Desex or not desex, that is the question! Desexing is one of the most important and beneficial things you can do for your companion – and for your community. We recommend desexing between the ages of five-and-a-half and six months of age.

Reasons for desexing your female dog:

• Prevention of heat cycle: as an owner, you may need to contend with the vaginal bleeding that typically lasts for up to 21 days. You may also be faced with behaviour and hygiene issues during this time.
• Prevention of cancers, such as: mammary cancer, uterine and ovarian cancer. Did you know that desexing your female dog before the first 'heat' means having less than 0.5% chance of developing mammary (breast) cancer? Removal of the uterus and ovaries also means no risk from uterine or ovarian tumours.
• Prevention of uterine infection (pyometra): this is a life-threatening condition, where the uterus fills with pus and if not treated immediately can prove fatal. In the event that this happens, emergency surgery is needed. This surgery is delicate, complicated and expensive, putting your beloved dog more at risk due to the severity of the condition.
• Prevention of unwanted pregnancies: females come into heat twice a year, and can start from six months of age. The heat usually lasts approximately three weeks each time. There is the risk of unwanted pregnancies, which results in unwanted puppies.

Other advantages:

• Helps stop overall number of unwanted dogs in the wider community.
• Council fees are cheaper.
• Less likely to wander and look for a mate. Wandering dogs are likely to be hit by cars or to be picked up by the council. A fine is required to be paid to release a dog from the pound.

What happens when my dog comes in for desexing?

• A general anaesthetic is given so your dog will need to be fasted from 8pm the evening before. The anaesthetic can cause drowsiness for 24 hours after the surgery.
• Desexing is a day procedure – your dog will come into the clinic in the morning and go home the same afternoon.
• If your dog has not already had a pre-anaesthetic blood test, we will recommend the test is performed on the day before the procedure. When the tests come back and all is acceptable, your dog will then be anaesthetised.
• Your dog will be placed on a gas anaesthetic – allowing for accurate monitoring, anaesthetic and oxygen delivery. After we clip and prepare the surgical area, the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision just below the umbilicus ('belly button').
• Pain relief is given at the time of the surgery and extra pain relief can be arranged if your dog needs it.
• Stitches will remain in the skin for 10 days and after this time will be removed by our nursing staff.
• It is important that the sutures stay dry and clean for the duration – this means no bathing or swimming until they come out.
• The dog is not allowed to lick the stitches – an Elizabethan collar or bitterant spray is sometimes required.
• The stitches should be checked daily to make sure the wound is not swollen, hot, red or weeping. If you are concerned, the dog must be brought in for it to be checked.
• It is really important that the dog stays quiet and inactive whilst the stitches are in place. If the dog is too active, it can prevent the wound from healing and cause complications.

Are there any dangers associated with the operation?

All anaesthetics face a risk. However, with today’s modern anaesthetics, pre-blood testing and monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low.

What post-operative precautions I should take?

Restrict exercise, preferably by confining your pet for four to five days after surgery. Dogs that normally have active lifestyles may risk stretching their wound or damaging their stitches if allowed to excessively exercise too soon. After 10–14 days your dog may start to return to her normal exercise routine and/or active lifestyle. Until then your dog should only have on-lead walks with no running, jumping or swimming.

Common desexing myths:

It's better to let my female dog have one litter before I get her desexed ... F A L S E !

There is no medical benefit or any other benefit to a female dog in letting her have one litter before she is desexed. The surgery on a mature female who has had a heat or had pups is longer, carries more risks and is more expensive than desexing a five- to six-month-old pup.

My dog will get fat after being desexed ... F A L S E !

The metabolism does slow down after desexing and as the dog approaches six to 12 months of age, but providing you feed the correct type of food, don’t overfeed your dog and encourage regular exercise, you won't have a fat dog.

Desexing will change my dog's personality ... F A L S E !

Desexing will not change your dog's personality. Male and female dogs that are desexed have a nicer temperament as they are not as driven by their hormones, and make much nicer family pets.