Dog Desexing
For female dogs, it involves the removal of the ovaries and the uterus via a small incision 5 -10cm long either along the abdomen or the flank (the side of the abdomen). For male dogs, it involves the removal of both testicles through a 2-3cm incision just in front of the scrotum. A tattoo can be placed on the inside of your dog’s ear to signify it has been desexed.
Your vet will attend to the post-operative requirements of your dog and normally dogs are ready to go home a few hours after the procedure. Your vet will also give you detailed advice on how to properly care for your dog at home in the days following surgery.
When is the right time?
Traditionally, vets have recommended that cats and dogs are desexed between about 5½ and 6 months of age. But over the past decade, desexing at an earlier age (from eight weeks onwards) has become more common. This is known as early-age desexing or EAD. Pets Haven has been desexing kittens and puppies in its shelters at this earlier age for many years, and based on this experience and the cumulation of considerable scientific evidence, Pets Haven considers EAD to be a safe and effective strategy for the wider community to prevent unplanned/unwanted litters in cats and dogs.
Of course, this is always something you can talk about with one of our friendly veterinarians, Not only do we want to ensure your pet feels safe and comfortable during a procedure, we also spend time ensuring each owner knows all of the details of a routine surgery and is feeling comfortable with the decision.
Why desex your dog?
Desexing not only ensures less unwanted and abandoned animals, but also helps our dogs live longer healthier lives. Desexing your dog not only eliminates the chance of unwanted pregnancies and medical issues, It also eliminates the unpleasant behavior that can be shown in entire dogs, Such as roaming, howling, aggressive behavior towards other dogs in the household or Urinating or “marking” certain areas. A male dog is more likely to try and escape to find a prospective “mate” leaving a path of destruction behind, whilst females can become quite stressed and out of character during a heat cycle.
What are the health benefits?
- It helps control your dog’s urge to wander
- It reduces anti-social behaviours like leg mounting (humping), urine marking in male dogs and oestrus bleeding in female dogs
- It reduces the likelihood of cancer and other diseases of the reproductive organs – uterine, ovarian and mammary diseases in female dogs and testicular cancers, some prostate diseases, perineal hernias and adenomas in male dogs
- It increases the likelihood of your dog enjoying a longer and happier life
- It eliminates unwanted litters of puppies or kittens
- There are council registration rebates for a dog that is both desexed and microchipped
- Reduces territorial behaviour
