One of the most asked questions we hear is whether or not pet owners should desex their pets.
Unless you’re planning on breeding your pet, desexing, also known as spaying (for females) or neutering /castration (for males), is a crucial part of responsible pet ownership.
While many pet owners hesitate due to the common myths or concerns around the procedure, the truth is that desexing offers many health and behavioural benefits.
Plus, it helps to prevent shelters from becoming overrun with unexpected pregnancies!
In this handy guide, our team of vets from Direct Vet Services in Point Cook will demystify the process and explain why desexing is one of the best decisions you can make for your beloved pet’s long-term health and happiness.
Why desexing is highly recommended for non-breeding pets
If you’re not keeping your pet for breeding purposes, desexing is a responsible choice for these top 4 reasons:
- Prevents unwanted litters
Thousands of unwanted animals end up in shelters each year, many of them from unplanned breeding and the owners’ inability to care for the litter. - Improves behaviour
Desexing reduces hormone driven aggression, territorial marking and your pet’s tendency to roam looking for a mate. - Reduces health risks
You’ll protect your pet against reproductive cancers, infections and hormone-related diseases. - Supports animal welfare
When you help control unwanted pregnancies, you reduce the strain on shelters and rescues, which are often stretched to capacity.
How desexing helps your pet live a happy, healthy life
Desexing your pet does more than stop them from creating or birthing an unwanted litter. It also protects them from serious health issues and improves their overall well-being.
Here are the top 5 health benefits of desexing your pet:
1. Reduces the risk of cancers
Spaying your female pet lowers its risk of ovarian, uterine and mammary cancers, while neutering your male pet helps to prevent testicular and perianal cancers.
2. Prevents life-threatening infections
Desexing eliminates this risk of female pets developing pyometra, a severe uterine infection that can be fatal if left untreated. In males it reduces the risk of prostatitis (infection of the prostate).
3. Minimises hormone-related diseases
Conditions such as prostate enlargement (in males) and hormone-driven tumours (prostate in males, mammary cancers in females) are seen far less commonly in pets that have been desexed.
4. Reduces aggression & roaming
Desexing your male pet decreases hormone driven aggression, making them less likely to fight with other animals. Desexed pets are also less likely to roam searching for a mate, reducing their risk of getting lost or injured.
5. Prevents unwanted pregnancies or complications
Giving birth isn’t easy, and complications can happen! Desexing is the only way you can protect your female from birthing complications and unwanted pregnancies.
6. Cost of council registration
Councils charge a premium to register entire animals, their reasoning is that these animals are more likely to roam, be a public nuisance and need to be impounded.
When is the best time to desex your pet?
When your fur baby is so little and adorable, we understand that the thought of an operation can be daunting.
The optimal time for desexing your pet depends on its species, breed, and the pet itself.
Here are the general age recommendations for desexing:
- Cats: Usually desexed between 4 – 6 months of age (before they reach sexual maturity)
- Dogs: there are a number of factors to take into consideration as there has been shown to be breed and size differences, we taper our recommeendationss on the best choices for your dog. Generally speaking we recommend desexing any dog once it has finished bone growth.
- Small to medium dogs: 8-10 months of age.
- Large dogs: Around 12-18 months of age to allow for full bone growth
- Pocket pets: Timing will vary, so discuss this with your vet, ferrets and rabbits can reproduce from 4 months. All female rabbits and ferrets need to be desexed, unless used for breeding.
If your pet is older than the recommended age, it’s never too late to have them desexed. Our vets are happy to discuss your concerns and recommend what’s best for your pet.
What happens during the desexing procedure?
Your vet will help you make an informed decision about desexing your pet, including explaining the procedure. Understanding what’s involved can help ease your concerns about your pet having a procedure under general anaesthetic.
