Mt Martha Vet ClinicDesexing Your Dog
At Mt Martha Vet Clinic, we understand how much your canine friend means to you. Desexing is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are dedicated to ensuring your pet’s operation is performed safely and successfully.
What is Involved in Desexing?
On the morning of surgery, your pet is weighed and examined. Blood testing is performed if elected. A sedative injection is given, which relieves anxiety & provides pain relief. An intravenous (IV) catheter is placed, and general anaesthesia is induced by injection through this catheter and then maintained with a mixture of gas and oxygen via a tube placed in the throat. IV fluids are commenced. The surgical site is clipped and prepared with antiseptics. The anaesthetic is constantly monitored and recorded by a nurse. The vet performs the surgery in sterile conditions using human-grade suture materials. A tattoo is applied to the left ear so that your pet can be recognised as having been desexed, and further pain relief can be administered. Afterwards, your pet’s recovery is closely monitored, and further pain relief is given again as required. The IV catheter and drip are removed once we are happy with your pet’s recovery, and they have been offered food and water.
In FEMALES, the uterus and the ovaries are removed (known as a spay).
Post-Surgery Care
At discharge, we give you written instructions on postoperative care. We expect that at discharge, your pet will be walking and happy to see you, though quieter than usual. A small number of pets will need to wear a protective hood to stop them from chewing at their stitches. After desexing, exercise must be limited to leash walking only until stitches are removed and internal wounds have healed. Our fees include several days of post op pain relief, a check-up at 2-4 days and stitch removal/ final check at 10-14 days after surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Desexing?
In addition to controlling fertility and preventing unwanted puppies, there are several health and behavioural benefits.
For FEMALES
- Dogs spayed before their first heat have a near-zero risk of breast cancer.
- Infection of the womb (pyometra) is a life-threatening condition that is common in non-desexed bitches, the risk of which is eliminated by spaying.
- A spayed bitch avoids the risks and costs associated with pregnancy and giving birth.
At What Age Can My Dog Be Spayed at Mt Martha Veterinary Clinic?
This varies very much according to breed!
The minimum age is 5 months, as there are increased anaesthetic risks in younger patients. Bitches can come into heat any time from 6 months, and for a lot of breeds it is now advised to allow them to have at least one season before desexing and waiting till they are over 12 months old.
Know what to expect when your bitch comes on heat (also known as being in season)! The first signs are a swollen vulva and mild bleeding. She is not fertile in this stage and won’t accept a male. This is proestrus and lasts, on average, 9 days, but can range from 7 to 14 days or longer. The following 2 weeks, once bleeding has stopped, is the fertile oestrus phase, and contact with male dogs needs to be avoided. So you should expect at least a month when you will need to take precautions to avoid other dogs.
We allow at least 6 weeks after the season has finished for everything to shrink back down before we can spay. If you are not sure when it all started, then we would allow 3 months – there is at least a 6-month gap before the next season, so there is no rush.
When Can I Go Ahead?
A few days’ notice is all that is required – simply call us on 03 5974 1199, we will be happy to make the arrangement and supply you with a pre-anaesthetic information sheet that details what you will need to do on the morning of your pet’s surgery.
Any questions? Feel free to ask our helpful staff on 03 5974 1199.