Surgical services
Desexing Your Pet
Safe, routine desexing surgery for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs — with thorough pre-operative care, expert anaesthetic monitoring, and attentive recovery support.
A routine procedure with lifelong benefits
Desexing — also called spaying (females) or castration (males) — is one of the most common surgical procedures we perform. It's a routine operation, but we treat every patient as an individual and take the same care with a desexing as we do with any other surgery.
We desex dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Beyond preventing unwanted litters, desexing offers significant long-term health and behavioural benefits for most pets. We're happy to discuss the timing and benefits specific to your pet's species, breed, and size at a consultation.
Benefits of desexing
Dogs
- Eliminates the risk of uterine infection (pyometra) in females — a life-threatening condition
- Significantly reduces the risk of mammary tumours when done before the first or second season
- Prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk of prostate disease in males
- Can reduce roaming, mounting, and inter-male aggression in male dogs
- Eliminates seasons and associated bleeding in females
Cats
- Prevents uterine infections and significantly reduces mammary tumour risk in females
- Eliminates calling, rolling, and restlessness associated with seasons in female cats
- Reduces roaming, spraying, and fighting in male cats — and the associated risk of FIV infection
- Reduces the risk of cat overpopulation and the welfare issues that come with it
- Desexed cats generally live longer, healthier lives
Rabbits
- Uterine cancer affects up to 80% of undesexed female rabbits over 4 years — desexing eliminates this risk entirely
- Prevents uterine infections (pyometra) and false pregnancies in females
- Reduces territorial aggression, spraying, and mounting behaviour in males
- Allows male and female rabbits to live together safely without unwanted litters
- Desexed rabbits are generally calmer, easier to handle, and better bonded with their owners
Guinea pigs
- Prevents ovarian cysts, which are extremely common in undesexed female guinea pigs and cause significant discomfort
- Reduces the risk of uterine disease and reproductive cancers in females
- Allows male and female guinea pigs to be housed together without producing litters
- Can reduce hormonal aggression in males kept in groups
- Guinea pig desexing requires an experienced exotic vet — our team is comfortable with these procedures
When should I desex my pet?
Cats
We generally recommend desexing cats from around 4–5 months of age, before they reach sexual maturity. Female cats can come into season as early as 4 months, so early desexing is important.
Small & medium dogs
For small and medium breeds, desexing is typically recommended from around 5–6 months of age. Females are often desexed before their first season for maximum health benefit.
Large & giant breed dogs
For large and giant breeds, the timing of desexing is more nuanced. Early desexing may affect musculoskeletal development in some breeds. We recommend a consultation to discuss the best timing for your individual dog.
Rabbits
Female rabbits are ideally desexed between 4–6 months of age, before the risk of uterine disease increases. Males can be desexed from around 3–4 months once the testicles have descended.
Guinea pigs
Guinea pigs are typically desexed from around 3–4 months of age. Because they are a prey species requiring specialist anaesthetic care, we recommend a pre-surgical consultation to assess your pet's suitability.
Adult pets
Desexing can be performed at any age. Adult and older pets can still benefit significantly from the procedure, though a pre-anaesthetic health check and blood work is particularly important.
What the procedure involves
Female (spay / ovariohysterectomy)
In females, desexing involves the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus under general anaesthesia. The procedure is performed through a small abdominal incision. Recovery times vary by species — dogs and cats typically take 10–14 days, while rabbits and guinea pigs require careful post-operative monitoring and warmth.
Male (castration / orchidectomy)
In males, both testicles are removed through a small scrotal or pre-scrotal incision under general anaesthesia. It is a shorter procedure than a spay. Dogs and cats typically recover within 5–7 days; rabbits and guinea pigs are generally back to normal within a similar timeframe with appropriate aftercare.
Anaesthesia & monitoring
Every patient receives a thorough pre-anaesthetic examination before surgery. Rabbits and guinea pigs require specialist exotic anaesthetic protocols — they are more sensitive than dogs and cats and need careful temperature management and rapid recovery support. A dedicated nurse monitors all patients continuously throughout their procedure.
Pricing
Desexing fees are based on your pet's species, sex, and weight. Please see our pricing page for current weight-banded fees, or call us for a quote. We're always happy to discuss payment options including VetPay.
Preparing for surgery
Before the day of surgery, we'll walk you through everything you need to know — including fasting instructions (which differ for rabbits and guinea pigs), what to bring, and what to expect at drop-off and pick-up.
Common questions
Book a desexing consultation
We'll discuss the best timing for your pet, answer your questions, and get everything organised for a smooth, stress-free procedure.