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 “speying”. This is the most frequent surgery performed by our vets, and generally your pet is home by the evening of surgery.
The most common age to desex your cat is 3-4 months and for dogs it’s 5-6 months. However they are never too old to be desexed.
Benefits to Desexing Before Six Months
- 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
- In males it prevents cases of testicular cancer, prostate disease, anal tumors and if one or more testicles have been retained (not dropped down) they can become cancerous
- In females it can help prevent a pyometra (infection of the uterus which can cause death if not treated) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) which can be fatal.
- Stopping the “heat” cycle in females
- Decreasing aggression towards humans and other animals, especially in males
- Being less prone to wander, especially in males, the ratio of male to female animals hit by cars is significantly higher in intact- males.
- Living a longer and healthier life
- Reduction of council registration fees
- Cheaper desexing price, the older the animal the more involved the surgery especially in females which involves a laparotomy
Common Questions About Desexing
Will desexing affect my pet’s personality?
Your pet will retain their pre-operation personality, possibly with the
added bonus of being calmer and less aggressive and better family pets,
especially around children.
Should my female have one litter first?
No – it is actually better for her not to have any litters before being
spayed.Her risk of developing breast cancer increases if she is allowed
to go through her first heat.
Will it cause my pet to become fat?
Your pet’s metabolism may be slowed due to hormonal changes after
desexing,however this is easily managed with adjusting feeding and
ensuring adequate exercise. There is no reason a desexed pet cannot be
maintained at a normal weight.
Is desexing painful?
As with all surgery, there is some tenderness immediately after the
procedure, but most pets will recover very quickly. We administer pain
relief prior to surgery and after surgery too.Your pet may also be
discharged with a short course of pain relief medication to take at home
for the first few days after the surgery. In many cases, your pet will
likely need some encouragement to take it easy!
Will my dog lose its “guard dog”instinct?
No, your dog will be just as protective of their territory as before the surgery.
Desexing is performed Monday to Friday.