Canine Neuter
Benefits of Neutering
- Eliminates risks of testicular cancer
- Greatly reduces the risk of prostate disease
- Reduces risks of perianal tumors
- Reduces instinctual roaming, fighting, spraying or marking
- Eliminates unwanted litters & sexually transmitted diseases
Orchiectomy is the surgical term for removing the testicles of the male patient. Also known as castration, orchiectomy is the most commonly performed type of neuter surgery. A small incision is made just above the scrotal sac and each testical is brought out through that incision and removed.
The recovery period is 14 days. We recommend leash walks only for 14 days following the surgery. If your dog is very active around the house, keeping him in a kennel or crate is advised when you are not there to keep him calm or if you are not able to keep him calm. You should discourage jumping, running, and playing especially for the first week and optimally for 2 weeks following surgery. The incision needs to stay clean and dry for 2 weeks and licking of the incision is not allowed! If he is wanting to lick the incision, he will need to wear an Elizabethan collar, which may have been provided to you at discharge, when he is not being directly supervised.
Follow-up
The sutures are absorbable so they do not need to be removed. There will be a small incisional bandage over the incision to protect it from dirt and bacteria. This bandage will usually fall off within the first couple days. If it is still present after a week, you may remove it or bring your pet back in for us to remove it. Please inspect the incision daily to make sure there is no increased redness, swelling, or drainage. Please call the clinic with any concerns.
