You can trust your pet to our care and expertise for most common operations. During the anaesthetic we use the latest monitoring equipment to continuously observe our patients so we can make sure that the operation is as performed as safely as possible.
Examples of surgeries we commonly perform are:
- Castrations and sterilisations
- Removal of internal and external growths/tumours
- Operations on internal organs such as the bladder, spleen and intestines
- Orthopaedic operations
- Eyelid corrections (ectropion/entropion)
- Inguinal and umbilical hernia repairs
operaties | castrations
Castrations
There are several misunderstandings about castrations. One of these is that only male dogs are castrated, but this is not the case. Female dogs are also castrated; by removal of the uterus and ovaries. In addition, prevention of procreation is said to be the only reason for castration. This is not the case either.
Female dogs (bitches)
For bitches that will not be used for breeding, we recommend castration at the age of 6-7 months (slightly older for large dogs). This is how we can reduce the risk of multiple, sometimes serious conditions:
- Mammary gland (breast) tumours: every menstrual cycle a bitch goes through will increase her risk of breast cancer at a later age.
- Uterus inflammation: many non-castrated females develop uterine inflammation later in life. The uterus must then be removed surgically in a sick and older dog which means extra risks.
- Diabetes: a non-castrated bitch has a higher risk of developing sugar diabetes.
- Phantom pregnancy: this is a natural reaction related to the hormone cycle during which the female dog starts acting in a pregnant and sometimes quite troubled way.
There are of course disadvantages, but in our opinion, these rarely outweigh the advantages of castration.
Male dogs
Apart from stopping fertility, there are other equally valid reasons for the castration of male dogs.
- Behaviour: non-castrated males can often act in a particularly bothersome way, not least by trying to ‘mate’ with shoes, legs and sometimes even children. Castrated males are calmer and run away less frequently to find bitches on heat. However, there is no guarantee that certain behaviours will disappear completely.
- Foreskin inflammation: uncastrated males will develop a foreskin infection sooner or later. Fluid flushes and antibiotics are usually not sufficient and it is better to castrate the male dog.
- Prostate problems: an older male dog who is having trouble peeing or pooing has probably developed an enlarged prostate. When such enlargement is the result of a benign condition, the prostate will shrink after castration.