Desexing

Desexing (also known as neutering, spaying or castrating) your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce.

This is the most frequent surgery performed by our veterinarians, and generally your pet is discharged and allowed to go home in the afternoon after surgery.

There are many benefits to desexing your pet. They include:

  • Preventing unwanted litters, which can be very costly, and may add to the already overwhelming number of stray animals that are put down each year
  • 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
  • Reduction of council registration fees

 

What to do before and after surgery

Before surgery:

  • Make a booking for your pet’s operation.
  • You will then receive a pre-operative instruction email from us.
  • If your pet is a dog, you can wash them the day before surgery as they are then unable to be washed for 10 – 14 days after surgery.
  • You can give you pet an evening meal as normal the day prior to surgery, but do not leave food out overnight. Water should be freely available to your pet until 8am on the day of surgery.
  • An optional pre-anaesthetic blood test may be performed prior to surgery to check vital organ function.
  • The vet will perform a thorough physical examination before administering an anaesthetic.
  •  Intravenous fluid therapy is provided during desexing.
  • To ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible, all pets receive pain relief as part of the desexing procedure, and we may prescribe medication for you to administer at home for a six days after the procedure.

After Surgery:

  • Keep your pet restrained and quiet as the effects of anaesthetic can take 24 – 48 hours 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 of surgery.
  • Follow any post-operative instructions that the clinic has provided to you.
  • Ensure all post-surgical medications are administered as per the label instructions.
  • Ensure your pet’s rest area is clean to avoid infection.
  • Check the incision at least twice daily for any signs of infection or disruption (e.g. bleeding, swelling, redness or discharge).