vet.
What are the downsides, and which worries are myths?
Neutering has trade-offs your vet will talk through. Some common fears are not backed by the evidence PDSA cites.
You may have read
Neutering always makes a dog fat.
Myth
What the sources say
Neutered dogs need roughly 30% fewer calories, so they gain weight only if fed as before. Cut portions or switch to a food for neutered dogs, and weigh regularly. PDSA
You may have read
Neutering changes a dog's personality.
Myth
What the sources say
PDSA says confident, well-socialised dogs are unlikely to change much. Fearful dogs may become more anxious, and neutering does not cure aggression. PDSA
You may have read
Spaying always causes incontinence.
Myth
What the sources say
PDSA links a raised risk of urinary incontinence to spaying before 3 months of age, and found no evidence of increased risk after that. PDSA
You may have read
A female should have one litter first.
Myth
What the sources say
PDSA says a female dog can be spayed before her first season, and International Cat Care says spaying a cat before six months lowers the risk of some cancers. International Cat Care
How do you look after a pet after neutering?
PDSA's recovery advice for dogs. Follow your own vet's instructions first, and call them with any worry.
- Expect drowsiness for a few hours; normal energy usually returns within 24 to 48 hours. PDSA
- Rest for 7 to 10 days: lead walks only, and a crate or one room if needed, to protect the wound. PDSA
- Keep the cone or medical shirt on so the pet cannot lick or chew the wound. PDSA
- Go to the check-ups, usually at 2 to 3 days and 7 to 10 days; non-dissolvable stitches tend to come out at 7 to 14 days. PDSA
- Call the vet about swelling, redness, discharge or a wound that opens. PDSA
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Questions owners ask
What is the difference between spaying and neutering?
- Spaying is surgery on a female to remove the ovaries and usually the womb. Neutering is the general word for this kind of surgery in either sex, and for males it means castration, removing the testicles. Both stop the pet breeding and lower some health risks.
What is the best age to neuter a dog?
- There is no single age. PDSA says many dogs can be neutered at around 4 to 6 months, but large and giant breeds may need to wait longer because early neutering has been linked to joint problems in some. Your vet will advise for your dog's breed, size and health.
When should I spay my cat?
- International Cat Care recommends neutering cats routinely at around four months, before they become sexually mature. It says recent evidence shows no disadvantages to neutering at that age. Discuss the timing with your vet, especially for very large breeds such as the Maine Coon.
How long does it take a dog to recover from spaying?
- Most dogs are back to normal energy within 24 to 48 hours, but PDSA advises 7 to 10 days of rest to protect the wound and internal stitches, with a cone or shirt to stop licking. Your vet will usually check the wound at 2 to 3 days and 7 to 10 days.
Keep reading
Related terms
More in breeds and anatomy
- Body condition scoreA body condition score (BCS) rates a pet's body fat by look and feel, usually on WSAVA's 9-point scale: 1 is emaciated, 9 is severely obese, and the ideal sits around 4 to 5. You check how easily the ribs can be felt, whether there is a waist from above, and whether the belly tucks up from the side.
- BrachycephalicBrachycephalic means short-headed: dogs and cats bred with a flat face and short muzzle, such as the Pug, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Bulldog and Persian cat. The squashed airway makes breathing and cooling harder, so these pets overheat more easily, a real risk in Indian summers. Several Indian airlines refuse them in the hold.
- DewclawsDewclaws are the extra toes with claws that sit a little above a dog's foot, on the inner side of the leg, most often on the front legs. Because they do not touch the ground, walking never wears them down, so they need regular trimming. Left long, a dewclaw can curl round and grow into the toe pad, which hurts.
- Double coatA double coat is two layers of fur: a soft, dense undercoat close to the skin and a longer outer coat of guard hairs. Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Pomeranians have one. The undercoat insulates against heat as well as cold, so vets advise brushing it out regularly rather than shaving the dog in an Indian summer.
- Indie dogAn indie dog is India's native dog: the free-living type often called the Indian pariah dog, INDog or desi dog, rather than a pedigree breed. It is usually medium-sized, short-coated, prick-eared and curl-tailed, alert and territorial. Genetic research finds Indian village dogs show little European ancestry, making them one of the world's older dog populations.
- MicrochipA pet microchip is a tiny identification chip, about the size of a grain of rice, injected under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It holds a unique number that a scanner reads, linked to your contact details on a database. It is not a GPS tracker. Most countries you might move a pet to require an ISO-standard chip.
- Senior petA senior pet is in the later part of its expected life. For cats, vets' guidelines say senior means over 10 years. For dogs it depends on size: AVMA counts giant breeds as seniors from about 6 to 7 years and small dogs from about 8 to 11. Old age is not a disease, but seniors need closer checks.
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Sources
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