Neutering is a surgical procedure, carried out under general anaesthesia and aimed at preventing reproduction and various reproductive diseases. Castration is generally a term used for male, while spay is a term used for females    

How does neutering work?  
It works by eliminating sex hormones in your dog. 
For male dogs, their testicles are removed so they will no longer produce sperm which can fertilise the egg of a female dog. 
For females, the surgery consists of removing either the ovaries (ovariectomy) or the ovaries & uterus (ovariohysterectomy).    

What should I feed my neutered dog?  
After being neutered, your dog’s metabolism changes. This affects their energy needs and can predispose them to weight gain. This can happen over just a few weeks or months post neuter, so it is essential to prepare for this and be well informed by your vet if you do decide to have your dog neutered.  Taking into their nutritional needs post neuter, tailored diets such as Royal Canin 

Neutered Adult Small Dog (for adult weight up to 10kg)/ Neutered Adult (for adult weight 11kg to 25kg) from Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Range (available in veterinary clinics) can be given to your dogs. Your vet will also be able to advise you on monitoring your dog's body weight and body condition score (BCS) and adjust the amount of food to feed accordingly.    

What complications can there be with neutering?  
The biggest complications associated with neutering come from the potential weight your dog can gain, which in turn can lead to serious health conditions. Cardiovascular, diabetes and joint disease are linked to obesity in dogs   

Keeping your dog healthy after neutering  
1. Reduce calorie intake by reducing the amount fed or feeding a diet with lower calorie density. For example, Royal Canin Neutered Adult Small Dog (for adult weight up to 10kg)/ Neutered Adult (for adult weight 11kg to 25kg) from Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Range (available in veterinary clinics).  
2. Measure their meals using a digital weighing scale and follow the amount recommended by the feeding guideline, avoid giving your dog treats and table scraps. Poor control of calorie intake may be exacerbated by diets which fail to induce satiety, particularly if highly palatable, energy dense & fed ad libitum.  
3. 15 minutes of active play or walks twice daily significantly increases calorie expenditure.