Desexing
Should I Get My Pet Desexed?
Deciding on whether to have your pet desexed or not is a question that every pet parent asks. At MVH we do recommend that all pets be desexed. Not only are there are a number of health benefits but having your pet desexed also decreases the number of unwanted puppies and kittens that find themselves homeless or in shelters across Australia.
What is desexing?
Surgical desexing involves removal of part of a pet’s reproductive system whilst under a general anaesthetic. In females, desexing, also known as spaying or an ovariohysterectomy, involves removing the ovaries and uterus. In males, desexing, also known as castration or neutering, involves the removal of both testicles.
Why your pet needs to be desexed
Around Australia millions of dogs and cats are destroyed at animal shelters every year. Veterinarians recommend desexing to prevent unwanted pregnancies in females and to stop this unnecessary destruction. Desexing is especially important for cats, as it is not always possible to tell when she is in season and cats often roam outside boundaries. In female dogs, desexing automatically stops their cycles and the associated bleeding and attention from male dogs that result in pregnancy.
Castration in male pets helps to control several behavioural related issues. In dogs it can prevent aggression problems and wandering instincts which are characteristic of ‘pack’ animals that need to seek other dogs company. It is in fact kinder to desex your male pet to stop the ‘hormonal’ need to wander and find a mate. In male cats it can reduce the tendency to roam and fight which often leads to cat bite abscesses and related complications.
In both cats and dogs, male urine odour can be particularly strong and pungent. Desexing usually prevents this odour plus in most cases desexing will reduce or eliminate spraying in cats.
Females
In females, desexing (also known as spaying) reduces the risk of mammary tumours, and eliminates the risk of tumours in the ovaries, uterus and cervix, and prevents other medical conditions such as pyometra (infection of the uterus).
Males
In males, desexing (which is also knows as neutering), reduces the risk of prostatic diseases, perianal tumours and eliminates the risk of testicular cancers.
At what age should your pet be desexed?
The recommended age for desexing a dog or cat is six months, however in some breeds of dog it may be beneficial to wait longer. This should be discussed with your Veterinarian.
What you should know about surgery at MVH:
The goal of any surgery at MVH is to minimize anxiety to your pet, perform a safe procedure and eliminate pain during and after surgery. With this in mind, here are a few things you should know about surgery at MVH.
Pain relief
Pain relief is provided to all pets. Depending on the procedure, we also provide take home medication so your pet can continue to recover comfortably on their return home.
Gas anaesthesia
At MVH we use gas anaesthesia, the safest form of anaesthetic for pets. We also use specialised equipment to monitor the administration of anaesthetic during surgery.
Sterile surgery and dedicated theatre
Just as in human surgery, the MVH surgical team are experience in practicing sterile surgical techniques. Instruments are sterilised in an autoclave and we have a dedicated surgical theatre.
Monitoring
The MVH dedicated patient care nursing staff will monitor your pet before, during and after surgery and will ensure you pet is kept in a comfortable and warm environment.
Time to microchip
Microchipping is a non-invasive, safe way of identifying your pet for life should they become lost, and is required for council registration in Mildura. Desexing is a great time to consider microchipping as your pet is under anaesthetic.
Your day
We are often asked whether or not a pet parent should stay at home to care for a pet after surgery, particularly for routine surgery such as desexing. Generally pets make a speedy recovery after routine surgery. For this reason staying at home with them is not necessary as long as they have somewhere warm and comfortable to stay. However, if you are considering making special plans to be with your pet, we suggest you take the day off after surgery rather than the day of surgery.
Your pet’s day at the vet
Once your pet has been admitted to our ward, we will perform a health check up and administer a sedative, this will help your pet to relax. After surgery your pet will recover on a heating pad, accompanied by hygienic, dry and fluffy bedding. Your pet will be treated as if they are our own. Not only will our veterinary nurse continue to monitor throughout the recovery recovery process, they will also give your pet the attention (and cuddles of course) they deserve.
FAQs – The Myths of desexing
‘Females should have a litter before being desexed.’ For your pets health this is not true, and you will avoid contributing to the overpopulation problem of dogs and cats. Having a litter will not improve or change your pets behaviour or temperament.
‘Desexing will make my pet fat.’ Desexing is done at an age when rapid puppy growth is decreasing and diet control is necessary. Overfeeding and lack of exercise will make your pet fat not desexing.
‘Desexing a trained guard dog will reduce his/her ability to guard.’ Guarding results from instinctive territorial behaviour. This does not change when a dog is desexed, in fact they are less likely to become aggressive as they get older.
‘Pets become lazy after they are desexed’. There are generally no changes in the character of pets after desexing. Young male dogs however will be less inclined to mount objects and jump fences in search of a mate.