While there can be some debate as to what age to desex your dog or whether you should do it all, with cats the jury is clear – unless you are involved with breeding purebreds, all cats should be neutered and before they get a chance to reproduce.
At certain times of year all the pounds, rescues and shelters are crammed full of kittens born to semi-owned or feral cats so the responsible thing is to try and not add to them. What are semi-owned cats? It’s that cat you see in your neighbourhood on a regular basis that you put out food for. Too often these individuals are supported by a few household but no-one takes responsibility for the cat and before too long numbers can escalate.

So when should you do it?
The ISFM (International society for feline medicine) recommends desexing at 4 months of age, because a proportion of cats will enter sexual maturity from them. Conveniently we can match this up with the timing of their final kitten vaccination. While there are some exceptions to this recommendation, your vet can advise you of this when you bring your kitten in for their early health checks.

What are the pros and cons of desexing my cat?
While there is a small risk from the general anaesthetic and surgery, this is outweighed in the most part by the benefits. Beyond preventing pregnancy, it reduces the chances of the cat picking up infectious disease, especially those that can be transmitted by sexual contact such as feline AIDS. For the boys, there is a massive reduction in the chances of them spraying urine around the house and without castration their urine will develop a noticeable strong odour, even if confined to a litter tray. They are less likely to get involved in fights with other male cats and roam far distances. For the girls it can also reduce the risk of breast cancers in female cats if done before 6 months of age. Plus, if you’ve ever had the chance to see a female cat in heat, you won’t forget their loud and distinctive call that can keep you up at night, while they are yowling and throwing themselves at the window trying to attract a boyfriend!

What does desexing involve?
For both sexes, neutering involves a day surgery. They are dropped off with an empty tummy in the morning. The boys have a simple incision over each testes and the are removed, using their own vessels to tie in a knot to stop the bleeding. Recovery is usually quick and uneventful. For the girls there’s a bit more involved as they require abdominal surgery to remove their ovaries and uterus. They will have several layers of stitches that take a while to dissolve and require the challenge of keeping a kitten quiet for a week with limited running, jumping and zoomies!

Dogs

C3: A C3 vaccine is the minimum level of coverage and is often what is given by breeders to puppies before they go to their new home.  For adults we use a triennial (lasting 3 year) vaccination. A C3 vaccine gives coverage against:

• Canine Distemper Virus: A difficult to treat and often fatal disease which is becoming more prevalent in Australia, particularly in southern states. Distemper is most commonly spread through droplets from the nose or mouth of infected dogs.  Symptoms may include nasal discharge, fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions/seizures, jaw-chewing movements and paralysis in its later stages.
• Canine Parvovirus: This virus primarily attacks the gastrointestinal tract of dogs, with the most recognisable symptoms being bloody diarrhoea and vomiting. It is often fatal due to the rapid destruction it causes. Parvovirus is extremely contagious and can survive in the environment for up to 9 years following contamination with infected faecal material.
• Canine Infectious Hepatitis: This virus is shed in all secretions of infected dogs including urine, saliva and faeces. Symptoms may include nasal discharge, seizures, swelling or spontaneous bleeding. Canine hepatitis has the most significant impact on the liver and kidneys and can cause life-long damage or be fatal in some cases.

C5: A C5 vaccine offers more comprehensive coverage that a C3 and is recommended for most dogs. A C5 gives coverage against:

• Canine Distemper Virus
• Canine Parvovirus
• Canine Infectious Hepatitis
• Canine Parainfluenza & Bordetella bronchiseptia: Parainfluenza the viral component of canine kennel cough, while Bordetella bronchiseptia is the bacterial component. Symptoms can range from a mild, hacking cough through to fatal pneumonia in more severe cases. Canine cough is transmitted through airborne particles, and dogs may be exposed in any setting where there is a congregation of dogs including boarding facilities, off-leash parks, cafes or groomers. This vaccine needs to given yearly and is recommended for dogs who socialise.

C7: A C7 vaccine offers the highest level of coverage against the most common infectious diseases dogs may be exposed to. It may be recommended depending on your lifestyle or geographic location. A C7 gives coverage against:

• Canine Distemper Virus
• Canine Parvovirus
• Canine Infectious Hepatitis
• Canine Parainfluenza & Bordetella bronchiseptia
• Leptospirosis: There are a number of strains of Leptospira bacteria present in soil and water which can cause Leptospirosis in mammals, including dogs and humans. Symptoms vary, but the disease most commonly effects the liver and kidneys and is often fatal. Risk factors include exposure to rodents, travel to at-risk regions (such as the inner west of Sydney, the NSW South Coast and tropical northern Australia) and exposure to still water. The vaccine we use in clinic covers two strains of leptospira and has to be given yearly.

Cats
F3: A F3 vaccine is recommended for cats as it offers coverage against diseases which are most contagious and likely to causes serious health problems for pets.  It is a requirement for boarding and recommended for any cat that may have contact with others. It needs to be administered yearly  and gives coverage against:

• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis: This highly contagious virus causes upper respiratory tract infections (cat flu). Symptoms include sneezing, eye and nasal discharge, a fever and coughing. Effective treatment is limited, and once a cat has become infected, it is a carrier for life.
• Feline Calicivirus: Another viral cause of upper respiratory tract infections (cat flu). Symptoms include fever, ulcers and blisters on the tongue and pneumonia in more severe cases.  Cats infected with calicivirus can suffer from chronic illness and infect other cats even after recovery.
• Feline Panleukopaenia: This virus causes gastrointestinal disease in cats, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and fevers. It is extremely infectious and resistant and can last in contaminated environments for over 1 year.

 
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): In some cases, particularly for outdoor cats, a vaccination against FIV may be recommended. FIV is transmitted through bite wounds and scratches from infected cats. The virus attacks the immune system, leading to compromised immunity for life in infected individuals. This needs to be administered yearly.

​Rabbits
Filavac: In Australia, biological agents such as strains of calicivirus are used for the control of wild rabbit populations. Pet rabbits should therefore be vaccinated against these agents to avoid significant disease. The price of a vaccine for pet rabbits has gone up in recent years to provide protection from the two strains of calicivirus which are now present in wild populations, when previously just one was covered. As the government continues to release these strains into the wild population, vaccination is essential to protect your pet rabbit. This vaccine should be given yearly.