Neutering Male Dogs
The male dog reaches sexual maturity between five and fifteen months of age depending on the breed and size. The range is so great because of the huge difference in sizes of dogs. Smaller dogs will reach sexual maturity much quicker than the larger breeds. Alongside neutering, it is important to continue with training as your dog reaches sexual maturity otherwise he may become boisterous, disobedient and aggressive.
We routinely castrate male dogs from five months of age for small and medium sized dogs and around eight to nine months old for the larger breeds. Castration removes the urge to reproduce which is often associated with fighting, straying and aggressive behaviour. If the operation is done whilst he is still young then there is a much reduced risk of your dog developing habitual sex hormone related behaviour.
As well as reducing the risk of anti-social behaviour; castration also reduces the risk of prostate cancer, perineal hernias and anal adenomas (tumours around the anus) seen later in life. Your dog also won’t be held responsible for any unwanted pregnancies in the local neighbourhood!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will he put on weight following the surgery?
Many owners believe that castration will cause their dog to become fat and dull. Castration does not change their behaviour in any dramatic way; in fact it is more likely that he will stay more playful and youthful. However, it is possible that your dog will put on weight. Castration results in a decrease in metabolic rate (the engine that controls how quickly you burn energy) and an increase in appetite so if not controlled your dog may put on weight. We would normally recommend reducing the amount you feed your dog by 20% initially and having regular weight checks so this can be adjusted as required. We also stock a range of light dog foods that can help if you don’t want to decrease the amount of food you give.
How long does it take?
The actual procedure takes approximately fifty minutes but we will need you to leave him here for the day. The normal procedure is to come to the surgery between 9.00am and 10.00 am and have a consultation with either the vet or nurse. We will then ask you to sign a consent form for the procedure and leave a contact phone number. After he has been admitted to the hospital we will give him a pre-medicant which will make him feel relaxed and a bit sleepy. After this he will receive a full anaesthetic to carry out the procedure. Whilst he is asleep we will give him some more pain relief so his experience here is as pleasant as possible. Once he has recovered from his anaesthesia we will monitor him and usually discharge patients between 4.00pm and 5.00pm
Will I need to starve him before the operation?
Yes. It is very important that your dog is starved from 8.00pm the evening before his operation. Anaesthetics can cause nausea (feeling sick). If your dog is sick under anaesthetic or in recovery then it is possible he may inhale the vomit which can be very dangerous. A full set of pre-anaesthetic instructions will be given to you when you book the operation.
How much does it cost?
The cost of the operation is £140.00 - £210.00 depending on the size of your dog. This includes the check up with the vet or nurse on the day and the two post operative checks. It does not include the buster collar which varies from £3.50 to £16.00 depending on the size and type of collar.
Will he have stitches?
Yes. The testicles are removed through an incision between the penis and scrotum and is closed with two layers of sutures; the last being in the skin. There are usually three to five sutures in place which will need to be removed ten days after the operation.
Can he have a microchip at the same time?
We highly recommend you have your dog microchipped and this is definitely a good time to do this if you haven’t done so before. As microchipping involves using a larger needle than normal it can be less distressing to do this procedure whilst your pet is asleep.
Will he need any medication?
He will be given two types of pain killer and some antibiotics during his stay but we will also send him home with some pain relief tablets for a few days; these cost between £7.00 and £13.00 depending of his weight. If there are any complications during the surgery then we may need to send him home with a course of antibiotics too.
Will he need a ‘buster’ collar?
We routinely send dogs home with a buster collar following this operation to prevent him interfering with the wound. It is usually best to leave it on until he has his sutures removed unless he is becoming very distressed. We have two types of collar: the original lamp shade and a newer more flexible collar which is more highly tolerated but is a little more expensive.
Can he still eat with the collar on?
Most dogs adjust very quickly to eating with a collar on. As it will be put on whilst he is asleep, we will have time to gauge how he is getting on though the day. We will offer him some food in the afternoon which will give us an indication of how he will cope. It is far less stressful to leave the collar on than to take it off every time he eats.
