Having a dog neutered is often not an easy decision for the owner, especially since from a legal point of view this is not even at the sole discretion of the owner: In fact, Section 6 of the Animal Welfare Act stipulates that owners may only have their dog neutered if there is a medical indication. Possible factors that may justify neutering a dog include, for example, pronounced male-like behavior, repeated pseudopregnancy with long-lasting behavioral changes, and various illnesses. These include hormonally-related diabetes mellitus, uterine infection, prostate enlargement, or perineal hernia. In the BARF guide from haustierkost.de , we tell you how the procedure is carried out.
Castration in dogs: This is what happens during the procedure
Castration of dogs is always carried out under general anesthesia. This is why it is a procedure that should not be underestimated and affects the animal's entire organism. At the same time, for the veterinarian, it is a routine operation that follows a regulated procedure. This begins with preliminary examinations, which, among other things, check whether the four-legged friend is able to be anesthetized. If this is the case, sedation is carried out by an injection into a venous access. The dog is then connected to an infusion and anesthesia monitoring. He is given a tube for oxygen supply. Before the dog is castrated, the fur in the surgical area is thoroughly removed. This area is also carefully disinfected and covered with sterile material.
In bitches, an incision is made to open the abdominal wall to provide access to the uterine horns, which can be tied off together with the veins and arteries. The ovaries are also removed. Removing the entire uterus is only indicated in rare cases. Finally, the wound is stitched up and the anesthesia is stopped. The bitch remains under observation until she wakes up. As soon as she can walk safely without support again, she is sent home with all the necessary medication. The stitches are usually removed after ten days. Until then, the bitch should wear a lick guard so that the wound can heal unhindered.
neutering male dogs
Castrating a male dog naturally requires different steps after the anesthesia. Here, the skin is incised in front of the scrotum so that the testicles and epididymis can be moved forward and the spermatic cords and blood vessels can be tied off in order to finally remove the testicles completely through a single opening. Sometimes, however, a different approach is necessary to castrate the male dog. This applies, for example, if the testicles are in the groin area or in the abdominal cavity. Once the wound has been stitched up, the aftercare for a male dog castration is no different from that for a female dog. In addition to protecting against licking, it is recommended that you avoid major exertion as much as possible until the stitches are removed. Give your four-legged friend some rest so that he can recover from the procedure and avoid long walks and turbulent play sessions.
Should you have your dog neutered or not?
There is no general answer to the question of whether or not you should have your dog neutered, but rather it must be decided individually for each individual case. Your veterinarian is available to give you comprehensive advice, weighing up the pros and cons of neutering dogs. Ultimately, the animal's general health is often the deciding factor for or against an operation. An alternative to surgical castration is chemical castration with a hormone chip. This is a Suprelorin implant that causes temporary castration in male dogs by inhibiting the production of the sex hormone testosterone.
