Neutering is a procedure used to “de-sex” an animal, and is the general term for spaying and castration. After the surgery, animals are not longer able to reproduce. Neutering has been used to control animal population growth, reduce unwanted behaviors in pets, and decrease the possibility of certain diseases later in life.
Most of the time neutering is done at about 6 months old, and before a female’s first heat. Some veterinarians perform the surgery sooner, between 8 and 16 weeks of age. Scientific studies suggest that neutering at an early age is no riskier than performing the surgery at 6 months, provided the animal is healthy.
Older pets may be neutered as well, although depending on the pet’s age, the veterinarian may conduct certain presurgical tests to make sure that the pet can be safely anesthetized. It is important for the pet’s liver and kidneys to be functioning normally.