Sydney Mobile Vet Service

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Desexing

Desexing is a very common veterinary procedure for dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets.

Also called castration (for male dogs) and spaying (for females), it’s a safe, surgical procedure that will prevent your pet from reproducing. The recommended age is generally from four to six months, but it will vary, based on breed.

Desexing is a personal choice, but our in-home vet will usually recommend it for the ongoing health of your pet.

Benefits of desexing

Benefits of desexing


Desexing is primarily designed to prevent unwanted litters and an ever-expanding animal population (when so many unwanted animals are in need of loving homes). There are also several health benefits.

Our home visit vet may recommend male desexing to help prevent testicular cancer and prostate disease – and it is sometimes an option to help ease aggression towards humans and other dogs. For females, desexing is recommended to help prevent pyometra (a serious uterus infection) and breast cancer.

Another benefit of desexing is financial. Animals that have not been desexed require registration and owners need to pay an additional council fee. Recently, new guidelines have come into effect that require all kittens to be desexed by four months. For undesexed cats, an annual fee will apply.

The desexing procedure

The desexing procedure


Our Sydney mobile vet handles most treatments in your home, but as desexing is a surgical procedure, we perform it in our partner vet hospital in Double Bay.

Generally, we will arrange to meet you at 8.30am for admission, however for those with limited transport, we can arrange to pick up your pet up in our VETaround van.

We ask that your pet fasts from midnight prior to the procedure – although water is absolutely fine until 8am. We will email you a few days before with all the information you need.

Prior to surgery, we provide a thorough physical exam and sometimes a blood test, before administering the anaesthetic. A few pets may need intravenous fluid support. Once the procedure is complete, our vet will suture the wound and provide pain relief.

We always keep pets in the hospital for several hours after surgery to keep a good eye on them. In nearly all cases, your pet will be back with you the same evening.

Man holding a cat

Looking after your desexed pet


After desexing, we provide you with a discharge pack with full information. We’ll call the next day and sometimes book in a follow-up consultation to ensure your pet is eating and drinking, and the wound is healing well.

Many animals can be a little off-sorts for a few days after surgery, but they will generally bounce back very quickly. We’ll ask you to administer any medication our mobile vet has provided, follow dietary guidelines, stop your pet from jumping and ensure the wound stays clean.

VETaround wants every pet to receive first-class care, so we’ll go out of our way to ensure your pet is healthy and happy prior, during and after desexing.

Cutting-edge keyhole desexing

Cutting-edge keyhole desexing


Traditional desexing in female animals (called ovario-hysterectomy), involves the removal of both ovaries and uterus. Our Sydney mobile vet also provides keyhole desexing. Known as ovariectomy, the procedure involves the removal of the ovaries only using minimally invasive keyhole surgery.

Potential benefits of keyhole desexing include a smaller incision site and reduced chance of internal trauma or postoperative bleeding. It is still a relatively new alternative to traditional desexing.

Should you be interested in keyhole desexing for your dog, cat, rabbit or other pet, then our at-home vet will gladly chat to you to provide full details about both traditional and keyhole options. Please contact us for a consultation.

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