dog & cat desexing
Should I Desex My Pet?
Desexing is a recommended procedure for all dogs and cats not intended for breeding purposes, as dogs and cats left intact are at risk of a number of health issues. For males, the testicles are removed through a single incision directly in front of the scrotum (dogs), or through an incision over each testicle (cats). For females, the reproductive organs are removed through a small incision in the abdomen.
What are the Benefits of Desexing?
- Prevention of unwanted litters
- Females: reduced risk of mammary (breast) cancer, reduction/elimination in the risk for uterine infections (pyometra).
- Males: reduced risk of prostatic disease, testicular cancer and perianal tumours
- Behavioural benefits: reduced spraying/marking, fighting and aggression (if castration occurs before the onset of puberty – desexing mature dogs is not as effective in reducing aggression).
What Age Should My Pet Be Desexed?
For dogs, the recommended age of desexing depends on the breed, but in most cases is recommended at 6 months of age. For cats, desexing is recommended at 3-4 months of age.
Recent studies have linked early desexing for certain dog breeds to an increased risk of diseases later on in life. For breed-specific recommendations tailored to your pet’s circumstances, we recommend discussing with your veterinarian.
For animals which are already pregnant, on heat (females), or with undescended testicles (males), we recommend discussing with your vet.
How Can I Prepare My Pet For Surgery?
- Bathing: After surgery, your pet’s incision will not be able to get wet for 10-14 days, until the incision has healed. Bathing your pet before surgery is a good idea to ensure they remain clean and smelling nice.
- Fasting: It is important that your pet’s stomach is empty before an anaesthetic, as the drugs we administer can cause vomiting. Pets who vomit while sedated or recovering from their procedure run the risk of aspirating. Aspiration pneumonia is often life threatening, therefore we will delay your pet’s procedure if they have not been adequately fasted. Please do not feed your pet after 10pm the night before surgery. They may have a little bit of water throughout the night, but please remove access to water first thing in the morning. If your pet is due for oral medication the morning of the procedure, please ask us if it is appropriate to give the medication on an empty stomach.
- Blood Tests: Prior to anaesthesia, a veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination to ensure that your pet is well enough for the procedure, and that there are no new medical conditions that could complicate the procedure and compromise the health of your pet. There is always the possibility a physical exam alone will not identify all of your pets health problems. Prior to anaesthesia, an optional pre-anaesthetic blood test can be performed. Blood tests allow us to screen for illness, anaemia, dehydration, infection, inflammation, liver disease, kidney disease, and electrolyte disturbances – all of which may increase the risk of complications while under general anaesthesia if not addressed prior. More information about pre-anaesthetic blood testing can be found in our pre-operative surgery handout. Please note that pets over the age of 8 years old are strongly encouraged to have blood tests prior to anaesthesia.
- Vaccination and Parasite Control: We recommend ensuring that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date before their procedure, however these can be administered at the same time if necessary. If your dog receives a heartworm injection, this can be administered at the same time as desexing if due.
The Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, an admission appointment with one of our nurses will be booked between 9am and 10am. This admission process will take a few minutes as you will be asked questions about your animal’s health and you will also be required to sign an anaesthetic consent form. This form describes that no anaesthetic or surgical procedure is without some risk to the patient. Every care is taken to ensure the health and safety of your pet- it is our first priority- however, we would be irresponsible not to inform you of the risks involved. If you are uneasy about this procedure or the complications that may arise please contact us for more information. We are here to help.
Fees
- Cat/Dog Spey <10kg: $630
- Spey Dog 10-20kg: $745
- Spey Dog 21-30kg: $810
- Spey Dog 31-40kg: $875
- Spey Dog >40kg: $940
- Cat Castrate: $275
- Castrate Dog <10kg: $475
- Castrate Dog 10-20kg: $510
- Castrate Dog 21-30kg: $535
- Castrate Dog 31-40kg: $570
- Castrate Dog >40kg: $620
- Basic Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing: $250 – includes haematology, electrolytes, protein and kidney function
- Comprehensive Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Testing: $318 – includes liver function and more (in addition to everything from the basic pre-anaesthetic blood test)
A deposit is necessary to secure your pet’s booking, and any remaining fees must be paid in full at the time of discharge. Please speak with us directly before booking your pet’s procedure if you would like to information about payment options.
What’s Included?
Once your pet is awake, we will contact you and arrange for a discharge time. Discharge instructions will be emailed on the day of surgery, and one of our veterinary nurses will be available to answer any questions about post-operative care upon discharge.
During your discharge consultation, the nurse will book a follow-up appointment to check on your pets wound and remove their sutures (if skin sutures were placed). This appointment occurs approximately 10 days after surgery. If you get home and you have any concerns regarding your pet please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
When you pick your pet up they may be tired and groggy. As such, it is important that they are transported home by vehicle and are not expected to walk there. Once at home they need to be kept confined in a warm, quiet place to recover. We always administer and/or dispense additional pain relief after the procedure, so your pet should have a comfortable night back at home.
Fees
Our Fees Include:
- Pre-anaesthetic examination with one of our experienced vets.
- Anaesthesia, including extensive monitoring with an experienced nurse (oxygenation, blood pressure, temperature, ECG, carbon dioxide)
- Intravenous fluids throughout the procedure.
- Pain relief: in addition to injectable pain relief, we also use local anaesthesia to ensure their recovery is as comfortable as possible. Take-home pain relief is also included in the price of desexing
- Hospitalisation: the cost of hospitalisation for the day is included in the desexing price.
- Post-operative check: we offer complimentary post-operative checks to ensure your pet is healing well from surgery.
Ready to Book?
If you’re ready to book, or if you have any questions, give us a call on 1300 WILD VET (1300 945 383)