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 “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 between 4 and 6 months, 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
Being less prone to wander, especially in males
Living a longer and healthier life
Reduction of council registration fees
Your pet will retain their pre-operation personality, possibly with the added bonus of being calmer and less aggressive.
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.
Your pet’s metabolism may be slowed due to hormonal changes after desexing, however, this is easily managed by adjusting feeding and ensuring adequate exercise. There is no reason a desexed pet cannot be maintained at a normal weight.
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. If requested your pet can 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!
No, your dog will be just as protective of their territory as before the surgery.
Make a booking for your pet's operation. We do desexing operations on weekdays (Monday to Friday).
If your pet is a dog, you may like to wash them the day before surgery as they are unable to be washed until the stitches are removed.
Do not give your pet food after 10 pm the night before the operation.
Bring your pet to the clinic between 8 am and 8.30 am, unless you are advised otherwise. You will be required to sign a form giving us consent to carry out the requested procedure(s) and administer anaesthetic.
An optional blood test can be performed prior to surgery to check vital organ function.
The vet will perform a thorough physical examination before administering an anaesthetic.
Some pets will require intravenous fluid support during surgery. This will be discussed with you prior to the procedure.
To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, all pets receive pain relief prior to and after desexing. You can also request additional pain relief to take home for a few days after the procedure.
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 should be limited to smaller portions on the night after 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.
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.
If you have any concerns before or after your pet has been desexed, please call us immediately to discuss.
Animal Care Vets is actively involved in our local community. We support a number of charities, including the SPCA. We also care for the Hawkes Bay Police dogs. Our customers know by experience that they can rely on us for sound advice on treatment options and that their pet is in the very best hands with our team.
