Castration of dogs: types, pros and cons, postoperative care, dog behavior after surgery

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The problem of castration of dogs, whether male or female, worries many, and not only owners of four-legged pets. In some countries, this procedure is considered preferable if the puppy is not going to be kept for breeding. For example, in the US, puppies are castrated as soon as they reach the age of six months. This not only improves the behavior of the dogs, but also eliminates accidental crossbreeding, unwanted breeding and the problem of stray animals.

However, in a number of countries, such as Norway, there are animal welfare laws that state that pets should not undergo surgical procedures to adapt them to human needs, unless it is a strictly necessary measure recommended by a veterinarian. Simply put, the owner does not have the right to castrate dogs, and the procedure can only be prescribed by a specialist in case of a threat to the he alth of the animal. So is it worth applying such an operation in relation to your pet?

Is castration humane?

In our country mandatorythere is no neutering of dogs or a ban on surgery. When there are no special veterinary prescriptions, the owner himself decides whether to subject his dog to the procedure. Disputes about the pros and cons of castration of dogs, about the ethics of the operation, the right of the animal to the natural manifestation of its instincts make it difficult to make a final decision. But it should be remembered that dogs have not lived in natural conditions for a long time, they settled comfortably next to a person.

Perhaps not everyone knows that 70% of stray males never mate in their entire lives. This is the privilege of the strongest dominant males or the most cunning. The rest stay only as an accompanying escort and, if they violate the hierarchical advantage of the leaders, they are subjected to cruel aggression from their side. Domestic dogs, constantly experiencing the influence of sex hormones, are in a state of stress, dissatisfaction and discomfort. This often disrupts the harmonious contact between the pet and its owner, creates an unbearable relationship for both and becomes reason enough for castration.

He alth

According to reviews, many owners do not want to castrate dogs for their animals, fearing that they will become infantile, inhibited, stupid, lose watchdog qualities, begin to recover, they will increase the risk of diseases associated with a lack of sex hormones. These are unfounded fears. If the puppy is not operated on too early, his he alth will be safer than in non-neutered dogs, since the procedure prevents diseases.testes and prostate gland of males, reproductive system and mammary glands of bitches, including oncological ones. In addition, the life expectancy of a castrated dog is a third longer than that of its non-operated counterparts.

Behavior and activity

Males behave much more adequately after the procedure. The dog will remain active on the walk, will play and run with pleasure. But in the house, he will begin to behave much calmer, spending more time in his place. Walking time for neutered dogs should be increased to give them more room to move. As a result of how castration affects the behavior of the dog, walking will gradually become more pleasant and calm, and will begin to give pleasure to both the owner and the pet.

A castrated male is much more trainable and much more willing to follow the commands of the owner, because the dog is not distracted by the painful sensations and desires provoked by hormonal action, he focuses on his owners. At the same time, security and working qualities in no case become worse, and in bitches they even increase.

Overweight

The risk of fullness does exist. As the dog becomes calmer, more mentally balanced and less active, his body needs fewer calories, and his daily portion must be reduced. From industrial feeds, one should choose less high-calorie ones, and in natural nutrition, partially replace the diet with fish, avoid pork meat and offal, milk, eggs. If the dog receives porridge in the diet, then it is better to replace high-calorie wheat groats with pearl barley, rich in vegetable protein.

Behavioral reasons for male castration

Most of the behavior of a dog depends on his upbringing, but some manifestations of males cannot be corrected by any training.

1. Pet's frequent erection, its imitation of sexual intercourse on people or objects.
2. The male puts marks right in the apartment, constantly whines and asks to go outside.
3. The dog becomes naughty and difficult to control. And it is completely unacceptable if the dog is aggressive towards the household. Dominant males do not obey commands well, striving to constantly show their superiority, and if they recognize power, then only one member of the family, while others sometimes fail to control the dog at all.
4. Dog on a walk constantly pulls on the leash, trying to escape, and reacts violently to other dogs. Often a male shows aggression towards other males, tries to copulate with smaller dogs, regardless of their gender, becomes the object of harassment or aggression. Walking such a dog turns into torment and causes constant tension.
5. A male runs away at every opportunity, and frequent searches for an animal or attempts to take it on a leash are a very unnerving circumstance for the owner. But most importantly, such behavior of the pet becomes dangerous for his he alth and life. Runaway dogs are often lost and run over by cars. In addition, accidental mating can cause various infections. After all, dogs also havevenereal diseases, of which there are about 20, and the most common of them are: transmissible venereal sarcoma, chlamydia, gonorrhea (gonococcal urethritis). There is also a risk of infection with parasites and other diseases that the dog can get through contact or through food.

Any of the above reasons is enough to castrate a male. But you should not expect from a cute puppy that growing up, he will necessarily become such an obnoxious male. More often, sexual problems in dogs appear 2-3 times a year with varying degrees of intensity. Many owners of not very active males manage during these periods with drugs that reduce sexual activity.

Types of dog castration

To begin with, it should be clarified that there are two ways to deprive your dog of reproduction: castrate or sterilize. In the first case, the genital organs are removed: in the male - the testes, in the female - only the ovaries or in combination with the uterus. Sexual desire after some time after the operation stops. During sterilization, the reproductive organs are not subject to removal, but only the seminiferous canals in males and the fallopian tubes in females are blocked. In this case, sexual desire does not weaken, dogs are active in mating, bitches continue to estrus. But animals are not able to reproduce offspring. This procedure does not affect the behavior of pets.

