Your pets desexing procedure explained
It’s not “just a spey” or “just a castrate” – it’s major surgery, and we take it seriously.
Desexing is one of the most common procedures we perform, but while it’s routine for us, it’s still major surgery for your pet.
We want you to know exactly what happens behind the scenes and how much care goes into keeping your pet safe, comfortable, and pain-free.
Before Surgery
When you arrive, a veterinary nurse will go through your pet’s surgical consent form. Please schedule 10 minutes for this to occur.
Once admitted, your pet will receive:
- A physical examination checking heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature.
- Pre-anaesthetic blood testing (if chosen or recommended) to ensure your pet’s organs are functioning well.
- A tailored anaesthetic plan specific to your pet’s age, breed, and health.
Your pet will then receive a pre-medication — a gentle combination of pain relief and sedation to help them relax and settle before anaesthesia begins. This means a smoother, calmer experience for your pet.
Anaesthetic and Monitoring
Once your pet is relaxed, an intravenous (IV) catheter is placed. This allows us to:
- Give precise doses of anaesthetic and pain relief
- Provide IV fluids to maintain blood pressure and hydration
- Act quickly in the unlikely event of an emergency
Anaesthesia is induced with safe, modern drugs and maintained using oxygen and anaesthetic gas — similar to what’s used in human hospitals.
Throughout the entire procedure, a dedicated surgical nurse continuously monitors your pet’s:
- Heart rate & rhythm
- Breathing & oxygen levels
- Blood pressure & hydration
- Temperature
- Anaesthetic depth
Your pet is never left unattended — their safety and comfort are always our priority.
The Surgery Itself
- Spey (female): Removal of the ovaries and uterus through a small abdominal incision.
- Castration (male): Removal of the testicles through a small incision near the scrotum.
Both are performed using sterile surgical technique and precision instruments.
Although these surgeries are commonly done, they are still complex internal procedures that require skill and care.
Recovery and Aftercare
After surgery, your pet is carefully moved to a recovery area where they are:
- Monitored until they are fully awake and steady
- Kept warm with blankets or heat pads
- Given additional pain relief as needed
Once your pet is bright, alert, and comfortable, we’ll call you to arrange discharge.
At pickup, we’ll go through everything you need to know for recovery at home — including medication, wound care, and activity restrictions.
Our Promise
Your pet’s safety is always at the heart of what we do.
We treat every patient as if they were our own - with gentle hands, modern equipment, and a commitment to exceptional care at every step.
It might be a “routine” procedure, but to us, there’s no such thing as just a spey or just a castrate.
Thank you for trusting us with your pet’s care.
If you have any questions before or after surgery, please don’t hesitate to call — we’re always here to help.