Is it fair to let a female dog have just one litter of
puppies?
We do not recommend breeding bitches unless you definitely want
a litter of pups. Pregnancy is a major physiological and anatomical
upheaval and is not without risk.
Is neutering expensive?
As vets, we prefer to see as few unwanted litters as possible
and so try to minimize the cost of the operation. If money is short
then you may get help from one of the animal charities such as
RSPCA or The Cats Protection League. However, it is wise to balance
up the costs of neutering against the greater expense of having
unwanted offspring, extra food for the mother to support herself
and her litter and the veterinary attention the mother and babies
may require either at birth or afterwards or possible veterinary
attention needed later in life due to health problems associated
with entire animals, especially females.
Will neutering make my dog fat and lazy?
Neutering will not have any significant effect on your pets
lifestyle apart from eliminating its sexual behaviour. Most
behavioural changes are for the better as many neutered animals are
more affectionate. All neutered aniamls require less food than
entire ones - a spayed bitch may require 20% less calories than an
entire one and your pet will only become overweight if you overfeed
it!! So although it may look like a small daily ration compared to
normal, it is sufficient for her energy needs.
