The truth about neutering

In male animals, castration involves the removal of the testicles.   It is performed to help control the pet overpopulation by preventing the animal from impregnating other animals, and also to help treat certain conditions, such as tumors and prostate disease. 

How is it performed?

Your veterinarian will recommend pre-anesthetic blood tests and physical examination prior to surgery.  This will help ensure their health and ability to undertake the surgical procedure. The blood tests will also make sure your pet is healthy enough to handle the anesthetic medication. 

Your vet will also recommend that you fast your pet (no food or water) for around 12 hours.  This is very important and will help prevent complications from vomiting when sedated-which can be very dangerous. 

A pet that is brought in to be neutered is first given anesthesia.  This allows the patient to remain immobile and pain free during the surgery.   There are many types of anesthesia that are used and your veterinarian will choose the one that is best for your pet.  Some types are given as an injection and some are given through inhalation of a gas.  A plastic tube is inserted into the animal’s trachea to protect the airway during sedation, this tube is connected to the anesthetic gas machine to give the animal a constant flow of anesthetic gas and oxygen.

The anesthetized patient is then prepared for surgery; this involves shaving and cleaning the surgical area with germicidal solutions.  The surgical area is then draped with sterile cloths, which help keep the surgical area sterile.  The veterinarian and veterinary assistants then prepare themselves through repeated hand washing with special soaps and then put on sterile gowns, masks, and gloves. 

The neuter surgery in the cat involves an incision that is made directly on the skin over the cat’s scrotum and the testicles are removed from surrounding structures.  This surgery is very simple and is completed in a very short time, compared to a cat spay (ovariohysterectomy.)  In a dog neuter, the incision is made above the scrotum and the testicles are pushed up through the incision and then removed.  

In the cat, the scrotum is not sutured and is left open to heal.  In the dog, the area of the incision above the scrotum is sutured.  The stitches are removed (unless they are the dissolvable type) in about 7-10 days. 

What are the Benefits of neutering? 

There are many benefits to neutering your pet.  The most important is that it helps stop the pet overpopulation. It can also help prevent certain types of cancers such as testicular, prostate and anal tumors.  It can also stop the production of testosterone and decrease negative male behaviors associated with the hormone such as roaming and aggression.