Neutering Small Animals
Rabbits, rodents and ferrets are just a few examples of some of the small animal pets that we choose to share our lives with. They make lovely companions with big personalities, so it’s no wonder they are becoming increasingly popular pets. However, to keep our small animals healthy and happy, we need to be aware of our pet’s individual husbandry requirements and any routine veterinary care they require. This may include considering whether neutering your pet will benefit them.
What is neutering?
Neutering is known by a few different names, so if you are not familiar with the term neutering, you may instead have heard it referred to as desexing, fixing, or castration for male animals, or spaying for females. For male animals, neutering involves removing the testes and for females, it involves either removing the ovaries and the uterus (ovariohysterectomy) or just removing the ovaries (ovariectomy). However, either way, once an animal has been neutered, they will no longer be able to breed. In addition, their levels of sex hormones will gradually decline, with potentially beneficial consequences for behaviour and health.
Can small animals be neutered?
When we talk about neutering, most people will automatically think of dogs and cats, because these are the surgeries we do most frequently. However, small animals can also be neutered, and the procedure is very similar So if you have previously had a cat or dog neutered, you may already know what to expect.
However, it still surprises many owners when they find out their rabbit, guinea pig, or rat can be neutered. In fact, neutering is important for some small animals as it can have a significant positive impact on their quality of life by enabling them to live happily with a companion.
What happens when my pet is neutered?
Similar to neutering a dog or cat, all neutering surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia, so your pet will be asleep throughout the procedure. There is a small risk with all surgeries, but we closely monitor your pet the entire time they are asleep and during recovery, to make the surgery as safe as possible. Usually, your pet will only stay with us for the day but if they require feeding support or additional pain relief while they are recovering, we may advise keeping them with us for a little longer.
When your pet goes home, they will have a small wound that you will need to monitor closely. Our nurses will show you how to check your pet’s wound, so you can monitor your pet at home. You will also be sent home with pain relief medication for your pet. Our nurses will go through how to give this medication before you leave. We will also book your pet in for a post-op check so we can make sure your pet has fully recovered from their procedure.
When is neutering your pet beneficial?
Not all small animals need to be neutered, but for some individuals, it can have a significant benefit to their quality of life. This may be reducing loneliness for your pet by enabling them to live with another individual, preventing your pet from breeding, or protection against reproductive disease. Neutering is often decided on an individual basis, so our vets will be able to help you decide if neutering will be beneficial for your pet.
There are many reasons why you may choose to neuter your pet,
- Preventing unwanted pregnancies – This enables male and female pets to live together without the risk of pregnancy.
- Enabling your pet to live with other individuals – Some small animals are social and need to live with other animals of the same species to prevent loneliness. Neutering enables this to happen safely by reducing the likelihood of fighting.
- To prevent health problems – Castrating males and spaying females can prevent reproductive diseases such as uterine cancer (very common in female rabbits, for example) or testicular tumours from developing.
- Treatment for certain health conditions – If your pet develops a reproductive disease such as cystic ovaries in females (e.g. in guinea pigs) or testicular tumours in males, neutering can be a curative treatment.
- For behavioural reasons – neutering some small animals can help reduce certain behavioural issues (e.g. urine spraying or aggression) and make some individuals easier to handle. This is a common reason for neutering rabbits, for example, where aggression in both males and females often responds to the subsequent drop in testosterone and/or oestrogen.
Rabbits
Rabbits are very social animals, so they need the companionship of other rabbits. However, rabbits who are not neutered are likely to fight, sometimes resulting in severe injuries. Neutering not only enables rabbits to live together happily with less risk of fighting, but it also prevents unwanted pregnancies and reduces aggression, making some rabbits easier for their owners to handle.
Neutering your rabbit can also benefit your rabbit’s health by preventing several diseases from developing, including uterine cancer and infection of the uterus (pyometra) in females and testicular cancers in male rabbits. Because rabbits develop quickly, we will often recommend neutering your female rabbit from 4 to 5 months old and castrating your male as soon as the testes descend into the scrotum. This enables rabbits who are already living in bonded pairs to remain safely living with their partner with minimal separation.
Guinea pigs
Like rabbits, guinea pigs are also social animals that prefer to have the company of other guinea pigs. However, guinea pigs do not always need to be neutered, as often unneutered females will live happily in an all-female group, and even some unneutered males may live in pairs together without fighting. However, some owners will choose to have their male guinea pigs castrated to help reduce the risk of fighting and to help prevent their pet from getting injured.
Female guinea pigs are prone to developing a reproductive condition called cystic ovarian disease, where their ovaries develop large, painful, fluid-filled cysts. This can be accompanied by signs such as changes to your pet’s fur, behavioural changes, a swollen abdomen and urinary problems. One of the treatment options for treating ovarian cysts is spaying your guinea pig, which can cure the condition.
Rats
Rats can usually live in same sex groups quite happily without needing to be neutered. However, if you want to keep male and female rats together, they will need to be neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Our vets may also recommend neutering your rat as a treatment for testicular tumours in male rats or to help protect against mammary tumours in females.
Ferrets
Ferrets are a bit different and a bit more complicated – as if an unneutered female isn’t mated she is will develop dangerous hyperoestrogenism, but neutering comes with its own complications. So watch out for a future article about these fascinating creatures!
There are many reasons why you may choose to neuter your small animal pet, and often, there will be multiple benefits that improve your pet’s quality of life. However, to ensure you are making the best decision for your pet, our vets are always happy to discuss neutering with you. If you have any questions about the procedure, you can always speak to one of our experienced veterinary team for reassurance and advice.
