Desexing your Pet
Why should I have my pet desexed?
It might sound cruel to take away your pet’s ability to reproduce. It is in truth more beneficial both to your pet and the country as a whole that pets are desexed without reproducing. That is why there are bylaws and mandates surrounding desexing of cats and dogs.
Reproductive cancers – the uterus, ovaries and testes are removed. Without the reproductive organs, cancers of the reproductive organs cannot occur.
Wandering – unneutered and unspayed animals are driven by instinct to find a mate and reproduce. This instinct often leads them to escape their home and wander around and that is dangerous. Pets get lost or hurt or worse.
Aggression – there is debate on whether or not neutered pets are less aggressive then unneutered pets. Testosterone is a hormone that is often linked to aggression and neutering a dog or cat lowers the testosterone levels.
Mating behaviours – territory marking, mate calling and bleeding. These are all behaviours that do not bring out the best in pet owners. Desexing stops all of them.
What is desexing?
Do not confuse chemical castration with desexing. Chemical castration is a treatment for over active sex-drives in pets, or as a cancer treatment, not sterilization.
Desexing is a way to stop unwanted pregnancies in dogs and cats. The surgery removes the reproductive organs of the animal, making it impossible for them to have litters. The result is fewer unwanted litters. Huge amounts of animals are euthanized annually because they cannot find homes. The annual statistic of animals that are left with no home and are euthanized is staggering. We all need to step in and do something to help, that something is desexing.
Is desexing surgery safe?
Yes, generally desexing is safe. With any kind of surgery there is always a potential risk. There is a risk of surgical complication or a reaction to the anesthetic, however, desexing is a routine procedure.
Our vets and veterinary nurses are on site to make sure that your furry friend is safe and comfortable, both during surgery and recovery. Surgery is carried out in a sterile room, for health and safety reasons and to limit the chance of infection.
The night before the surgery do not feed your pet anything after dinner, a little water is fine but no solids. This reduces the risk of vomiting because of the drugs. Make preparation at home to keep your pet confined and warm.
The vet performs a full panel of blood tests and does a full physical before your pet goes to surgery, to make sure there are no underlying problems that make surgery unsafe for your pet.
After surgery recovery
You will need a little more patience before collecting your furry family member after the vet contacts you to update you on the surgery. The anesthetic drugs still need to start and wear off and the vet will give your pet an examination before you can take them home.
At home make sure there is fresh food and water, but in small quantities, there are still drugs in their system and it can make them nauseous and lethargic. If these symptoms continue for a prolonged time, contact the vet straight away.
You should keep your dog or cat in an appropriately sized crate for the first 7 days to restrict their movement if possible. The sutures from the surgery need time to help the incision site heal. Limit their movement as much as possible, but of course, they need to relieve themselves and get some air.
No matter how good the surgeon or how clean the surgery, there is always a risk of infection, which can come from anywhere. You have to monitor the incision site, inspect it daily. Any signs of redness, oozing, bleeding, missing sutures, inflammation or heat has to be reported immediately. Schedule the follow up appointment before you leave the surgery. Your vet exams your pet, and removes sutures if they are not self-dissolving, at a follow-up appointment.
Desexing ages
Every pet is unique and the ideal time to desex depends on their species, breed, size, and individual health conditions. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, which is why it’s best to speak to your vet during your first visit.
If you’ve just welcomed a puppy or kitten, ask about desexing at their first vet visit. Younger animals tend to recover more quickly from the surgery than older pets. If you adopt an adult or intact pet, make sure to speak with your vet as quickly as possible to plan the next steps.
Have a question? Our friendly team is here to help, and our experienced vets will work with you to find the safest and most effective timing.
FAQ
No. There is no scientific proof that there is any benefit to letting your pet have a litter before desexing.
There are different classifications of breeders. Depending on which one you fall under there are different requirements. There are also advertising rules that need to be followed. The reason for all the bylaws and mandates is to stop the inhumane practices of puppy mills.
The cost of desexing varies depending on your pet’s species, breed, size, and overall health. When making a booking, please speak with our team — we can provide an estimate based on your pet’s individual needs.
Dog Desexing
Puppies are cute, they are adorable but they are often abandoned or surrendered. Nobody wants to see a stray dog or think of the dogs in the shelters that can’t find homes. This is one of the reasons most states make it mandatory to desex your dog, preferably by the age of 6 months.
