Male Dog Castration

In the case of a female dog, castration means both ovaries are surgically removed. This operation is usually accompanied by a partial amputation of the womb. This intervention offers certain benefits, but also some inconveniences, both of which I will explain. The sexual neutralization, be it by injection or by castration, makes the dog lose part of her vital energy. If you keep on feeding your dog as you used to before the intervention, she will most probably put on some weight. In general, the problem of obesity can be avoided or, at least, held within certain limits by giving her less food. The peculiarities among breeds present another important factor to bear in mind: Cockers, for instance, run a great risk whereas Greyhounds barely put on a small belly. It is difficult to predict mood changes; many dogs do not change at all. What does occur, as mentioned before, is that they are no longer distracted by dogs of the opposite sex and, therefore, many of them become more faithful and maybe even gentler. When judging her character, you cannot really say how she would have developed had you not castrated her; many people tend to blame any unwanted undesired characteristic on this operation. After the intervention, some minor urinary incontinence, especially when the animal has been castrated at a very young age. Nevertheless, a proper hormonal treatment can usually help solve this unpleasant aftereffect. Important: If you can't make up your mind on whether to castrate your dog or not; or maybe you don't want to have to deal with the unpleasant aftereffects, or if you want to know how your dog might react – if maybe her way of being would change in anyway, or, perhaps she would put on some weight – I suggest you ask your veterinarian to administer the "contraceptive injection". It is, quite frankly, quite a good method which is pretty much a "test castration"; in other words, nothing definite. However, you won't do your dog any favor by starting and later interrupting the injection treatment. Contrary to what other specialists might say, it isn't good for your dog to reinitiate her normal sexual cycle after having been inhibited.

Advantages:

• The dog will never enter in heat and will be sexually neutral.

• There is absolutely no risk of her accumulating pus in her womb (piometra).

• Mammary gland tumors are much less frequent.

• Your dog becomes more tamed and faithful.

Disadvantages:

• Castration is irreversible.

• The operation is a routine intervention for an expert veterinarian; there is, as in all operations, some risk.