Dog Desexing: What You Need To Know

Dog desexing is a common surgical procedure, regularly referred to as ‘dog castration’ for males or ‘dog spey’ for females. For males, the castration procedure involves surgically removing both testicles – this is called an Orchiectomy. For females, the spaying procedure involves removing the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries – this is called an Ovariohysterectomy.

Why do we desex dogs?

Since 2016, desexing has been a requirement in South Australia by the Dog and Cat Management Board for all dogs over the age of six months. This initiative aimed to reduce unwanted litters, lower stray cat populations, relieve pressure on shelters, and promote responsible pet ownership.

There are also many reasons to desex our beloved dogs, including:

FEMALES

• Significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer when desexed before the first heat
• Prevents ovarian cancer
• Prevents pyometra (a life-threatening uterus infection)
• Eliminates the chance of an unwanted pregnancy
• Avoids the inconvenience, mess and behaviour changes associated with a heat cycle

MALES

• Prevents testicular cancer
• Significantly reduces the risk of future prostate diseases
• May reduce testosterone-based behaviour like aggression toward other dogs, urine marking and roaming
• Eliminates the chance of causing an unwanted pregnancy

If you choose no form of sterilisation, you may be required to register as a breeder regardless of whether you are going to breed or not. Your local council can also impose fines for undesexed (and un-microchipped) dogs.

What has changed?

There used to be a blanket recommendation that dogs should be desexed by six months of age, before they reach sexual maturity. However, recommendations have evolved, and we now take into consideration the sex, age, and breed of the individual dog. These recommendations from WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) aim to balance the positive effects of desexing with a reduction in potential negative effects, such as orthopedic issues during growth.

We often recommend that a large breed dog wait until 12-18 months, when it has finished growing.

As this is considered a medical reason for delaying desexing, we can provide an exemption to submit to the Dog and Cat Management Board.

What are the other options?

Other options exist when it comes to desexing dogs, though they are not common. Having a conversation with your vet can help you find the best path to choose. Other options include:

• Vasectomy for males: Often called a “tube-tie”, this involves severing the vas deferens, so the sperm cannot find a way out to cause pregnancy. The testicles stay intact and the risk of testicular cancer, prostate issues and behaviour concerns doesn’t change. This is not a very common procedure in dogs
• Hysterectomy for females: This is an ovary-sparing version of the traditional spey. The uterus and fallopian tubes are removed, but the ovaries remain. It eliminates the risk of pregnancy and pyometra (uterus infection), but the risk of ovarian cancer, mammary cancer remains, and they can still experience “heat” cycles. This is not commonly performed
• Suprelorin Implant: For male dogs, an implant that is injected under the skin can last for 6 or 12 months. It works by temporarily suppressing the production of male sex hormones, which causes temporary infertility. Suprelorin is like a non-permanent “castration” that can be repeated for as long as necessary, or used to delay surgical castration

What happens on the day of desexing?

Want a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when a pet comes in to be desexed? The gorgeous Arlo helped us create a video documenting his big day! Watch the fun video to see how your pets are cared for when they’re with us. Rest assured, there is no actual footage of the surgical procedure!

We understand that bringing your pet in for surgery can be a bit nerve-wracking. To help you feel more comfortable, here’s a step-by-step guide to what happens on the day of your pet’s procedure:

