My dog needs de-sexing / neutering, what is involved?

17 Oct 2018

The term for de-sexing a female dog is 'spaying'.  When female dogs are spayed both ovaries and the uterus are removed.
The term for de-sexing a male dog is 'castrating'.  When male dogs are castrated both testicles are removed.

The word neutering describes both the spaying and castrating of dogs.

Castrated male dogs tend to be less aggressive toward other dogs (especially other male dogs) and don't roam the neighborhood seeking out female dogs in heat.  Castrating your male dog also prevents many health problems that commonly occur later in life e.g. testicular cancer, perineal hernias and prostate problems. 

Having your female dog spayed reduces the number of unwanted puppies and also prevents many health problems which are commonly encountered later in life e.g. mammary tumours, uterine infections (termed 'pyometra' - these can be life threatening) and ovarian cysts and tumours.  With each season the risk of developing these problems increases.  

The ideal age for neutering is determined by several different factors including expected mature weight, breed, lifestyle and temperament and may vary significantly for each dog. We will discuss with you the pro's and con's of neutering, and use the latest available data based information to decide with you the best age for neutering. The ideal time for these conversations are at your puppy's final vaccination visit and 6 month puppy check. If we have not seen your dog before we recommend booking a vet consultation to discuss what would be best for you and your dog.

Because both operations are performed under general anaesthetic your dog will need to spend the day with us and will need to be fasted (no food after 8.00pm in the evening the night before and no breakfast in the morning, water should be taken away at 7.00am).

The vet will perform a pre-operative health check on the morning of the surgery to check that your dog is fit and well, and in good shape to undergo an anesthetic and surgery. We will phone you if there are any concerns. Two to three days after the operation we schedule another appointment with you to make sure everything is okay and that your dog is recovering well.  A final appointment is required after approximately ten days to remove the stitches.

At Vetcall the price includes the pre-operative health check on the morning of the surgery, post-operative check 2-3 days later and stitch removal, short acting potent painkiller (6-8 hours effect) and 24 hour anti-inflammatory painkiller injections given at the time of your dog’s surgery and 2 days of anti-inflammatory painkiller tablets to take home.

We only use modern safe anaesthetic drugs, and all anaesthetics are monitored by a qualified veterinary nurse.

You have the option to have a pre-anaesthetic blood test performed as well as having your dog put on intravenous fluids (fluid drip).

A pre-anaesthetic blood test is performed on the day of surgery and gives us valuable information and peace of mind.  A small sample of blood is collected and tested to check if your dog’s organs are functioning normally, and helps to reveal any hidden conditions.  This helps us select the best anaesthetic protocol for your dog and minimise risks and consequences. 

Intravenous fluid support given throughout your dog's operation and recovery period reduces risk by helping to maintain a normal blood pressure and ensures immediate access to your dog’s circulation should any anaesthetic or surgical complications arise. Dogs supported with intravenous fluids have a quicker smoother recovery and less post – operative complications.