Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Neutering know-how
Whether to castrate your dog or spay your bitch is never a simple decision, says David Tomlinson as he lays out the pros and cons
IF YOU WANT TO start a lively debate among dog owners, just mention the subject of neutering. It’s something that many people feel passionately about, while others simply follow the advice of their veterinary surgeon. Neutering — by which I mean castrating dogs or spaying bitches — is a routine and relatively risk-free operation performed by all small-animal vets, for whom it is a valuable source of income. The cost of the operation ranges widely depending on the breed of dog and where you live, but it is usually at least £200 for a bitch and up to £300 for a dog.
Many pet owners routinely have their dogs neutered as a matter of course. The reason is rarely the health of their animal, but for their own convenience. Bitches in season can be messy, while ensuring that they don’t receive unwanted attention from dogs when out for walks can be a trial. With neutered bitches there’s no risk of losing working days during the shooting season. With dogs, the reasons given for castration are generally to curb aggression, to stop excessive territory-marking (leg cocking) or to prevent them from wandering.
Of course, neutering also stops a dog from reproducing, so if you don’t plan to breed from your bitch or offer your dog for stud, why not neuter? That, as any politician would say, is a good question, so it merits a considered answer. Those who oppose neutering will point out that spaying or castrating a dog will alter an animal’s behaviour, but not necessarily for the better. Some neutered animals lose their confidence, and this can result in more, rather than less, aggression.
Neutering also alters a dog’s metabolism, and everything that goes with it. It changes how an animal grows, and explains why both neutered dogs and bitches are more likely to put on weight. Remember that farmers castrate their beef calves for this very reason. Neutering is also likely to affect the coat. Spayed spaniel bitches, for example, tend to become much more woolly. Owners hoping that neutering will improve aspects of their dog’s behaviour should also consider why the dog is behaving in such a way in the first place. It’s quite possible for neutering to make it worse, rather than improving it.
Incontinence in spayed bitches is a not uncommon problem. Another is that a de-sexed dog loses its identity, which can lead to a marked change in how it reacts to its kennel mates, or even other dogs it encounters while being exercised. Some become more aggressive, while others become more submissive. The problem is that there’s no guarantee what the longterm impact on your dog will be after the operation.
“The worst changes tend to be seen in animals that are neutered at an early age”
The worst physical and behavioural changes tend to be seen in animals that are neutered at such an early age that they never behave like a mature dog, even when they are several years old. It’s now generally accepted that it’s bad practice to neuter a dog or bitch until it has reached full sexual maturity, which is generally around two years.
I’ve never had my bitches spayed, but perhaps I should have done. My first English springer lived until she was well past her 13th birthday, but in her later years she suffered from false
pregnancies, something that spaying prevents. None of my other bitches have had false pregnancies, but one was affected by mammary tumours, and these eventually led to her death at 12. Prevention of mammary tumours is, in my opinion, one of the strongest arguments for spaying a bitch, especially if tumours seem to be a hereditary problem.
Another of my bitches suffered from pyometra (a very serious infection of the womb) shortly before her 13th birthday. This is a fatal complaint unless it is caught early, which I did. She had an emergency hysterectomy, recovered quickly and enjoyed another two years of life.
Spayed bitch
The only bitch I have had spayed is my current English springer, Rowan. She had a mammary tumour at the age of four: this was removed (and found to be benign) and she was spayed at the same time. She is now approaching 16½, so the operation clearly didn’t do her any harm.
With dogs, castration reduces the risk of prostrate problems later in life, though even neutered dogs can suffer. It also rules out testicular cancer, though this is a comparatively rare problem. It certainly stops dogs roaming in search of bitches, while
I have also heard handlers claim that neutered picking-up dogs are more likely to concentrate on their job, rather than looking hopefully for bitches in heat.
For all competitions, be they trials, tests or shows, dogs have to be entire. The reason is that these events are meant to be about improving the breed, and if the competing dogs are incapable of reproduction, then the raison d’être for the competition is lost.