Home / Pet Information / Dog Information / Dog Desexing

DOG DESEXING

This has to be the number one mission of Veterinarians worldwide.

There are too many pets being destroyed and/or suffering due to lack of good homes.

Breeding can be a very costly exercise, especially if veterinary intervention is required for the labour – often a caesarean is required if the labour is prolonged or puppies experience some form of distress in the uterus. In addition, puppies now must  be vaccinated and are just microchipped prior to selling. This is a statutory requirement.

We recommend you think very carefully before contemplating breeding. As well as the above costs discussed, prospective breeding dogs need hip and elbow xrays as well as an ophthalmic examination from a specialist opthalmologist  to ensure they are healthy for breeding and are not likel;y to pass on any hereditary diseases.

At Balgownie Veterinary Hospital (BVH) we offer desexing operations at a fraction of what we should be charging, because we know how important it is!

There are five good reasons to desex your female dog

  1. Less chance of breeding
  2. No chance of unwanted seasons, spotting on the carpet etc
  3. No chance of unwanted puppies (with the ugliest dog on the street!)
  4. No pyometra later in life, a severe uterine infection requiring emergency surgery
  5. Staistically, desexed female dogs lead longer, happier, healthier lives.

 

Desexing operations are considered routine but at Balgownie Veterinary Hospital we also see them as major surgery. That’s why we perform a thorough health check (including blood testing as optional) prior to surgery. We provide pain relief both before and after the surgery and more to go home with as required. Antibiotics are used if necessary. Anaesthetic monitoring includes the full time attention of one of our trained and experienced nursing staff, backed up by machines that monitor breathing rate, heart rate and blood oxygen levels. All this is included in our desexing prices.

When deciding who you want to desex your pet, remember to think about more than just the price….

Female dogs are spayed and male dogs are castrated from 5 to 6 months of age. It is common for kittens to be desexed from 8+ weeks.

Reasons to desex your male dog:

  • The main reason is to reduce your dog's urge to roam the neighbourhood looking for girlfriends. When your dog roams, it is more likely to be hit by a car, get into a fight or be picked up by the ranger.
  • Secondly, desexing reduces those unwanted male dog behaviours such as humping your leg (or that of your guest, a soft toy, another dog, the cat...) or chucking a pinkie at the most inappropriate times.
  • Thirdly, desexing reduces the incidence of a number of diseases such as testicular cancer, anal adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer.
  • Finally, registering your dog at the council (required by law) is cheaper for desexed animals.