At Mornington Vet Clinic, we provide safe and professional dog desexing services, including the advanced laparoscopy method for female dogs. Desexing is a routine surgical procedure that helps to prevent unwanted litters, reduces the risk of certain diseases and cancers, and can improve behaviours linked to hormones.
Our experienced veterinary team carefully monitors every procedure and provides comprehensive care, including pain relief, IV fluids, and follow-up checks to ensure your dog recovers comfortably.
If you are considering desexing your female or male dog, we have compiled some more detailed information that may help answer any questions you have.
The cost of desexing varies depending on several factors, including your dog’s size, age, and gender. The procedure for males (castration) is vastly different from the procedure for females (spay) – routine male desexing involves removing the testicles via a skin incision, while female desexing is an invasive, intra-abdominal surgery.
It’s important to understand that prices can vary between clinics based on what is included in the procedure.
At Mornington Vet Clinic, our desexing fees start at $475 for males and $545 for females, including:
Pre-operative blood testing is available at an additional cost.
The price for your dog’s desexing procedure may incur an additional charge if:
These factors increase surgical time and patient management, hence they attract a higher fee.
For female dogs, we offer both the commonly-performed procedure via midline incision, as well as the laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure - a modern, minimally invasive technique that represents a higher-quality and more progressive alternative to traditional desexing methods.
What are the fundamental differences?
| Traditional Spay | Laparoscopic Spay |
| Performed through a single larger incision and requires more extensive tissue handling | Performed through two small incisions (usually under 1 cm), reducing tissue trauma and surgical impact on the body |
| Often associated with moderate discomfort after surgery due to tissue stretching and manipulation during the procedure | Substantially less post-operative pain due to minimal disruption of internal structures and the use of precise cauterisation techniques |
| Requires a longer recovery period, with activity restrictions for up to two weeks to allow proper healing | Enables a faster and smoother recovery, with most pets returning to normal behaviour within a few days |
| Relies on direct visual access without magnification, which offers less detailed visibility during surgery | Magnified, high-definition camera allows better visualisation of internal organs and enhanced surgical precision |
| Carries a slightly higher risk of post-operative wound issues because of the larger surgical opening | Reduces the risk of wound complications such as infection, swelling, or irritation due to the smaller incision size |
| Does not require specialised equipment, making it a more affordable and widely available option | Involves advanced equipment and specialised training, which contributes to a higher overall cost |
| Suitable for the vast majority of patients and remains a well-established, standard procedure | May not be suitable for every patient, depending on specific health conditions that need to be assessed beforehand |
The cost of a laparoscopic desexing is $1400, including IV fluids, pain relief, and post-operative checks as with the traditional desexing procedure listed above.
We recommend laparoscopic desexing for its clear advantages in comfort, recovery, and precision, however we fully support our clients’ right to choose - you are always free to select the desexing method that best suits your pet and your preferences. If you are considering a laparoscopic spay for your female dog, please call us to discuss any questions.
Whether you choose to desex your dog depends on your individual pet’s needs, but veterinarians generally recommend the procedure for all dogs that are not intended for breeding.
Desexing can help:
For female dogs, spaying also eliminates the risk of pyometra, a serious and potentially life-threatening uterine infection.
The procedures for male and female dogs are different.
Males:
The testicles are removed through a small incision made just above the scrotum. This is generally a quicker and less invasive surgery.
Females:
During female dog desexing, the uterus and ovaries are removed through an incision on the underside of the abdomen. Because this surgery involves entering the abdominal cavity, recovery time and post-operative care may be slightly longer compared with males.
Surgical desexing is the most common method for both male and female dogs.
Male dogs also have the option of medical desexing through a hormone-suppressing implant. This method temporarily reduces hormone production and is reversible.
Female dogs, however, only have the option of surgical desexing.
Like any surgical procedure, desexing involves some discomfort. However, pain is carefully managed with medication given before the surgery and continued pain relief provided for the days following the procedure.
At Mornington Vet Clinic, we prioritise your dog’s comfort throughout the entire process, ensuring they receive the appropriate care and monitoring.