• Consent Form: The day before your pet’s surgery, we’ll email you a consent form to complete and sign
• Check-in: In the morning, a nurse will admit your pet. This includes taking a deposit and organising a discharge time
• Health Check: Once admitted, our nurses will perform a thorough health check, recording your pet’s weight, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and other vital signs
• Medication Preparation: We’ll calculate and prepare any required medications for your pet
• Digital Charting: All of your pet’s information and medication details will be entered into their digital hospital chart
• IV Catheter Placement: An IV catheter will be gently placed in one of their front legs and secured with bandaging. We use a numbing cream beforehand to ensure your pet doesn’t feel the needle
• Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Test: If needed, we’ll take a blood sample for an in-house blood test. This helps us assess your pet’s organ function and provides a better understanding of their red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelet parameters. This quick test (results typically within 10-15 minutes) helps us identify any underlying diseases or potential health risks before administering anaesthesia
• Comfort and Relaxation: Your pet will be settled into a cozy bed with a cushion and a fluffy blanket, along with warming devices if needed. We also use a pheromone spray called ‘Adaptil’ to help reduce stress and make them feel safe and calm
• Team Discussion: Our nurses and vet team will discuss your pet and the upcoming surgery, addressing any concerns and reviewing blood test results. For each surgery patient, we typically assign a dedicated team of one vet and two nurses. This team usually cares for three surgical patients per day
• Pre-Medication: Your pet will receive a “pre-medication” injection. This acts as both pain relief and a light sedative/anti-anxiety medication, helping them stay calm and comfortable. It also provides pre-emptive pain relief and can reduce the amount of anaesthetic required
• Theatre Preparation: The surgical theatre will be prepared with all necessary equipment, including the anaesthetic machine, fluid therapy, patient warming devices, surgery site disinfectants, medications, and intubation tools
• Anaesthesia Administration: Sedation and anaesthesia are administered via an IV injection. An endotracheal (throat) tube is then placed, and your pet is connected to a gaseous anaesthetic and oxygen machine
• Constant Monitoring: Your pet will be covered with a warm air blanket, connected to IV fluids, and hooked up to advanced anaesthetic monitoring devices. Our machines continuously track heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO2. Our nurses are also trained to monitor physical parameters such as eye position, jaw tone, gum colour, and capillary refill time
• Local Anaesthetic: The vet will inject local anaesthetic into the surgical site to reduce pain and discomfort when your pet wakes up
• Site Preparation: The surgery site is shaved to remove fur and thoroughly scrubbed with disinfectant to eliminate germs
• Sterile Procedure: The vet will “scrub in” by thoroughly scrubbing and disinfecting their hands and arms before putting on sterile surgical gloves. They will then open the sterilised surgery instrument kit, place a sterile drape over the surgery site, and begin the procedure
• Continuous Nursing Care: Our nurses will continue to closely monitor your pet throughout the surgery, adjusting anaesthetic levels as needed
• Tattoos: If requested, a nurse will place small tattoos on the inside of the ears as a visual indicator of microchipping and desexing
• Waking Up: Once surgery is complete, the site is cleaned, and our nurses begin the process of waking your pet up. The gaseous anaesthetic is turned off, and your pet remains on oxygen. When they start to awaken, the endotracheal tube is gently removed. Our nurses continue to monitor your pet closely to ensure their oxygen levels are maintained
• Post-Operative Pain Relief: Your pet will receive another form of pain relief, an anti-inflammatory injection
• Protecting the Site: To prevent licking or chewing of the surgery site and stitches, your pet will be fitted with either a cone collar or a medical body suit
• Cleaning and Sterilisation: The surgical theatre is packed down and cleaned, and all surgical instruments and equipment are thoroughly cleaned and re-sterilised
• Council Database: We will update the ‘Dogs And Cats Online’ registration to record your pet as ‘desexed’ on the council’s database
• Discharge Instructions: A detailed handout will be completed with instructions on how to care for your pet for the next two weeks, and take-home pain relief medication will be prepared
• Owner Update: You’ll receive a text message confirming that the surgery went well and your pet is in recovery
• Gentle Walk: Your pet will be taken for a gentle walk outside
• Food and Drink: They will be offered something to eat and drink
• Going Home: Once your pet is ready, you’ll come to collect them and a nurse will go through all the discharge and home care instructions with you
• Follow-Up Appointments: Your pet will typically have follow-up appointments at days 3-5 and 14, where our nurses will check the surgery site and ensure they are recovering well