Desexing
Desexing or neutering your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce. In male pets it is commonly referred to as “castration”, and in female pets as “speying”.This is the most frequent surgery performed by our vets, and generally your pet is home by the evening of surgery.
Female desexing:
At Pyramid Vet we perform an ovariohysterectomy in female patients. A surgical procedure involving the complete removal of both ovaries and the uterus. This procedure permanently prevents pregnancy, eliminating the risk of reproductive tract diseases such as pyometra, ovarian or uterine neoplasia. Additionally ovariohysterectomy significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors and prevents hormonally driven behaviors associated with estrous (heat) cycles.
Male desexing:
Male dogs may undergo castration via either a surgical or chemical method. At Pyramid Vet we perform orchiectomy for surgical castrations which involves the bilateral removal of the testicles under general anesthesia. Chemical castration is achieved through the placement of a subcutaneous hormone implant (Suprelorin), which temporarily suppresses testosterone production. Two implant options are available providing either 6 or 12 months of efficacy. After this temporary castration via implant normal hormonal function and fertility will return after the implant wears off.
Castration is performed to prevent reproduction and provides notable health and behavioral benefits including reduced roaming, aggression, sexually driven behaviors, decreased risks of testicular neoplasia, certain prostatic disorders and perineal hernias.
What age?
We recommend desexing small and medium breed dogs at around 6 months of age. For large and giant-breed dogs we advise waiting until approximately 18 months of age. This allows time for proper joint development, closure of growth plates and full development of their long bones which will reduce the risk of orthopedic issues later in life.
There are many benefits to desexing your pet before. They include:
- Prevents unwanted pregnancies and contributes to population control
- Eliminates the risk of pyometra (life-threatening uterine infection) in females
- Removes the risk of ovarian, uterine and testicular neoplasia
- Significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumors when performed before or early in the first estrous cycle
- Decreases hormonally driven behaviors such as roaming, mounting, marking, and aggression
- Reduces the incidence of prostatic disease and perineal hernias in males
- Eliminates estrous (heat) cycles and associated behaviors in females
- Prevents transmission of genetic or hereditary conditions
- Reduction of council registration fees