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.

• 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

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.

“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 after surgery. In most cases your pet will most likely need your help to take it easy (they don't stop)!

What to do before and after surgery

Before surgery:

• Make a booking for your pets operation.

• If your pet is a dog, wash them the day before surgery as they are unable to be washed after until the stitches are removed.

• Do not give your pet food after 6pm the night before the operation and do not give them any water after 8am on the day of surgery (only limited amounts before that time).

• The vet will perform a thorough physical examination before administering an anaesthetic.

• To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, all pets receive pain relief prior to desexing

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 and water should be limited to small portions only on the night after surgery.

• Ensure all post-surgical medications (if any) are administered as per the label instructions.

• Check the incision at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disruption (eg. bleeding, swelling, redness or discharge). If you notice anything wrong contact us immediately.

• 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.