Desex Your Pet to Help Them Have a Happier Life at Ourimbah Vet

Desexing, for the health of the animal and the benefit of the community

We recommend that pets are desexed for their own wellbeing as well as to reduce the negative behaviours associated with animals that are intact. Desexing helps reduce the risk of a variety of infections as well as serious illnesses such as certain types of cancers. This also prevents unwanted litters and abandoned animals as well as an extra burden on shelters where litters are dropped that the owners cannot take care of. Desexing prevents excessive marking (spraying of urine), roaming, aggression and fighting to a large degree. Desexing should be done before the animal’s first season at around 6 months of age.

Unless you intend to breed your pet in a responsible and controlled manner we suggest having your dog or cat desexed for the benefit of the animal and also the larger community.

In females desexing:

Will prevent pregnancy through removal of the ovaries and uterus. We have a responsibility to try and reduce the number of unwanted animals. Desexing should be done before the first season at six months of age.
Prevents the nuisance that is caused by social visits to a pet in season.
Reduces the risk of breast cancer substantially and eliminates the risk of pyometron, a life threatening uterine infection.
A litter before desexing, WILL NOT improve an animals character.
Overfeeding and lack of exercise are major causes of obesity in desexed animals, not desexing itself.
Urinary incontinence may occur in desexed bitches of older age due to hormonal imbalance but this can be controlled hormonally.

In males desexing:

Reduces the risk of prostate disease and eliminates the risk of testicular cancer.
Reduces aggression and makes pets easier to handle.
Decreases the desire to roam and hence reduce the risk of car accidents and dog fights.

We recommend proceeding with desexing at 6 months of age.