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 involves the surgical removal of the testes. In females the procedure is referred to as a “spey” and involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. Desexing is the most frequent surgery performed by our vets, and generally your pet is home by the evening of surgery.
The recommended age to desex dogs varies for different breeds. We will discuss the pros and cons for desexing in consultation and can provide recommendations on the best age to desex your pet. Generally, dog desexing is done somewhere between six months and two years of age.
It is also law under The Cat Act 2011, that all cats must be desexed by 6 months of age.
There are many benefits to desexing your pet before 6 months. They include:
- Preventing unwanted litters, which can be very costly, and may add to the already overwhelming number of stray animals that are put down each year
- Prevention 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
Before surgery:
- Make a booking for your pets operation – it is a day procedure and require being dropped off in the morning and can go home the same afternoon.
- If your pet is a dog, you can wash them the day before surgery as they are then unable to be washed after until the stitches are removed at 10 days post surgery.
- As your pet will be undergoing a general anaesthetic they need to be fasted from food before their procedure. You can give you pet an evening meal as normal the day prior to surgery, but do not leave food out overnight. Water should be freely available to your pet
- All patients are offered an optional pre-anaesthetic blood test before surgery to check their overall health prior to their procedure.
- The vet will perform a thorough physical examination before administering an anaesthetic.
- All patients under going a general anaesthetic revieve intravenous fluids, which is included in our anaesthetic cost.
- To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, all pets receive pain relief as part of the desexing procedure, and we may prescribe medication for you to administer at home for a few days after the procedure.
After Surgery:
- Keep your pet restrained and quiet as the effects of anaesthetic can take some time to wear off completely.
- Keeping them quiet is also essential to allow the wound to heal.
- Food and water should be limited to small portions only on the night of surgery.
- Follow any dietary instructions that the vet has provided.
- Ensure all post-surgical medications (if any) are administered as per the label instructions.
- Ensure your pet’s rest area is clean to avoid infection.
- Check the incision at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disruption (e.g. bleeding, swelling, redness or discharge). Contact the vet immediately if any of these occur. Do not wait to see if they will spontaneously resolve.
- Prevent your pet from licking or chewing the wound. Special cone-shaped collars assist with this problem. A single chew can remove the careful stitching with disastrous effects.
- Ensure you return to us on time for routine post-operative check-ups and removal of stitches.