Both options are quite simple operations, worked out by veterinarians many times, and some specialists perform the procedure at the client's home. But for anythere are restrictions on operations, including anesthesia. Therefore, before making a final choice, it is necessary to consult a good veterinarian. The postoperative period of castration of male dogs is not a problem, does not require a particularly gentle regimen, and it is mainly necessary to ensure that the animal does not gnaw out the stitches.

When to castrate a male?

Male dogs are exposed to the action of sex hormones, which affect their behavior, even from puppyhood. After castration, the flow of hormones does not stop instantly, and undesirable manifestations of the male will continue for some time, becoming more and more fixed in reflex behavior. Therefore, having decided on castration, one should not postpone the procedure for a long time. But too early is also not recommended to castrate the puppy. Reproductive hormones are involved in the full formation of the joints, bones and skeletal structure of the dog. Premature castration can increase the risk of developing hip disorders (dysplasia) and bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Puberty in males depends on the average weight of the puppy breed and determines the age of castration of dogs. But in any case, the procedure is not recommended for animals under nine months of age.

• Small dogs weighing less than 15 kg can be castrated after nine months.
• Dogs weighing between 15-25kg undergo surgery after 12 months.
• Males over 25kg are recommended to be castrated after 15 months.

This age is indicated with the calculation of a full-fledgeddevelopment of the dog's body. The maximum age does not matter, and most veterinarians believe that males can be castrated at any age.

Result statistics

Ever since the 1990s, the University of California has been monitoring the effects of neutering dogs. Indicators of changes in the behavior of males can be given in numbers.

• Escape of dogs from home stops in 90% of cases, in 45% of males the result was noted immediately after the operation.
• Aggressiveness towards other males and imitation of the act completely stops in 60% of individuals.
• Only half of the dogs stop tagging indoors. Unfortunately, this habit is rooted in reflex behavior in many males.

Castration of bitches

This operation for females is more difficult and longer than for males, and the postoperative period is longer and more painful. Perhaps this stops many owners from neutering female dogs. It is believed that the procedure is needed only for females living in the yard, where males from all around come running during her estrus, when the owners cannot control her dangerous periods and unwanted mating. Or if the dog is prone to vagrancy and tries to run away twice a year. And domestic girls, for whom the owners may well keep track, do not need such a complicated procedure at all. Sex hormones also affect the behavior of females, although to a lesser extent than in males. In addition, the risk of diseases related to sexual function is significantly higher in bitches.

Features of the operation

When castrating females, there are two options for removing the reproductive organs: only the ovaries or the uterus with the ovaries. The second type of castration of dogs is preferable and more often recommended by veterinarians. If the uterus is left, inflammation (pyometra) may eventually occur, and this organ will still have to be removed. A complex operation eliminates the danger of oncological formations of the mammary glands and genital organs, inflammation of the uterus, false pregnancy.

It is advisable to carry out the operation at home or ensure the delivery of the animal by personal transport to the veterinarian. The first option is preferable, because if the dog begins to recover from anesthesia in the car, not understanding where he is and what is happening to him, many problems can arise.

Before the operation, a general examination of the animal by a veterinarian is necessary to identify abnormalities or diseases that complicate anesthesia. The dose of anesthesia (sedative drug with epidural anesthesia) is calculated by the doctor according to the weight of the animal. The reproductive organs are removed through a 5-centimeter (in the absence of pathologies and pregnancy) lobar incision, which is made below the navel along the white line of the abdomen. After the organs are removed, the abdominal wall is sutured with sutures that do not require subsequent intervention and processing. Superficial sutures in the skin may also be such that they do not require removal. Otherwise, stitches are removed 7-10 days after surgery.

What to do after castration?

A dog after surgerymust be laid warm, preferably on the floor. An animal regaining consciousness from anesthesia may panic and be disoriented, try to crawl on its front legs. Pet needs to be calmed down. The hind legs may not begin to function immediately, but only after a few hours. The veterinarian will prescribe postoperative painkillers and antibiotics, which the dog needs during the first 1-3 days. Appetite is restored in the next 2-4 days, if five days after the operation the animal refuses to eat, you should contact your veterinarian. It is necessary to ensure that the dog does not lick or bite the seams. Be sure to show the pet to the doctor after the time specified by him.

Age

Veterinarians believe that bitches can be castrated from 6 months old, and it is better to carry out the procedure at a young age. The optimal time for castration is before the first estrus or immediately after it. A dog that has never given birth transfers its maternal instinct to family members and focuses as much as possible on the owners. Castrated and never bred females, as a rule, do not recognize the dominance of males in relationships and do not allow mating attempts on their part.

The pros and cons of neutering dogs can be discussed when it's not about the pet's he alth or extreme cases of negative behavior. When the operation is a necessity, then the minuses become much less. With regard to the behavior of dogs, it should still be remembered that the procedure is far from always needed at home.animals. Most often, the actions and habits of a dog depend on its upbringing and relationship with the owner.