Here’s a general overview:
1.Preparation before your pet’s surgery
Your vet will perform a full health check on your pet before surgery. We recommend a routine blood test to check their kidney, liver and red blood cell counts, to ensure the organs are in the best of health to metabolise the anaesthetic agents. Your pet will need to fast before their surgery, but your vet will let you know when to start this, so you and your pet are fully prepared. We will also check for baby teeth that have not come out, as removing them at the time of desexing is recommended.
2. Arriving at the clinic
You will be greeted by our staff, who will answer any final questions and advise when you can expect a phone call to pick up your pet. You’ll be able to have lots of hugs before you leave!
3. The procedure begins
When your vet is ready to perform the procedure, your pet is gently placed under a general anaesthetic. A sedative is given first to help your pet relax before administering the anaesthetic. We use multiple forms of pain relief to keep them comfortable before and after the procedure.
4. Surgical removal of reproductive organs
The vet makes a small incision and gently removes either the female ovaries and uterus or the male testicles. The incision is closed with stitches, usually internal, dissolvable ones and external ones, that will need to be removed after the wound has healed.
5. Recovery
Your vet team will monitor your pet as they wake up in the recovery room. They are kept warm and given loads of pats and reassurance until it’s time to go home with you.
Caring for your pet after desexing
When your pet is fully awake, your pet’s nurse will call to arrange a pickup time with you. You’ll be given care instructions and pain relief to make your pet comfortable over the next few days. Your pet will wear a beautiful plastic collar that prevents them from licking the operation site.
Here are some tips to help your pet have a smooth recovery:
- Let them rest in a quiet spot in their favourite bed
- Prevent licking or scratching the surgical site (the collar will help with this we don’t want to have an open or infected wound)
- Limit activity for a couple of days to avoid stress on the stitches and reduce swelling
- Look for signs of infection (redness, swelling or discharge at the incision)
- We will book your pet in for 2 visits to assess healing, with the nursing team. These are included in the cost of the procedure.
- Follow up with your vet for stitch removal (if needed)
Most pets recover quickly and return to their happy selves in a week.
5 Common myths about pet desexing (and the truth!)
Many myths about pet desexing exist, so let’s set the record straight!
Myth 1: My pet will become overweight after desexing
Truth: It’s true that your pet’s metabolism may slow a bit following desexing, but it’s nothing that maintaining a proper diet and exercise won’t help.
Myth 2: Desexing will change my pet’s personality
Truth: Your pet could never lose its unique personality! Desexing will reduce unwanted behaviours (aggression or marking), but your pet’s loving, playful nature won’t change. This fallacy is more likely associated with your pet reaching maturity and the behaviours becoming “more adult” in nature which will happen when they reach maturity.
Myth 3: It’s better for females to have a litter before desexing
Truth: There’s no medical benefit in allowing your pet to have a litter before desexing.
Myth 4: The desexing surgery is too risky for my pet
Truth: Your vet would never perform the procedure if they believed your pet was at risk. Whilst no surgery is ever 100% risk free, desexing is recommended on the basis of other risks when the pet is not desexed. Desexing is a routine procedure with minimal risk when performed by an experienced vet. Running pre-anaesthetic bloods to ensure excellent liver and kidney function, using IV fluids to flush out anaesthetic drugs, and maintain blood pressure throughout. We are also a little different at Direct Vet Services, in that we maintain your pet on a ventilator to assist respiration and maintain ideal blood gasses while asleep. After all safety is everything when we care for your pet’s needs.
Myth 5: Only female pets need to be desexed
Truth: Male pets can still cause unwanted pregnancies! It’s also a significant health benefit for males with desexing reducing their risk of cancer, infections and behavioural issues.
Deciding to desex your pet – we’re here to help
Desexing your pet is one of the best decisions you can make to protect its health and well-being. You’ll help reduce the risk of serious diseases, improve behaviour, and control animal overpopulation.
If you have any concerns or questions about desexing your pet, Direct Vet Services in Point Cook is here to help.
Our experienced, caring team provides expert advice, compassionate care, and a stress-free experience for you and your pet.
Contact us today to book a desexing consultation and learn more about the benefits of this essential procedure for your beloved pet.