Desexing

Desexing or neutering your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce. In male pets it is commonly referred to as 'castration', and in female pets as 'spaying'.  This is the most frequent surgery performed by our vets, and generally your pet is back home on the same day.

Some owners find making the decision to desex their pet quite difficult.  Owners often think that desexing will change their pet's personality but this is not the case. Your pet may quieten down but will still have the same personality traits and this far outweighs the medical impacts of not desexing your pet. 

There are many benefits to desexing your pet. They include:

  • Preventing unwanted litters, which can be very costly
  • Preventing of testicular cancer and prostate disease in males, and it can help prevent pyometra (infection of the uterus) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) in females
  • Stopping the 'heat' cycle in females 
  • Decreasing aggression towards humans and other animals, especially in males
  • Being less prone to wander, especially in males
  • Reduction of council registration fees

When should my pet be desexed?

We recommend that you discuss with your vet the best timing to desex your pet to ensure that you best support your pet's long term health and wellbeing.

For dogs, the optimal timing for desexing depends more on their size and breed rather than their age. This is because not all dogs are created equal in size and development, just look at the difference between a Great Dane and a Chihuahua. 

The general rule is that small breeds are safe to desex at 6 months of age, whereas giant breeds should wait until at least 15 months of age when they are more developed. Desexing large dogs at a later age decreases the incidence of musculoskeletal disease and also reduces behavioral problems such as anxiety. 

If you would like your pet to breed then our vets can give you breeding advice suitable for your pet.

What is included in the cost of desexing?

We believe in providing a high standard of care for your pet with all our procedures. Desexing includes the following;

  • All patients are placed on a drip to maintain their blood pressure throughout the anaesthetic.
  • Our nurses monitor your pet closely during and after the procedure to minimise anaesthetic risk.
  • We take the opportunity to clip your pet's nails and check their ears, as these are procedures many pets find uncomfortable when awake.
  • We use buried dissolving sutures so you don't need to worry about your pet removing them or coming back to have them removed.
  • We administer pain relief prior to surgery so it has maximum effectiveness during the operation. You also have the option of taking additional pain relief to keep your pet comfortable when they go home.
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