BENEFITS OF CASTRATION

PREGNANCY: Castration prevents unwanted matings 

BEHAVIOUR:  Castration can reduce behavioural problems such as aggression, urine marking, libido and straying from home. The earlier he is neutered, the more likely this is to succeed.  Can stop embarrassing behaviour in male dogs

CANCER:  Castration removes the risk of testicular tumours and anal adenomas

PROSTATE:  Castration will reduce the risk of prostate problems in later life

Although neutering helps reduce behavioural problems, it will not adversely affect the basic character of your pet!

BENEFITS OF SPAYING

THE OBVIOUS:  There are a number of advantages to having your bitch spayed which will be obvious to any dog owner, such as the avoidance of the danger of unwanted puppies, the mess and inconvenience of the bitch coming into season, and there may be male dogs hanging about making a nuisance of themselves

FALSE PREGNANCY:  This is a normal part of the female dogs reproductive cycle and it occurs a few weeks after the end of the bitch coming into season.  Not all bitches show the same symptoms and some are worse than others but an affected bitch may be depressed, not want to eat, may show anxiety, or strange behaviour such as bed making or carrying objects, such as toys about as if they were puppies.  Spayed bitches do not get false pregnancy

BREAST CANCER:  Data has shown that the incidence of mammary tumours in unneutered bitches is significantly higher than those spayed at an early age.  If your dog is spayed before she has her first season (i.e between 6 months and    1 year of age) she will almost certainly never develop mammory cancer.          Many canine mammary cancers are malignant and often will have spread by the time they are detected.  The surgery involved can be extensive and                       unfortunately is common in unspayed bitches

PYOMETRA (Womb Infection):  A significant proportion of unspayed bitches develop a condition called Pyometra in later life.  This is where the womb becomes infected and full of pus.  The infection is very serious and can be fatal if not surgically corrected.  Of course if the animal has been spayed and does not have a womb then she cannot contract this disease

FEEDING GUIDE 

Up to 24 weeks of age:

A puppy's stomach is very small.  Feeding 4 small meals a day at this age is appropiate as this allows the puppy's stomach to digest the food.

24 weeks to 8 months of age:

Your puppy is growing!  3 meals a day is now sufficient.

8 months old and over:

On his or her way to becoming an adult.  Now all ready to be fed 2 meals a day.