If you’re not intending to breed your cat or dog, we strongly recommend desexing your pet.
While putting your puppy or kitten through elective surgery when they are young may be quite daunting, desexing is a very common and safe procedure, with minimal risks involved.
Benefits of desexing your pet
Desexing your cat or dog prevents unwanted pregnancies, but also offers many benefits for both male and female pets.
Desexing male pets
Neutering male pets offers a number of health and behavioural benefits, including:
- Reduced risk of prostatic diseases and perianal tumours
- Eliminates testicular cancer
- Reduced tendency to roam – which means less fights and accidents
- Reduced aggression – they won’t feel the need to defend their territory
- Less likely to urinate inappropriately around the house
Desexing female pets
When a female cat or dog is desexed (also known as spaying), their risk of developing a number of serious health issues is significantly reduced.
- Eliminates ovarian and uterine cancers
- Reduced risk of mammary tumours
- Prevents severe uterine infections
Logan City Council also offers discounted registration if your pet has been desexed.
When should my pet be desexed?
We typically recommend that dogs be desexed between 4-6 months of age, however, this can vary depending on their sex and breed. Larger breeds may need to wait a little longer to achieve their full bone growth before being desexed.
For cats, it is best to have them desexed before they have reached a fertile age to avoid any early unwanted pregnancies. We would typically recommend cats are desexed between 3-6 months of age.
Your vet will discuss their recommendations for desexing your dog or cat so you can make a decision together on the most appropriate time.
What does the desexing procedure involve?
Desexing is a surgical day procedure performed under general anaesthetic. When you book your pet in for desexing we will provide you with comprehensive advice on how to prepare your cat or dog for the procedure, as well as aftercare instructions.
Preparing for surgery
Prior to the desexing procedure, your dog or cat will need to fast overnight before being brought to our clinic the morning of the procedure. Once your pet has been admitted, we will perform a thorough examination to ensure they are fit and ready to be placed under anaesthetic.
The desexing procedure
For female pets, the ovaries and the uterus are removed through a small incision in the middle of their belly. For male pets, desexing is a quicker procedure which involves the removal of the testicles via an incision in the front of the scrotum.
Following surgery, your pet will be kept for a number of hours for close observation by our nursing staff and provided with necessary pain relief.
After surgery
Being a relatively simple procedure, your pet will be able to return home later the same day. You will need to keep them quiet and separated from other pets to ensure their wound heals properly.
Post-procedure infection is rare but can occur if your cat or dog chews at their stitches or is overly active immediately following their procedure. A cone (also known as an e-collar) is particularly effective to stop dogs from biting or licking at their sutures post-surgery.
We will schedule a follow-up appointment in 10-14 days to check on their wound and remove any non-dissolvable sutures.
Still not sure about desexing your pet?
We understand that having your beloved pet undergo surgery can be worrying.
The highly experienced vets at Bryants Road Vet perform cat and dog desexing under the highest of safety conditions. Our vets have completed countless desexing procedures and are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery.
To organise your pet’s desexing procedure, give the team a call on 07 3801 1744 or drop into the clinic at 141 Bryants Road Loganholme.