Neutering your animal not only stops any unwanted litters, but also provides health benefits for your pet. For females it prevents pregnancy, false pregnancy and fatal uterine infections (pyometra), but also reduces the risk of reproductive related cancers, such as mammary or ovarian. For males it reduces roaming, fighting and urine marking, as well as preventing testicular cancer and decreasing the risk of prostate cancer.

Neutering is a surgical procedure and needs a general anaesthetic, so your pet will be with us for the day and as long as they are awake enough, will be able to go home the afternoon of their operation day. We advise strict rest for the first five days after the operation and we provide post operative pain relief and often a buster collar so your pet cannot lick its wound.

For females the procedure is known as “spaying” and the uterus and ovaries are removed, while for males, which is known as “castrating”, the testicles are both removed.

Sadly today we have had to say goodbye to one of our resident Guinea Pigs, Stacey. Stacey has been with us from the beginning and over the years has been involved with many school visits, summer galas and fairs as well as Brownie and Scout visits. Over the past few years she has often been out and about squeaking at our clients and their pets as they pass. She has been a wonderful girl and has lifted many spirits with her cheeky attitude!

Unfortunately we recently diagnosed her with cystic ovaries. As well as this, we found out today that she also has a problem with her kidneys and have had the make the very difficult decision to put her to sleep.

Stacey will be greatly missed at Hollybank, not only by us but also our other Guinea Pig Nessa who has been her best friend since they arrived.