Dog Desexing in Perth 

If you’re the owner of a new puppy, it’s important to consider desexing your dog. Desexing, or also commonly referred to as ‘castration’ (for male dogs) or ‘ovariohysterectomy’  or ‘spey’ (for female dogs), is a medical procedure which involves removing the testicles from a male dog or removing the ovaries and uterus from a female dog. The desexing process is a process which is advised for both male and female dogs.  

Necessities Behind Dog Desexing

Here at City Beach Veterinarian, our experienced team of vets believe it’s necessary to desex your pet, for a number of important reasons. It’s important to desex your female or male dog if they’re going to be kept as pets as desexing not only reduces the number of unwanted puppies, but there are also many great medical and behavioural advantages behind choosing to desex your dog or puppy.

Medical Advantages to Desexing Your Dog or Puppy

For male dogs, desexing eliminates the risk of testicular tumours, will decrease the number of hernia problems as well as decreasing the risk of perineal tumours. For female dogs and puppies, desexing significantly reduces the risk of mammary (breast) cancer, whilst eliminating the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer and pyometra. Pyometra is a “pus filled” uterus and is the main issue we see in undesexed female dogs. 

Are There Any Disadvantages to Desexing a Dog or Puppy? 

We do see most pets put on weight as they age regardless of being desexed or not – so keep an eye on that waistline.

There is some thought that very early desexing may increase the risk of urinary incontinence in female dogs and increase risk of cruciate disease in larger breeds. Neither of these are proven but we do recommend for many dogs desexing at later than 6 months of age if they are larger breeds. We can give you further advice once we check your dog. 

When Should I Desex My Dog or Puppy? 

Our experienced veterinarians believe it’s best to desex your male or female dog when they are a puppy, at 5 or 6 months of age, but this will depend on the breed – for larger breeds we tend to do the procedure once they are older than 6 months of age. Desexing can be performed later on in a dog’s life, however some medical problems may remain unresolved. 

Desexing Your Dog – Before & After the Procedure

When you drop your dog off at our City Beach Veterinarian practice for his or her desexing procedure, they will be fully examined and we do recommend pre-anaesthetic blood tests. Your pet is then given a premed (pain relief and sedation) and then the anaesthetic is given (IV followed by GAS). Full monitoring is performed throughout the procedure.

The surgical area of the body is clipped and prepared with an antibacterial scrub solution. The testicles are removed through a small incision in front of the scrotum, and the uterus and ovaries are removed through a small incision just below the umbilicus (belly button). Absorbable sutures are used and most wound are closed with intradermals so there are no sutures to remove.  

After the procedure, we recommend rest and to restrict any activity for your dog or puppy for 3-5 days. Small walks are generally okay for the following week. Most dogs can resume normal activity 10 days after surgery but until this time, your dog or puppy should have on-lead walks only with no jumping, swimming, running, or stair climbing. 

Contact Us

If you’d like more information regarding our dog desexing procedure, or if you’d like to book your dog in to be desexed at our practice, please contact our City Beach Veterinarian team today by calling (08) 9245 1977.

Dog Desex FAQs 

If you would like to learn more about dog desexing, browse our frequently asked questions below.  

How much does desexing normally cost?

The cost of desexing varies depending on several factors, including the dog’s sex, size and age.

It is common for the procedure to cost more for female dogs than males, as the surgery is more complex, takes longer and generally requires more medication and recovery time.

In Western Australia, costs typically range from $250 to $510, with the added benefit of potential government grants covering up to 75% of costs through RSPCA programs.

Your vet is the best starting point for a clear, personalised quote based on your dog’s specific circumstances.

What are the different desexing procedures for dogs?

Surgical desexing involves removing part of a dog’s reproductive system under general anaesthetic. There are two main procedures depending on the dog’s sex:

  • Spaying (females): surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. A more complex procedure, particularly in large breed or mature dogs.
  • Castration (males): surgical removal of both testicles. Generally a shorter and less involved operation than spaying.

Less common options include laparoscopic spay, which uses small incisions and an endoscope to remove the ovaries while leaving the uterus intact, and ovary-sparing spay, which removes the uterus but preserves one ovary. For most dogs, the traditional surgical procedure remains the standard recommendation. Your vet will help determine the right approach based on your dog’s breed, age and health.

What happens if a dog is desexed too early?

Sex hormones play an important role in the closure of growth plates in a dog’s bones. Desexing before those plates have closed leaves them open for longer, causing bones to grow longer than they should, which can lead to orthopaedic problems down the line.

  • Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: altered joint angles from early growth plate disruption increase the likelihood of these conditions.
  • Cruciate Ligament Injuries: one of the more common outcomes seen in dogs desexed before reaching skeletal maturity.
  • Urinary Incontinence: in female dogs desexed before 5.5 months, the risk increases from around 5% to nearly 13%.

For giant breeds in particular, many experts advise waiting until the growth plates have fully closed before proceeding. The right timing depends on your dog’s breed, size and sex, so it’s always worth discussing with your vet before booking the procedure.