Desexing your pet is an important decision to make. Not only are you protecting your pet from life threatening conditions but you are also preventing unwanted litters.
5-6 months of age is generally the right time to desex your dog or cat. It is usually a day procedure and your pet will be provided with adequate pain relief to keep them comfortable when discharged from hospital.
There are many benefits of desexing your pets. These include:
- In females, desexing can prevent a condition call Pyometra. This can be a fatal condition if not treated as an emergency. Pyometra is an infection of the uterus, which causes a build up of pus.
- Also in females it can prevent mammary tumours (breast cancer)
- In males, desexing can prevent testicular cancer, prostate hyperplasia, and perianal tumours.
- If your male dog has a retained testicle, this needs to be removed as the retained testicle (abdominal or inguinal) can become cancerous
- Reduction in aggression towards other dogs
- Less prone to wander
- Prevent unwanted litters, having to deal with the costs of raising puppies/kittens and unexpected vet fees if an emergency caesarian is required.
If your female dog or cat is in-season, we recommend that you wait until at least 4-8 weeks after she has finished her cycle. Desexing while they are on heat can be quite dangerous as complications can arise. Please speak with our vet or nurse for advice on when you should book your pet in for the procedure.