Advantages
of
Neutering
Why
should I have my pet neutered?
Neutering should be
considered
if you are keeping any male animal as a pet. Remember that Guide Dogs
for the
Blind,
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and Dogs for
the Disabled are routinely
neutered.
What are the advantages of
neutering my male dog?
- Reduces
the
risk
of prostate
cancer and prostatitis (inflammation/infection of the prostate gland)
- Reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases
such as
perianal adenoma (tumor of the anal region)
- Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
- Removal of the sexual urge, resulting in less
roaming
behaviors and less tendency to be hit by a car
- Reduction of certain types of aggression
Is neutering performed for any
other reason?
The operation may be performed
to treat testicular tumors and some prostate gland conditions. It is
also used
to
control hormonal (testosterone) dependent diseases such as anal
adenomas.
Neutering may also be used in
an attempt to treat certain forms of aggression.
What are the disadvantages?
Most of the perceived
disadvantages are false. The most quoted of these are that the dog will
become
fat,
characterless, and useless as a guard. Obesity is probably the most
commonly quoted disadvantage of neutering. Obesity is the
result of
overfeeding. By regulating your pet’s diet and caloric intake, you can
prevent
obesity in neutered
or intact males.Neutering doesn’t cause a
change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness
and
affection.
When should the operation be
performed?
Research reveals that
neutering a pet at an early age does not cause any increased risk. Most
veterinarians recommend
neutering between five and nine months of age.
Is there any alternative to
surgery?
Not at the present time,
although there are several exciting advances being made in this area.
Are there any dangers
associated with the operation?
Neutering is considered a
major operation and requires general anesthesia. With today’s modern
anesthetics and
monitoring equipment, the risk of a complication is very low.
It has been said that your pet has a greater chance of being
injured in a car
wreck than having an anesthetic or surgical complication.
What happens when I leave my
pet for this procedure?
Your pet will be examined and
pre-anesthetic blood tests are usually performed. If everything is
acceptable,
your pet will
then be anesthetized. Most pets will have an intravenous catheter
placed to administer the anesthetic and to provide fluid
therapy during the
surgery. After your pet is anesthetized, a breathing tube will be
placed in his
trachea (windpipe). This will
allow us to deliver oxygen and the gas
anesthetic. The surgery consists of making a small incision in front of
the
scrotum
and removing the testicles. Many veterinarians use absorbable
sutures
so that you do not have to return for suture removal.
Are there any post-operative
precautions I should take?
Rest and restriction of
activity are the primary post-operative care you should provide. Most
dogs can
resume normal
activity five to ten days after surgery. Until then, leash walks
(for dogs), no running or climbing stairs and lots of rest are the rule.
All
Content © 2005 The Patton Veterinary Hospital