Having a pet isn’t just about showering all your love on them with cuddles and kisses. There’s so much MORE that you need to do! Being a pet parent comes with the responsibility of taking care of your pet’s life and well-being. It’s about nurturing them like a baby, from their vaccinations to teaching them basic good behavior – everything is your responsibility.
What is Neutering?
Castration, commonly known as neutering or “the big snip”, is a surgical procedure that removes your male dog’s testicles, preventing him from having an offspring. Although it is a medical treatment, neutering is quite simple and less time-consuming than spaying a female dog. One major and most difficult decision you have to make is whether to opt for neutering or not. There have been debates about whether the process of neutering is safe or not. So, here we will cover everything about this topic that you need to know.
What is the Right Age for Neutering?
This is one of the most common queries pet parents may have while thinking about neutering. Biologically, the right age for neutering a dog is minimum 6 months. But, animal behaviorists advise that it should be done once the dog attains full mental maturity, i.e, minimum of 16 months. This is because the lowered level of testosterone may result in unwanted behavior in dogs who are not fully mentally mature.
How is Neutering Done?
A veterinarian will check your pet and run some pre-anesthetic blood tests. When everything is in order, your pet will be administered anesthesia. To administer anesthesia and give hydration therapy during the procedure, a majority of dogs will have an intravenous catheter implanted. Once the dog is unconscious, a breathing tube will be put into his trachea (windpipe) to allow oxygen and a gas anesthetic to be delivered right into his lungs. The procedure involves removing the testicles through a tiny incision made in front of the scrotum. Absorbable internal sutures are frequently used by vets so you won’t need to take your dog back to the hospital to have them taken out.
What are the Advantages of Neutering?
There are several advantages of neutering your dog. Many vets may advise you to go for it, especially if you intend to keep your dog as a pet and not breed him. The resultant change in your dog’s behavior may be the most obvious advantage.
- Calmer behavior: A male dog’s testosterone levels fall after neutering. Post the surgery, canines are calmer and less inclined to fight with other dogs. He’ll leave fewer territorial marks, both inside and outside, since he won’t feel the need to alert everyone in the area that he’s nearby.
- Protection from diseases: Spaying and neutering protect the pet from several illnesses including breast cancer and prostatitis. Additionally, it lowers the chance of testicular cancer, the second most prevalent malignancy in unneutered dogs, and removes the danger of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition of enlarged prostate that develops with aging. To top it, neutered dogs typically live longer.
What are the Associated Risks?
Neutering may also have a few unintended consequences like:
- Decreased energy: A neutered dog will have less energy as neutering will reduce your dog’s metabolism.
- Obesity: Dog obesity is caused by overeating and inactivity, both of which are factors that you, as the pet owner, can control. For instance, irrespective of the age of surgery, neutered golden retrievers are quite prone to obesity.
- Knee Damage: The danger of knee damage increases in neutered dogs. This is observed more when large breed dogs are neutered before the full development of their bones.
What are the Post-Operative Precautions?
Plenty of rest and activity limitation are two important precautions you have to take as a pet parent. After surgery, most dogs may resume their regular activities within five to ten days. Until then, you should avoid activities like swimming, running, and climbing stairs, including leash walks. Doctors also advise putting the dogs on e-collars to prevent them from licking post surgery.
Still have some unanswered queries? Get in touch with our team to resolve them and make an informed decision.
