Desexing

Desexing

Desexing prevents unwanted pregnancies in pets, can reduce territorial marking behaviours, and can greatly reduce the number of stray and abandoned animals that if unable to be rehomed may have to be euthanised.

The desexing procedure involves removing part of a pet’s reproductive system so that they are biologically not able to have babies – this is called “speying” in female animals and “castration” in males. Spey and castration surgeries are very common surgical procedures, and our vets are highly-experienced ensuring your pet will be in the safest of hands possible.

Aside from preventing pregnancies, there are also strong medical reasons for desexing. It not only reduces the risk of certain cancers (such as mammary cancer in female dogs and testicular cancer in male dogs) but also prevents a life-threatening condition known as pyometra, which is a condition involving an infected pus-filled uterus in female dogs and cats.

With age, changes to the reproductive tract can lead to a thickening of the uterus and the formation of cysts. These cysts provide a perfect environment for bacteria to replicate and the thickened uterus has trouble contracting to remove the bacteria.

The result can be an infected uterus, a very serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Signs of pyometra include increased thirst, lethargy, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and sometimes, but not always, vaginal discharge.

Call our friendly veterinary staff today if you have any questions about pet desexing.