To desex or not to desex, that is the question

WHY DESEX YOUR PET?

Desexing is the surgical procedure that renders a male or female cat or dog unable to reproduce. Desexing is a routine procedure for our surgeons, but it is a once in a lifetime operation for your pet. We are therefore careful to maximize your pet’s comfort and reduce stress once admitted to hospital and throughout the procedure.

Male castration involves a small incision in the front of the scrotum to remove the testicles, which are responsible for the production of sperm and the male hormone testosterone. In females, speying involves intra-abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries and uterus. The ovaries are responsible for the production of eggs and the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Benefits of Castrating Male Pets

Less behavioral problems including: aggression towards other pets and people, wandering around/trying to escape, irritability and unpredictability caused by hormonal surges, urine marking and mounting behavior
Fewer puppies and kittens produced, and therefore less unwanted animals at shelters
No risk of developing testicular cancer
Greatly reduces the potential for prostate problems later in life
In cats, greatly reduced incidence of cat fights, feline AIDS virus and abscesses
Less vet visits for traumatic injuries/illnesses
Living a longer and healthier life

Benefits of Speying Female Pets

Desexing before the first season reduces chances of mammary cancer by over 90%
Less behavioural problems including; aggression towards other pets and people, wandering around/trying to escape, irritability and unpredictability caused by hormonal surges
No unwanted pregnancies or litters
No lock-in period when in season, and no bleeding
Avoidance of potentially life threatening medical conditions such as pyometra (infection of the uterus)
Reduced incidence of feline AIDS virus and cat abscesses
No potentially expensive caesarean procedure for difficult births
Less vet visits for traumatic injuries/illnesses
Living a longer and healthier life

Details about Procedure and Delayed Desexing

Desexing is conducted under full general anesthetic with strict hygiene controls. We always recommend pre-anesthetic bloods to make sure your pet is healthy before surgery. Your pet will also be on intra-venous fluids throughout the procedure to support their vital organs and improve recovery time. When under anesthetic, your pet will be closely monitored by a qualified and skilled veterinary nurse. Your pet will have an Australian Veterinary Association ear tattoo applied to their left ear to indicate they have been desexed. After surgery we use insulated blankets in combination with pain and anti-inflammatory medication to minimize discomfort. Your pet will be sent home the same afternoon once they recover. All our patients are sent home with pain and anti-inflammatory medication and a bucket collar. We perform a follow-up phone call following the procedure to check up on your pet in their recovery, and if required, can make a free follow-up appointment if there are any concerns before suture removal . Sutures are removed 10-14 days after surgery.

Choosing the best time to desex your pet will depend on a number of factors, including their breed, size, species, behavior, and family environment. Desexing has always been recommended at 4-6 months of age, however recent research suggests that large breed dogs should delay desexing until they are skeletally mature. Studies have found that early desexing of large breed dogs may increase the incidence of certain orthopaedic conditions e.g. hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament disease. On the other hand, behavioural problems such as urine marking, mounting, anxiety and various other forms of boldness-related, aggressive or reactive behaviours can be problematic in large breed dogs that undergo delayed desexing. Due to such a large population of dogs suffering from behavioural problems, delayed desexing should be discussed with your veterinarian so that the best decision can be made for your pet.

Common Myths About Desexing

1. Desexed pets put on weight

Animals and people put on weight because of over consumption of food and insufficient exercise. Diet and exercise are the key factors! Your pet's dietary needs can change after desexing, we are always happy to discuss your pet's nutrition in a free nurse appointment.

2. Desexing stops a dog from being a good guard dog

Desexing does not alter this basic instinct – some dogs will never be guard dogs mainly due to breed characteristics. A dog doesn’t need aggression to be a good watch dog; it only needs to be able to bark.

3. Dogs and cats make better pets if they have a litter

Not true. In fact, females often become more aggressive after a litter, rather than quieter, as their protective instincts are magnified. Frustrated entire males can become very unpredictable and aggressive.

4. Pets need to come into season before desexing

Seasons cause a lot of unwanted dogs or tomcats to appear around your house: howling, fighting, marking, urine spraying and unwanted pregnancies.

5. Desexing is cruel/barbaric/painful/dangerous

Not true! The procedure is carried out under anesthesia with strict hygiene controls and monitoring to ensure maximum safety. Pain relief and anti-inflammatory injections are routinely given before and during this surgery to minimize any post-operative discomfort.

6. My pet is confined all the time, so why get it desexed?

Entire animals can suffer sexual frustration when females in season are close or when they themselves are in season. This can lead to changes in their behaviour often leading to destructiveness and aggression. Desexing eliminates this problem, leading to a happier, healthier and well adjusted family pet.

When is the best time to desex?

For cats, any time from 6 months is ideal. Females may repeatedly come into season every couple of weeks, so trying to catch them between these times is ideal.

Larger breed male dogs may benefit from delaying the surgery until they are fully grown to help with skeletal development.

For female dogs, the best prevention against mammary cancer is achieved if they are spayed at 6 months of age, which is usually before their first season. If a female dog has been in season already, waiting till 3-4 weeks after the season finishes minimizes the blood supply to the uterus and lowers the risk of surgical complications.