This has become less clear more recently with more evidence suggesting that larger breed dogs would benefit from delayed desexing. You are required to desex your pet dog by the age of 6 x months unless there is a medical reason not to.

In the Inner West Council, you are required to desex your pet cat by the age of 4 x months unless there is a medical reason not to.

You are also required to desex your pet dog unless there is a medical reason not to. For larger breed dogs, we routinely are recommending a delayed desexing and will often need to write a medical certificate to council to advise them of this so you are not penalised for desexing your dog at a later date.

As a general guide, the ages that pets are often neutered (desexed) is as below

Cats – at 4 months of age

Dogs – < 25kg mature adult weight, we are recommending 6 x months of age

> 25kg mature adult weight, we are recommending between 12-14 months of age

There is growing evidence to suggest that there are numerous health benefits to larger breed dogs if we delay their neutering until the ages of 12-14 months.

1. Growth and Skeletal Development

• Neutering removes the hormones (estrogen and testosterone) that help regulate growth plate closure.
• In large breed dogs, early desexing (before 12–18 months) can delay this closure, causing the bones to grow longer than normal.
• This can lead to joint problems like:
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) injuries

2. Increased Risk of Certain Cancers

Some studies have shown that early neutering in certain breeds may increase the risk of specific cancers, such as:

• Hemangiosarcoma (blood vessel cancer)
• Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
• Lymphoma

These risks vary between breeds and sexes.

3. Hormonal Influence on Health

Sex hormones do more than affect reproduction—they influence metabolism, immune function, and even behaviour. Keeping them intact a little longer may:

• Support a healthier weight
• Improve muscle development
• Contribute to a more balanced temperament during growth

• The decision should be based on breed, sex, lifestyle, behaviour, and individual health risks.
• In some cases (e.g., aggression, marking, roaming), earlier neutering may still be appropriate.
• For dogs in homes with other intact animals, or at risk of accidental mating, earlier neutering might also be advisable.
• Please discuss your concerns with our Vets and we will work with you to make the best decision for you and your pet.

Desexing (neutering) costs are determined by:

• Species (dog or cat)
• Sex – A spey (female desex) is more complicated and involved than male castration and is therefore more expensive ∙Age Dogs: (< 9 months) or (mature which is > 9 months of age) Cats: (< 12 months ) or (>12 months)

• Weight
• If pet has been on heat recently (or currently)

For an estimate on your pet’s desexing please enquire today

All of our desexing procedures include the following to ensure the best possible care and outcome for our patients undergoing a general anaesthetic:

• Pre-anaesthetic blood test – these are mini blood tests that we run in our in – house laboratory that assesses kidney and liver function, blood glucose levels and blood protein levels which are crucial in the metabolism and elimination of anaesthetic drugs. These blood tests are designed to screen for some congenital (hereditary) disorders that could affect organ function and therefore make an anaesthetic more unpredictable and unstable. If we find a significant abnormality on these results, we often recommend that we delay the procedure in the interest of safety for your pet. The blood test also provides a baseline for your pet that we can refer back to as they age.
• ∙Intravenous fluid therapy – to help maintain blood pressure throughout the general anaesthetic, support organ function, compensate for any fluid losses and aid in a faster recovery process for your pet.
• Any medications required during the anaesthetic
• Dedicated anaesthetic nurse
• Ortolani procedure (dogs only) – a non-invasive manipulation to check your dog’s hips (providing a baseline) for hip dysplasia.
• Intra-operative and post operative pain relief – to provide pain relief and comfort to your pet to aid in their recovery.
• E-collar – to prevent licking at their surgical wound site or remove sutures to cause wound breakdown and prolong healing.
• Recheck appointment for suture removal – to remove external sutures (if any) and check their wound site.

It is VERY important that when you are collecting prices for desexing at different Vet Hospitals that you ask what is included in the price. At our hospital we do not make items that make your pet’s anaesthetic potentially safer or provide for a higher level of care optional. We include all of this in your pet’s procedure price.

Some Veterinary hospitals do not routinely include these items in their desexing pricing. They are often an “opt in”. This makes their prices seem cheaper. However, if you “opt in” the prices then are about the same or in some instances, higher than prices at our hospital. We do not believe that you should “opt out” of these safety functions. We include this as mandatory for all our desexing procedures (excluding cat castrations).

Pre Anaesthetic tests are vital for picking up congenital kidney issues, problems with low protein in the blood and checking for low red blood cell counts. Any of these can complicate your pet’s procedure and recovery.

Intravenous fluids are essential for maintaining blood pressure and perfusing the vital organs in your pet’s body during the procedure. Intravenous access also helps us give medications that may be required during your pet’s anaesthetic. We can also give additional fluids if your pet is experiencing low blood pressure during the procedure.

Dedicated anaesthetic monitoring by our highly trained nurses ensures your pets vital signs are being continuously monitored. We will detect (and intervene) if your pet’s blood pressure or heart rate becomes too low during the procedure. Some hospitals do not offer this level of monitoring.

Everything we do is designed to make the procedure (and recovery) as safe as possible for your pet.

Your pet will be required to be admitted in the morning (usually between 7:40am – 9am). The procedure will be performed during the day and you will routinely be able to pick your pet up from hospital between the hours of 4pm – 6:40pm. Depending on the day and our surgical list, sometimes you are able to pick your pet up earlier.