Neutering your Dog

Castration and your Dog

What is castration and when should it be done?

Castration is the surgical removal of the testicles and is carried out in a minor operation under general anaesthetic. Usually a dog is admitted to the clinic in the morning and collected later the same day. He may have several stitches, which will be removed after approximately 10 days.

Commonly this operation is referred to as “neutering”. It can be carried out from 12 months onwards.

What are the main reasons for neutering dogs?

1) Owner responsibility and population control: Thousands of unwanted dogs and puppies are destroyed each year, many from litters born as a result of accidental matings.

2) Medical/Health Reasons: Veterinary surgeons may recommend castration for several medical conditions including testicular tumours, enlargement of the prostate, certain types of anal tumours and cryptorchidism (retained testicles). If the testes have not descended into the scrotum by 10 months of age they are unlikely to do so, and are more prone to tumours in later years.

3) Behavioural Problems: As puppies reach puberty at 6-7 months of age, the owner may notice a change in the dog’s behaviour. The first sign is often a lack of obedience, leading to aggression with other dogs and even fights. Other signs include:

• Possessiveness over toys, food, etc
• Territorial behaviour towards visitors
• Roaming: the dog may become an escapologist in order to find receptive females – slipping leads, escaping through fences etc. This increases the risk of road accidents if the dog is roaming unaccompanied.
• Aggression towards other pets/people in the household

This unsociable behaviour can be prevented or subdued by castration from 12 months of age.

Will castration work?

Research shows that following castration, changes in behaviour may take varying times. Of the dogs that are likely to respond, some will do so within 2 weeks, the remainder will respond within 6 months.

Will castration cause my dog to put on weight?

No, as long as you are vigilant. Neutering will reduce metabolic rate (energy usage at rest) by a variable amount and you will need to reduce feeding by this amount to prevent weight gain. We advise free monthly weight checks until we are all happy that the post-op weight management is under control. Unless you want to use a male dog for breeding purposes, there are few advantages and many disadvantages to keeping an entire male.

A castrated dog has fewer medical problems, lives longer on average, does not add to the pet overpopulation and makes a more loyal, loving and rewarding pet.

For further information call us and speak to one of the team.

However, there are some disadvantages

• Weight – spayed bitches have a reduced metabolic rate (energy usage at rest) so they need less food. If their diet is altered after surgery there will be no weight increase. We advise monthly weight checks until we are all happy that the post-op weight management is under control and dietary advice can be given if necessary.
• Spay incontinence – a small percentage of bitches spayed may “leak” a little urine following surgery. A simple treatment is available for this problem and it is a very small percentage of the total number spayed. This is thought to be related to weight gain, if it is allowed to occur, rather than neutering as such.
• Coat – occasionally the coat may become drier and less attractive. This is purely cosmetic and has no impact on your pet’s health.

Unless you want to use a female dog for breeding purposes, the advantages of having your dog spayed far outweigh the disadvantages.

A spayed dog has fewer medical problems, lives longer on average, does not add to the pet overpopulation and makes a more loyal, loving and rewarding pet.

For further information call us and speak to one of the team.