Why is desexing your dog so important?
Besides the fact that there are too many puppies and dogs with no homes, there are other benefits to desexing your pup.
Desexing prevents pregnancy and oestrus cycle in female dogs. Stopping the estrus cycle means no bleeding, and no male dogs trying to get to your dog.
A behavioural issue in male dogs often has to do with testosterone levels. Dogs that are not been desexed or neutered have a higher testosterone level than in their castrated counterparts. The higher testosterone levels may be responsible for increased aggression in male dogs.
Your dog will not want to wander the neighbourhood in search of a mate, which means less chance of your dog getting hurt or lost.
Male dogs use their urine to mark their territory, which is why there is a pungent smell. Desexing usually prevents the strong smell and excessive marking.
Removing your dog’s reproductive organs removes the risk of them developing health complications or illnesses in those organs.
Is desexing your dog safe?
Having your dog neutered or spayed is not only safe. Vets recommend it. Of course, there is a risk of a reaction to the anesthesia, but healthy dogs get through the surgery and the recovery just fine. The procedure is routine and done on a daily basis by vets and it is simple and quick.
Why is desexing your dog so important?
Besides the fact that there are too many puppies and dogs with no homes, there are other benefits to desexing your pup.
Desexing prevents pregnancy and the oestrus cycle in female dogs. Stopping the oestrus cycle means no bleeding, and no male dogs trying to get to your dog during “heat”.
Your male dog’s testosterone can cause behavioural issues. The testosterone levels of neutered dogs are lower than that of their un-neutered counterparts. Higher testosterone levels may be responsible for increased aggression in male dogs.
Intact dogs tend to wander or escape in their efforts to find a mate. Dogs out of their yard are at risk of running away or being hit by a car. Desexing your dog helps keeps them safe in your yard.
Male dogs use their urine to mark their territory, which is why there is a pungent smell. Desexing usually prevents the strong smell and excessive marking behaviours.
Removing your dog’s reproductive organs removes the risk of them developing health complications or illnesses in those organs.
Is desexing your dog safe?
Yes. Not only is it safe, it is what the experts recommend. Research shows that dogs that are desexed live longer and healthier lives. Of course, there is a risk of a reaction to the anaesthesia, but healthy dogs get through the surgery and recover just fine. It is a simple procedure that routinely done, it is simple and quick too.
To desex a female dog the vet removes the ovaries and the uterus, it is also known as spaying your dog. Qualified and experienced vets do the procedure in a sterile surgical suite. Of course, every dog is different. The recovery time is dependent on the age and health of your pet, but on average recovery takes between 10 – 14 days.
Male dogs are neutered; the process involves a simple incision and the removal of both of the testicles. Without the testicles, male dogs are unable to reproduce with a female dog and make puppies. Depending on the overall size and health of your dog, it takes between 3 and 7 days to recover.
Male and female dogs and puppies are under anaesthetic during the desexing procedure. Dogs are examined before any anaesthetic drug is given, to make sure your doggo is fit and healthy with no underlying problems. We monitor your dog during the entire procedure for any signs of discomfort or distress.
What to expect at the vet’s office
There is a bit to do before the procedure takes place. You cannot feed your dog any solids after dinner. Not giving them any food means they have an empty stomach, which reduces the risk of vomiting which can get into the lungs.
Once you are at the surgery, admit your fur baby first. Now it is time for them to have a complete health check before the anaesthetic. Skilled vets perform the desexing surgery. After surgery is the recovery period. Your dog may be kept overnight to monitor them. The caregivers look signs of distress or discomfort. You usually take your dog home the next morning.
Make sure that your pet has a warm and comfortable place to rest when they get home. They will need easy access to food and fresh water. Some people take time off work to be with their pet. If you choose to take off from your day-to-day activities, be it work or cleaning, take the day after surgery and not the day of.
What to expect after surgery?
Your pet is free to eat and drink as normal once they get home. Nausea, vomiting and a lack of interest in food are potential side effects of anaesthesia. If any of these side effects continue for more than a few hours, please contact your vet.
Monitor the incision site for symptoms of an infection, including redness, inflammation or heat. Regardless of the sex of your dog, infection is a risk after any procedure.
