Book

Few operations in small-animal practice are as common, or as hard to explain to an owner, as neutering. It prevents unwanted litters and removes the risk of pyometra and testicular disease. It can also be followed by health and behavioural effects that differ with sex, breed, body size and age at surgery. Companion Animal Behaviour and the Neutering Approach sets out the evidence in one illustrated volume for veterinary students, small-animal practitioners, behaviourists, shelter veterinarians, nurses and researchers. It begins with companion animal behaviour and the human–animal relationship, and with the oestrous cycle of the bitch and the queen. It then covers surgical and non-surgical methods, the timing of neutering in dogs and in cats, and the health benefits and disadvantages. Two chapters examine behaviour in dogs and in cats, including aggression, fear, roaming, marking, mounting and pseudopregnancy. A further chapter weighs the factors that modify these effects: sex, age at surgery, breed, parity, housing, other pets and behaviour-based function. The final chapter appraises the strengths and limits of the evidence and works through an owner-questionnaire case study. It also looks at policy, shelter medicine, ethics and future directions. Each topic chapter opens with an at-a-glance table and follows a consistent order. Recent peer-reviewed literature and consensus guidance (2018 onwards) are given priority and cited by number. Weak, observational or breed-restricted evidence is flagged where it matters, and the book presents the balance of benefit and harm without advocating for either side. Schematic figures, quick-reference tables, an index and chapter-by-chapter references complete the volume.