DESEXING

DESEXING

Desexing / neutering or sterilising your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce. In male pets surgical removal oåf the testicles is commonly referred to as “castration”, and in female pets removal of the ovaries and uterus is referred to as “spaying”.

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 pet is around 6 months of age, however they are never too old to be desexed.
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
  • Reducing the risk of anal growths called anal adenomas in male dogs
  • Reduces prepucial discharge in male dogs
  • 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 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 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!

Will my dog lose its “guard dog”instinct?
No, your dog will be just as protective of their territory as before the surgery.

Comfort Pack
This is a value-priced option which enables client’s to further increase the safety of the procedure being undertaken and includes the following:

Intravenous (IV) fluids
The fluids support the body by assisting organs to flush out the anaesthetic drugs which achieves a more rapid and smoother recovery. In addition, having an existing IV line during surgery enables the attending veterinarian to administer emergency treatment faster should an unforeseen problem occur.

Elizabethan Collar (“bucket”) & Wound Guard (“bitterant spray”) to deter your pet from licking and/or chewing at their surgery site.

Please advise the reception staff at the time of admission if you would like your pet to have the comfort pack option added to their treatment plan.