Sterilisation is one of the few operations that prevents several serious diseases at once and reduces the number of abandoned animals. At the same time, it is still surrounded by myths. We explain what the operation is, who it is for, what the real risks are and how to get the animal through recovery comfortably.
What the operation is
In females it is the removal of the uterus and ovaries (ovariohysterectomy), in males it is the removal of the testes (castration). The animal is under general anaesthesia for 20–60 minutes; the sutres are removed 8–12 days later or are self-dissolving.
Why it is worth doing
- Health for females: the risk of pyometra — a purulent uterine infection that is fatal without surgery — drops almost to zero, and the risk of mammary tumours falls markedly when done before the first heat.
- Health for males: the risk of testicular tumours disappears, prostate problems become much less likely.
- Behaviour: no heat cycles with all the associated escapes and yowling, less marking with urine, less fighting and roaming in males, fewer escape attempts.
- No unwanted litter. Every home that is not prepared for puppies or kittens is a queue to the shelter — this is the reason neutering is promoted by shelters worldwide.
The old advice «let her have one litter first» has no medical basis. Pregnancy and birth carry their own risks, and a homed litter depends on chance: most puppies from “nice” litters end up in shelters too.
Best age
For cats: 6–8 months, or 2–3 weeks after the first heat. For dogs it depends on the breed: small breeds mature earlier, large and giant breeds later — the operation is often timed to growth plate closure (8–15 months), so that the skeleton develops properly. There is a nuance: for large-breed dogs, some vets prefer to operate after full growth, while for small breeds early neutering is usually recommended. This is an individual decision: discuss timing with your vet, describing the breed and the animal’s health.
Myths
- «It will get fat». Weight gain comes from overfeeding and boredom, not from the operation. After neutering, reduce the ration by 10–20% and keep walks active.
- «The coat will change». Hormonal coat changes occur after castration of adult males in some breeds; they are manageable with care, and the health benefits outweigh them.
- «The character will be ruined». Nothing is taken away: an active dog remains active. What disappears is the hormonal “noise” that prevented it from learning.
- «It’s unnatural». Life in a human home is not natural in the first place, and the natural outcome of «naturalness» is litters no one needs.
Risks and preparation
The main risk of any operation is anaesthesia. To minimise it: a pre-op examination, blood tests (and for animals over 7 years — an extended panel and possibly an ECG), no feeding for 8–12 hours before surgery, water allowed until the morning. Choose a clinic where they do not operate “on the spot” without examination, ask what anaesthetic is used and whether monitoring equipment is present.
Post-op complications are rare: suture inflammation, licking the wound, a seroma (soft swelling under the skin). All of these are treated, but much easier to prevent.
Care during the first two weeks
- Do not let it lick. An Elizabethan collar or a recovery bodysuit — the sutures must stay dry and intact.
- Restricted movement. No stairs, running, jumping on furniture for 10–14 days; calm leash walks 2–3 times a day are allowed.
- Wound check. Look once a day: slight redness on days 1–2 is normal; growing swelling, discharge or a bad smell means go to the vet.
- No bathing until the sutures are removed or fully healed.
- Food and appetite. The first meal after waking up is half the normal portion; vomiting once in the first hours may be a reaction to the anaesthetic — if it repeats, call the clinic.
- Calm. A calm cat or dog heals faster — prepare a warm secluded place away from drafts.
What it costs and how it is done for shelter animals
The price depends on the animal’s weight, the anaesthetic and the clinic: in Belarus it usually starts from a moderate amount and increases with size and pre-op work. All animals adopted from our shelter are already sterilised — this is included in the adoption process. If you take a street animal, ask the shelter or a vet about a programme of preferential sterilisation — in many cities such programmes exist.
Bottom line
For the majority of pets that are not intended for breeding, neutering is a net benefit: fewer diseases, more predictable behaviour, no accidental litters. The key points are choosing a clinic with proper anaesthesia, pre-op tests and disciplined aftercare for two weeks.