Vets on Balwyn recommends de-sexing your dog or cat when it is around 5-6 months old. This is an important procedure both for your pet’s health (as it decreases the likelihood of several serious health conditions) and for the prevention of unwanted litters. With state of the art surgery and recovery facilities staffed by an expert team of veterinary surgeons and nurses, we are proud to offer our clients and patients the highest possible standard of care that puts the comfort and wellbeing of your pet first.

The procedure

De-sexing operations are typically day procedures, so we admit your pet in the morning and discharge them in the afternoon. Upon admission, you will have a consultation with a veterinary nurse where they will go through the admission forms as well as the relevant surgery safety protocols including:

  • Pre-anaesthetic blood testing
  • Intravenous fluid therapy; and
  • Anaesthetic monitoring equipment

For more information on our surgical protocols and optional extras, read our surgery preparation page. The nurse will be able to give you an estimation of the discharge time at admission and we will be in touch with you as soon as your pet wakes up.

Once admitted, pain relief is administered to your pet both before and after the procedure to ensure minimal discomfort and distress. We will also send you home with additional pain relief medication.

Your pet will need between 7-10 days of rest to recover from their surgery. During this time, we strongly advise against any vigorous exercise. 10 days after surgery we will get you in for a complimentary check-up where your pet’s stitches will be removed.

Why de-sex your dog?

Vets on Balwyn recommend de-sexing both male and female dogs before they reach sexual maturity. Some other clinics may perform de-sexing at between 12-16 weeks of age but we recommend the procedure be done a little later, at between 5-6 months for developmental reasons. Some of the benefits of de-sexing your dog include:

For female dogs:

  • No unwanted litters
  • No periods of heat where the female dog attracts the attention of males
  • A dramatically reduced risk of mammary tumours (breast cancer) if de-sexing is performed before the animal’s first heat
  • Reduces the risk of pyometra (infection of the uterus) which is a potentially fatal condition

For male dogs de-sexed before puberty:

  • Less territorial behavior including urine marking and displays of aggression towards other dogs
  • Less inclination to go ‘wandering’
  • Reduced risk of prostate, testicular and perineal hernia problems as they age

Why de-sex your cat?

Some of the benefits of de-sexing a male cat

  • Less urine marking (spraying)
  • Less territorial (less likely to fight other cats)
  • Less likely to develop Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Feline AIDS)
  • Less likely to develop Feline Leukemia
  • Less likely to roam

Some of the benefits of de-sexing a female cat

  • No more periods of heat (characterised by meowing, rolling around on the floor, and general restlessness)
  • Reduced risk of a uterus infection (pyometra)
  • Reduced risk of breast cancer (mammary neoplasia)
  • No unwanted litters

On top of the above-mentioned benefits, desexing your pet also reduces council registration fees.

Pet Care

  • There are three reasons why we recommend a full consultation and health check for every pet at the time of vaccination:
    Read More >
  • If we surveyed pet owners about potential allergy symptoms in dogs and cats, most would list signs such as recurrent ear infections, generalised itchiness, paw licking, or tummy upset.
    Read More >
  • Whilst most owners understand the impact of their pet's oral health on their general health and quality of life, many may still need clarification on the practical ways to achieve excellent pet dental hygiene.
    Read More >

Newsletter Signup