Make sure that your dog gets enough rest to aid the healing process. Don’t take them out for long walks; just limit movement to what is necessary.
Modern sutures are dissolving sutures so that your dog does not have to go back to the vet for stitch removal.
FAQ
Traditionally for small to medium dogs, we have recommended 5-6 months, however the recommendation is different for large breed dogs. Please speak to our vets about the ideal age to desex your dog if he or she is greater than 15kg in body weight.
No. Dogs do not know the difference. Desexing interrupts some hormones however, doing the procedure before puberty limits the effects.
Yes, unless you are a registered breeder, dog or cat owners need to have their pet fixed. This prevents inbreeding and irresponsible breeding practices.
Cat Desexing
Cats are amazing; they are simultaneously independent and affectionate. Even though cats are relatively low-maintenance, there is still a stray and feral cat problem. The only way to get to the bottom of the cat problem is to desex domestic cats and where possible consider adopting a cat from a shelter before approaching a breeder.
What is desexing?
Desexing is the removal of your cat’s reproductive organs. A professional veterinarian does desexing in a sterile surgical ward. The testes of a male cat are removed through a small incision, then the spermatic cord is tied, this is called neutering.
Female cats undergo routine, but major surgery, called spaying. The vet makes an incision in her abdomen to remove the uterus and ovaries. The layers of skin and muscle are stitched closed with sutures.
Why should I have my cat desexed?
The most obvious reason to desex your cat is to prevent unwanted litters of kittens. There are health benefits for your cat too. Without the reproductive organs, there is no risk of reproductive organ related illnesses, such as cancers and cysts.
No more spraying and cat calling. The drive to mate does not exist so these behavioural issues do no occur.
The belief that cats need to have one litter before surgery is incorrect and has no foundation. There is no scientific proof that desexing a cat before puberty has any negative effects. Also, desexing your cat makes it easier to keep them in your home instead of wandering around the neighbourhood.
What is the recovery like after desexing?
Recovery time is different for male and female cats after desexing.
Male cats take around 5 to 7 days. You still need to monitor the incision site daily to make sure there are no signs of infection. Swelling, redness and heat are commons signs of infection, if you notice any of these you need to contact your vet immediately. Your cat may have side effects from the anaesthetic, including lethargy, nausea, vomiting and discomfort. If the side effects persist, you need to contact the vet.
Female cats take between 10 and 14 days to recover. You have to check the incision every day for the same signs of infection as a male cat. Make sure to confine your cat to a crate or blocked off area for the first 7 days. This is to make sure that the sutures do not tear.
When your cat comes home give them small amounts of water to sip to avoid nausea and vomiting.
What to expect at the vet’s office
The night before surgery, give your cat a light dinner. Do not give any other food after dinner. This is to limit the risk of vomiting while under anaesthesia. It is definitely fine for your feline fur baby to have water.
When you arrive at your appointment, your cat is admitted to the surgery. Before any drugs are given a full blood test and examination is done to make sure that kitty is in good health, with no underlying problems.
What is the recovery like after desexing?
The cat is moved to a sterile dedicated surgery
Anaesthesia is administered to put your cat into a sleep state
The vet performs the surgery to remove either the gonads or the ovaries and uterus.
From surgery, your cat goes to recovery where he or she rests before you pick them up. In recovery, a professional will monitor them for signs of discomfort or distress.
Your cat is ready to go home. You need to make sure that there is a soft warm place for your cat to rest. It is best to confine your cat to a crate or enclosed area for the first few days. This is to make sure that the sutures do not tear.
Recovery at home
Your pet will have side effects from the anaesthesia, which include lethargy, nausea and even vomiting. Give your cat food and water but in small amounts to reduce the risk of vomiting. It takes up to 48 hours for the drugs to wear-off but if you have, any concerns contact your vet immediately.
Do not allow your cat to jump or run around and try to limit their movement for the first 7 days. It is very important to check the incision site daily. Missing sutures, redness, inflammation or pain can cause problems. If you notice, any of these contact your vet straight away.
Most modern sutures are dissolving sutures but your vet will schedule a follow up to make sure everything is fine, and to remove the sutures if required.
If you have more questions about desexing, please reach out to our team.
