WHY DESEX YOUR PET?
I’ve regularly been asked all through my almost 40 years in veterinary practice for my advice on what I like to call “casual” breeding of female dogs. Usually this is in the context of the client and their family thinking it would be a fun thing to do, with no harm done.
As a result, I have spent the best part of 40 years being a complete party pooper on many occasions, when my response is an uncompromising no. To avoid offense by being too blunt, I tend to talk my way quietly around to this recommendation, but it to me is still a black and white situation.
Where someone has a strong and heartfelt desire to explore the rich and rewarding experience of breeding puppies, they should do so, but only becoming a registered breeder. They must select and purchase their purebred bitch, join the Canine Control Council, register a kennel prefix, develop a relationship with other breeders, select a breeder’s dog to use as a sire, pay them the appropriate fee, invest in suitable accommodation for mum and her puppies, weather the emotional storm of those puppies being whelped, and then successfully raise those puppies. Puppies must be fed, wormed, vaccinated, microchipped, socialized, and – above all – placed into appropriate homes.
This can all be incredibly rewarding: looking at mum nursing a healthy litter is very special. But it can be exhausting (of mental and financial resources) and can go horribly wrong (mismating with the mongrel next door, caesarean section in the middle of the night, sick puppies, demanding puppies still soaking up resources and no decent homes for them in sight, et cetera).
Best not! I hate to spoil some potential great fun, but unless you can play by the book as outlined above, please desex your dog at the recommended age (six months), and let them get on with the process of becoming a happy, well-adjusted canine citizen. Otherwise, you risk being part of the cause of the heartbreaking stream of puppies destined for the welfare merry-go-round, of homing, re-homing, shelter surrender and ultimately euthanasia in so many cases.
Desexing is the surgical procedure that renders a male or female cat or dog unable to reproduce. Desexing is a routine procedure for our surgeons, but it is a once in a lifetime operation for your pet. We are therefore careful to maximize your pet’s comfort and reduce stress once admitted to hospital and throughout the procedure.
Benefits of Castrating Male Pets
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Less behavioral problems including: aggression towards other pets and people, wandering around/trying to escape, irritability and unpredictability caused by hormonal surges, urine marking and mounting behavior
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Fewer puppies and kittens produced, and therefore less unwanted animals at shelters
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No risk of developing testicular cancer
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Greatly reduces the potential for prostate problems later in life
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In cats, greatly reduced incidence of cat fights, feline AIDS virus and abscesses
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Less vet visits for traumatic injuries/illnesses
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Living a longer and healthier life
Benefits of Speying Female Pets
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Desexing before the first season reduces chances of breast cancer by over 90% – there is no physical or behavioural advantage for your pet in speying after their first season or litter
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Less behavioural problems including; aggression towards other pets and people, wandering around/trying to escape, irritability and unpredictability caused by hormonal surges
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No unwanted pregnancies or litters
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No lock-in period when in season, and no bleeding (when entire, bleeding occurs twice a year for up to 3-4 weeks)
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Avoidance of potentially life threatening medical conditions such as pyometra (infection of the uterus)
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Reduced incidence of feline AIDS virus and cat abscesses
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No potentially expensive caesarean procedure for difficult births
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Less vet visits for traumatic injuries/illnesses
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Living a longer and healthier life
Details about Procedure and Delayed Desexing
Desexing is conducted under full general anaesthetic with strict hygiene controls. Your pet will also be on intra-venous fluids throughout the procedure to support their vital organs and improve recovery time. When under anaesthetic, your pet will be closely monitored by a qualified and skilled veterinary nurse. Your pet will have an Australian Veterinary Association ear tattoo applied to their left ear to indicate they have been desexed. After surgery we use insulated blankets in combination with pain and anti-inflammatory medication to minimise discomfort. Your pet will be sent home the same afternoon once they recover. All our patients are sent home with pain and anti-inflammatory medication and a bucket collar. We perform a follow-up phone call following the procedure to check up on your pet in their recovery, and if required, can make a free follow-up appointment if there are any concerns before suture removal. Sutures are removed 10 days after surgery.
Choosing the best time to desex your pet will depend on a number of factors, including their breed, size, species, behavior, and family environment. Desexing has always been recommended at 4-6 months of age, however recent research suggests that large breed dogs should delay desexing until they are skeletally mature. Studies have found that early desexing of large breed dogs may increase the incidence of certain orthopaedic conditions e.g. hip dysplasia and cruciate ligament disease. On the other hand, behavioural problems such as urine marking, mounting, anxiety and various other forms of boldness-related, aggressive or reactive behaviours can be problematic in large breed dogs that undergo delayed desexing. Due to such a large population of dogs suffering from behavioural problems, delayed desexing should be discussed with your veterinarian so that the best decision can be made for your pet.
Common Myths About Desexing
1. Desexed pets put on weight
Animals and people put on weight because of over consumption of food and insufficient exercise. Diet and exercise are the key factors! Your pet's dietary needs can change after desexing, we are always happy to discuss your pet's nutrition in a free nurse appointment.
2. Desexing stops a dog from being a good guard dog
Desexing does not alter this basic instinct – some dogs will never be guard dogs, they are just too placid, desexed or not. A dog doesn’t need aggression to be a good watch dog; it only needs to be able to bark! If you want an aggressive dog to guard your house, invest in a good security system. In the long term, it will probably cost you a lot less and cause a lot less problems than an aggressive pet will!
3. Dogs and cats make better pets if they have a litter
Not true. In fact, females often become more aggressive after a litter, rather than quieter, as their protective instincts are magnified. Frustrated entire males can become very unpredictable and aggressive.
4. Pets need to come into season before desexing
Seasons cause a lot of unwanted dogs or tomcats to appear around your house: howling, fighting, marking, urine spraying and unwanted pregnancies. There are no medical reasons for having a season and, in fact, that first season can predispose to medical problems, such as mammary cancer, later on in life.
5. Desexing is cruel/barbaric/painful/dangerous
Not true! The procedure is carried out under anaesthesia with strict hygiene controls and monitoring to ensure maximum safety. Strong pain relief and anti-inflammatory injections are routinely given before and during this surgery to minimise any post-operative discomfort. Our pets have no sense of “missing” anything. They live from day to day concerned only about their daily activities.
6. My pet is confined all the time, so why get it desexed?
Entire animals can suffer sexual frustration when females in season are within smell or when they themselves are in season. This can lead to changes in their behaviour often leading to destructiveness and aggression. Desexing eliminates this problem, leading to a happier, healthier and well adjusted family pet.
When is the best time to desex?
For male cats, any time from 6 months is ideal.
Larger breed male dogs may benefit from delaying the surgery until they are fully grown to help with skeletal development.
For females, the best prevention against mammary cancer is achieved if they are spayed at 6 months of age, which is usually before their first season. If a female dog has been in season already, waiting till 2-3 months after the season finishes minimizes the blood supply to the uterus and lowers the risk of surgical complications.
In cats, females may repeatedly come into season every couple of weeks, so trying to catch them between these times is ideal.