Neutering is a routine surgical procedure that involves removing the reproductive organs from a dog or a cat. Under this umbrella you may have heard words such as castrating and spaying. Castration is essentially neutering for males and spaying is neutering for females. With any procedure there are advantages and disadvantages and these are explained below.

Medical

• Females: If spayed before their second season, it significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer. Also, it eliminates the risk of pyometra (which is a severe infection of the womb and requires an emergency surgery)
• Males: The risk of testicular cancer is eliminated. Also, studies have proved that 'entire' dogs are more likely to develop prostatic disease. Un-neutered male cats are more territorial and therefore are prone to fighting, which allows the transfer of serious diseases such as FIV (feline aids) and Felv (feline leukaemia).

Preventing unwanted behaviour

• Females: False pregnancies can occur in both dogs and cats (rarer in cats).  This condition causes abnormal signs such as aggression at guarding perceived babies, vomiting and loss of appetite. Also, when in heat, cats will become very vocal and can be seen to be rolling around crying excessively. There is an increased chance of straying whilst in heat.
• Males: Entire males often exhibit undesirable traits such as mounting, territorial aggression and fighting. Additionally like females they are more prone to straying especially if there is a bitch/queen in heat near by. Un-neutered male cats are prone to urine spraying to mark their scent which isn’t good news for your curtains or wallpaper.

Financial

Often, people do not fully estimate the costs involved with having a litter of puppies or kittens. These range from:

• Ultrasound scanning during pregnancy
• Caesarean section if there is a problem during labour (this is generally after hours so additional costs occur)
• Increased cost of food for mother whilst pregnant and during lactation
• Any other veterinary medicines, e.g, calcium substitution for mum, puppy/kitten milk replacement, etc.

Ethical

Nowadays, there are so many unwanted puppies and kittens that pounds and rescue centres are overwhelmed. Neutering your pet essentially stops you contributing to this problem.

Weight gain

Unfortunately, neutering genererally increases an animal's appetite which can in turn cause weight gain. However, simply monitoring your pet's food consumption port operation can help prevent this.

Did you know that one in three pets go missing in their lifetime? Why take the risk of losing your dog or cat when the solution is so simple... a microchip!

Microchipping is a simple, quick and relatively painless procedure, which involves inserting a small chip (roughly the size of a rice grain) beneath the skin on your pet's neck. Once placed, the chip can be read with a scanner and your precious pet has their own unique ID number. This number correlates with a central UK database that holds your and your pets details. Therefore, in the case of your pet going missing, it is an easy task to locate the owner's details and reunite you both.

What are the benefits of microchipping?

• If your pet goes missing and they are microchipped, once they have been scanned, your details will flag up automatically and a quick reunion is possible
• Microchipping is an compulsory part of the Pet Passport Scheme which allows your pet to travel abroad without the need for quarantine
• As of the 1st of January 2013, the law was enforced in Northern Ireland to ensure that all dogs over six months of age must be microchipped
• Microchipping can be of assistance if there is an ownership dispute

At Roe Valley Veterinary Clinic, we generally offer microchipping anytime from the 1st vaccination. However, we understand that some owners can be anxious about giving two injections at one time. Therefore, we always give the option of delaying it until when in for neutering at six months. That way your pet is fast asleep for the procedure.

If you have any questions related to microchipping, just give us a ring on 028 777 62528 and our staff will be happy to assist.

Diagnostic imaging is an essential tool to help clinicians make their diagnosis. At Roe Valley Veterinary Clinic, we are able to offer both Digital Radiography and Ultrasound.

Digital Radiography

Otherwise known as X-rays. This technique produces 2D images which help diagnose fractures, bone diseases and abnormalities of the chest and abdomen.

Ultrasound

This imaging technique involves using high frequency sound waves to produce an image. Unlike X-rays, it allows you to see the internal structure of the major organs and hence detect if there are any abnormalities. It is commonly used for detecting pregnancy, cardiac abnormalities, tumours, cysts, etc.

Echocardiology

At Roe Valley Veterinary Clinic, we are fortunate to have a visiting Cardiologist every three months. This allows for detailed echoes (assessment of the internal architecture of the heart) to be performed by a specialist. For any animals with heart problems, this ensures that they are on the most appropriate medication and gives the owner an idea of the prognosis of the disease.

At Roe Valley Veterinary Clinic, we have invested in up to date equipment in our laboratory to ensure rapid and crucial diagnoses. This includes:

General Health Profiles

This assesses the function of your pet's major organs and helps detect diseases early.

Pre-operative blood tests

This option is available to all clients before their pet has surgery. It is a basic screening, which ensures that organ function is normal before a general anaesthetic is given.

Urinalysis

This basic test can detect infection and also help diagnose diabetes and kidney disease. In addition, it allows us early detection of whether your pet is predisposed urinary stones.

In addition to our in house laboratory, we also have a strong link with an external laboratory. This allows us to obtain more extensive tests quickly and effectively.