Far North Vets Limited
Whether you need a farm vet or help with your family pet, Far North Vets and Pets is here to help!
At Far North Vets, we strongly support desexing cats and dogs that are not intended for responsible breeding.
This is not just about individual pets. In the Far North, unwanted litters are a real animal welfare problem. Too many puppies and kittens are born into situations where there are not enough suitable homes, enough money for care, or enough people able to take responsibility for them long term.
Desexing is one of the most practical things we can do to reduce suffering.
Desexing helps prevent unwanted pregnancies. That is the main reason we recommend it so strongly.
A single undesexed female cat or dog can produce multiple litters. Even when owners have good intentions, it can be very hard to find responsible homes for every kitten or puppy. Many unwanted animals end up being passed around, abandoned, left unvaccinated, or allowed to keep breeding.
Desexing also has health and behaviour benefits for many animals.
For female cats and dogs, desexing prevents uterine infections and removes the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Desexing before the first or second season can also reduce the risk of mammary cancer.
For male cats and dogs, desexing removes the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce some hormone-driven behaviours, such as roaming, fighting, urine marking, and looking for mates. This can reduce injuries, car accidents, abscesses, and infectious disease spread.
Desexing is not a magic fix for every behaviour problem, but it is an important part of responsible pet ownership.
Cats can become pregnant from a surprisingly young age — sometimes from around four months.
Because of this, we recommend desexing kittens before they reach puberty, unless there is a specific veterinary reason to delay. Waiting too long increases the chance of an accidental pregnancy.
For cats, early desexing is generally well tolerated when the kitten is healthy, old enough, and a suitable weight. It also makes a major difference to the number of unwanted kittens in our community.
This is especially important for stray, colony, and unowned cats. These cats are much less likely to be brought back later for surgery, so delaying desexing can mean the opportunity is lost.
We also strongly recommend desexing dogs that are not intended for responsible breeding, but the best age can vary.
For small and medium-sized dogs, desexing around five to six months of age is often appropriate.
For large-breed dogs, giant-breed dogs, and some breeds with known orthopaedic or cancer risks, it may be better to delay desexing until they are more physically mature. This is because hormones play a role in growth plate closure, body development, and long-term joint health.
There is no single perfect age for every dog. The right timing depends on breed, size, sex, temperament, lifestyle, risk of accidental mating, and the owner’s ability to safely manage an entire animal.
Our advice is simple: desex your dog unless you have a clear, responsible breeding plan — but talk to us about the best timing for your individual dog.
Early desexing means desexing before the traditional age of around six months. This is commonly done by shelters, rescue groups, the SPCA, and welfare organisations.
We do perform early desexing for SPCA and charity animals. The reason is practical and welfare-based: many of these animals are unowned, stray, or being rehomed. If they leave care undesexed, there is a real risk they will breed before surgery ever happens.
For population control, early desexing can be the difference between one animal being safely rehomed and that animal producing another unwanted litter.
However, early desexing is not completely risk-free, and it is fair to be honest about that.
Potential concerns, especially in dogs, include:
These risks do not mean desexing is bad. They mean timing matters.
For owned pets, especially dogs, we prefer to make an individual plan. For unowned, rescue, SPCA, or charity animals, the balance often shifts toward early desexing because the risk of future breeding is high and follow-up cannot be guaranteed.
Desexing can reduce an animal’s energy requirements, so weight gain is possible if feeding stays the same.
That does not mean desexing makes pets fat. Overfeeding makes pets fat.
After desexing, most animals need careful portion control, regular exercise, and routine weight checks. We can help you adjust feeding after surgery.
No.
There is no health benefit to letting a cat or dog have a litter before desexing. Pregnancy and birth carry real risks, and finding good homes for offspring is not always easy.
Desexing before the first season can reduce the risk of mammary cancer, especially in dogs and cats.
For most cats: desex before puberty.
For most dogs: desex unless you have a genuine responsible breeding plan, but ask us about the best age for your dog.
For unowned, rescue, SPCA, and charity animals: early desexing is often the most responsible option, because preventing future litters is a major welfare priority.
The Far North already has more unwanted cats and dogs than it can comfortably manage. Desexing is not the only answer, but it is one of the most effective tools we have.
If you are unsure when to desex your pet, talk to us. We will help you weigh up the risks and benefits for your individual animal.
Whether you need a farm vet or help with your family pet, Far North Vets and Pets is here to help!
