Desexing

Desexing

Desexing or neutering your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce. It is commonly referred to as "castration" in males and "speying" in females pets. Desexing 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 6 and 9 months; however, they are never too old to be desexed.

There are many benefits to desexing your pet before. They include:

• Preventing unwanted litters, which can be very costly. Having your pet sterilised reduces the number of stray animals. 
• Prevention of testicular cancer and prostate disease in males can help prevent pyometra (infection of the uterus) and mammary tumours (breast cancer) in females.
• Stopping the “heat” cycle in females. 
• Decreases possible aggression aimed towards humans and other animals, especially other males
• Being less prone to wander, especially in males.
• They are less prone to wander the suburbs, especially males.
• Reduction of council registration fees.

Speak to one of our veterinarians if you have any concerns about when to desex your pet. They will take into account your pet’s individual needs and advise you appropriately.

What to do before and after surgery

Before surgery:

• Make a booking for your pet's operation.
• If your pet is a dog, you can wash them the day before surgery as they are then unable to be cleaned until the removal of the stitches.
• You can give your pet an evening meal, as usual, the day before surgery, but do not leave food out overnight. Water should be freely available to your pet until 8 am on the day of surgery.
• A blood test may be performed before surgery to check vital organ function.
• The veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination before administering an anaesthetic.
• During most surgeries, if required, the use of intravenous fluid therapy may be undertaken. Either our nursing staff or veterinarian will discuss this with you before any procedure.
• To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, all pets receive pain relief as part of the desexing procedure. We may prescribe medication for you to administer at home for a few days after the procedure.

After Surgery:

• 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 small portions on the night of surgery. Follow any dietary instructions that the veterinarian has provided.
• Ensure all post-surgical medications (if any) are always administered as per the label instructions.
• Ensure your pet's rest area is clean to avoid infection.
• Check the surgical wound at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disruption (e.g.: bleeding, swelling, redness or discharge). Contact the veterinary clinic immediately if any of these occur. Do not wait to see if they will spontaneously resolve.
• Prevent your pet from licking or chewing the wound. Unique 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.