Yes you should. Desexing prevents unwanted pregnancies and will stop thousands of dogs and cats being destroyed at animal shelters each year.

Desexing helps control several behavioural issues in male pets such as aggression, wandering and inappropriate urination.

Desexing prevents strong, pungent urine odour in male pets and will reduce or stop spraying in cats.

Desexing has health benefits for both dogs and cats.

In male pets desexing reduces the risk of:

In Female pets desexing reduces the risk of:

The best age for desexing will depend on the breed and size of your pet. Traditional advice has been 6 months for dogs and 5 months for cats. Desexing before the female has first heat will have a protective effect against mammary tumours and ensure undesirable behavioural traits do not develop in males.

Early age desexing may be desirable for some pets and others will benefit from later desexing such as breeds prone to hip dysplasia and cruciate disease. Ring us for advice on your pet.

It should be noted that pets can be desexed at any age but the greatest medical and behavioural benefits are gained by desexing before the pet has matured.

Females should have one litter before being desexed.

This is not necessary for your pets health nor does it make for a more "settled" pet. Spaying a female dog before it's first heat will reduce the risk of mammary cancer to almost nil. Every season a female dog has increases her risk of developing this cancer.

Desexing will make my pet fat!

Desexing does not make your pet fat. This myth may have come about as desexing was done just as the pet has gone through a period of high growth. As it matures it's metabolism and food requirements decrease. Continuing to overfeed your pet makes it fat, not desexing.

Desexing will make my pet lazy.

Desexing will not change your pets general behaviour or activity. Pets will still be more than happy to chase the ball or pounce on a toy mouse. Male dogs will be less inclined to mount objects or jump fences and wander and males cats less inclined to fight other cats. Overfeeding and lack of exercise makes pets lazy.

Desexing is no good for guard dogs

Guarding is an instinctive territorial behaviour, it is not changed by removing the testicles. In fact Police dogs are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. Guarding is instinctive not hormonal.

I don't want my dog to miss being entire

You are "humanising" what your pet feels which is wrong. Desexing pets at 6 months means that do not develop mating behaviours. They don't miss it. Dogs are part of our family but they are not humans and desexed dogs make better pets.

We recommend not to desex a female pet while they are in heat as the nature of being in season makes the surgery more complicated due to the increased blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. It is worth noting that cats can come into season at 6 months so desexing should be done before then.

Desexing can be done about 4 to 6 weeks after the start of the pets last oestrous cycle.

At Sanford Vet we ensure that your pet gets the very best of care and attention. The nursing staff will settle your pet prior to surgery to reduce any anxiety. Your pet will be kept warm with soft bedding and will receive the very best of care before, during and after surgery.

Blood Tests

A blood test may be performed to check vital organ functions prior to anaesthetic to fully assess overall health. Anaesthetics used are very safe, however in some cases blood tests are required prior to anaesthesia.

Pre-anaesthetic check up

 Our Vets will perform a physical exam prior to surgery checking pulse, respiration and temperature as well  as a general check over.

Pre-medication

A pre-medication will be given prior to the anaesthetic to calm your pet.

Fluids

A catheter may be placed to administer intravenous fluids, manage pain relief and anaesthetic during surgery.

Pain Relief

Pain relief is provided both during and after surgery. You will also be provided with medication to take home while your pet recovers from surgery.

Anaesthesia & Surgery

Sanford Vet Geraldton uses the most advanced and safest anaesthetics available and your pet is monitored using specialised equipment during the surgery. The surgery occurs in our dedicated surgical theatre and all instruments are autoclaved and the surgical team scrubbed-in and gowned just as in human surgery.

Recovery

Pets generally recover very quickly after routine surgery such as desexing, much more so than human patients do after surgical procedures. Staying at home with them is not necessary as long as they have somewhere warm and comfortable to rest. If you do wish to take the day off to stay at home with them, the day after surgery would be better than on the day of the surgery itself.