If you do not intend to breed from your pet, desexing has undoubted advantages in dogs and cats. Desexing, also known as neutering, is a surgical procedure to remove the reproductive organs. This is a ‘routine procedure’ that is performed daily by veterinarians. We understand that this can be a very daunting time for pet owners, but rest assured, we only need to do it once! We can generally have your fur-baby boy home the same evening and your fur-baby girl can go home the following morning.
Desexing is recommended to be done at 5 – 6 months of age. If you have missed this time period, don’t worry, we can still organise desexing of your pet.
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
- Living a longer and healthier life
- Reduction of council registration fees
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.
“Should my female have one litter first?”
No – it is actually better for her not to have any litters before being desexed. Her risk of developing breast cancer increases if she is allowed to go through her first heat.
“Will my pet’s unwanted behaviour dramatically improve?”
No - Desexing plays a very important role in behaviour modification; however it needs to be paired with professional training.
“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 dog will 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!