Desexing
Should I desex my DOG?
Desexing will help control many problems such as roaming, aggression, inappropriate mounting and territorial urine marking as well as mammary, prostate and testicular tumours. There is now some debate about the benefit of your female dog having a season or a litter first before desexing. There are some advantages to letting the dog approach maturity before desexing, especially in larger breed dogs, but getting her desexed before her first or second season drastically reduces the chances of her getting mammary tumours later in life.
Why do I need to desex my CAT?
Desexing will help control many problems such as spraying, wandering, behaviour problems and mammary, and testicular tumours. There is no advantage for your female cat to have a season or a litter first before desexing. In fact, getting her desexed before her first season drastically reduces the chances of her getting mammary tumours later in life. By desexing your female cat, this will stop the possibility of any unwanted litters. Desexing will also reduce the likelihood of your cat getting into a cat fight (which in turn reduces the risk of getting abscesses and contracting Feline Aids).
How old should my PUPPY or KITTEN be?
Desexing has traditionally been done at about 5-6 months of age. This involves a day visit with us at the clinic. Your puppy or kitten will be given a general anaesthetic and pain relief before and after the procedure. It will be important for you to keep your pet quiet for 10-14 days following the procedure.
As mentioned, there is now a lot of debate about the “right” age to desex a pet. The larger the breed of dog, the later they mature, especially their bone growth and closure, and the later we should leave desexing. Whilst some opinion mentions leaving until after a season, this is not necessary if the the dog has reached mature, or close to mature size. Please feel free to come in and discuss your pet’s specific circumstances with our expert staff.