If you want to neuter your male dog, then you have two castration choices. You can use a surgical or chemical procedure. How do these two options work? What are their advantages and disadvantages?
Surgical Castration in Dogs: What to Know
Some dog owners choose surgical castration for their pets. Here, your vet puts your dog under a general anesthetic before removing its testicles. Once its testicles are gone, your dog can't produce sperm. So, it can't father puppies.
Surgical castration is permanent and irreversible. This is often the preferred option for dog owners who never want their pets to breed or who want to modify unwanted testosterone-based behavior.
Dogs typically behave less aggressively after castration. They have reduced testosterone levels. So, they lose their sexual urges and behavioral habits. They often become better behaved.
Surgical castration is also fast and effective. It is a one-shot process. While your pet will have some discomfort after surgery, it should recover fast. You don't have to worry about keeping it away from female dogs in the future.
However, if you aren't sure whether you want to neuter your pet permanently or worry about the procedure itself, then surgical castration might not be the right route to take. Chemical castration might be a better option.
Chemical Castration in Dogs: What to Know
Chemical castration doesn't involve surgery or any external work on the testicles. Your vet inserts a small implant under your dog's skin. The implant contains chemical hormones to suppress fertility.
These hormones stop your dog's brain from producing sperm and testosterone. So, while all your pet's sexual organs stay intact, it effectively becomes infertile.
Chemical castration is a temporary fix. Depending on the implant, the procedure lasts for a set period of time, say a year. At the end of this time, your dog's fertility returns unless you put in a new implant.
The temporary nature of chemical castration appeals to dog owners who might want to breed their dogs in the future but who don't want this to happen yet. If you do decide to breed your pet, you simply wait for the implant to wear out or ask your vet to remove it.
Like surgical castration, chemical implants can help modify a dog's behavior. They are also a good option if your pet has had a bad reaction to a general anesthetic in the past or isn't healthy enough to go through this kind of sedation.
While effective, chemical castration doesn't suit every dog or owner. The implant won't work immediately so you will have to keep your dog away from females for a while. Plus, you have to remember to have a new implant in good time if you want your dog to stay neutered.
For more advice, call your veterinary clinic.
Share14 February 2023
For years, I wanted to fill my home with happy animals. When I got married, my spouse wanted a pet just as much as I did, and it was great to start looking for pets together. We were able to find a rescue animal who worked well with our budget and our lifestyle, and it was neat to give that sweet animal a home. However, after we brought the pet into our home, we realized that he needed some medical care. We turned to a veterinarian for advice on his medical health, and we worked on getting him completely vaccinated. Check out this blog for more information on finding help early.
