Cat & Dog Neutering (Castration)

What is Cat & Dog Neutering?

Cat and Dog neutering removes the ability of a male to produce young. In the U.S., cat and dog neutering is done surgically by making an incision over the scrotum or lower abdomen and removing the testicles. In Europe, some neutering is done by injection and no surgery is involved. Surgical neutering, which is also called orchidectomy (orchid=testicle and ectomy=removal) removes the source of most testosterone in a pet’s body.

Benefits of cat and dog neutering Neutering and spaying are the most common pet surgical procedures. Neutering has these benefits prevents the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens, lessens urine marking, lessens fighting, lessens cat yowling, decreases tendency to mount if done early before mounting behavior established, lessens running off to find females in heat, prevents enlarged prostate problems, and removes the possibility of testicular cancer, especially a factor if testicles have not descended into the scrotum but are within the body.

Best time to cat and dog neuter

Cat and dog neutering and behavior

Dogs that have fear aggression are not helped by neutering. In fact, many dogs with fear aggression will become more fearful if neutered. Fear aggression is different than regular aggression. A pet with aggression leans forward, carries the tail up high, and charges from the “get go.” A pet with fear aggression leans away with its weight on its back legs, cowers or hides under objects, pins its ears back, and carries its tail down or clamps it against its body. When people or animals ignore the signals from a fear aggressive pet and continue to approach it, the pet bites.

The nature of pets doesn’t change after being neutered so that friendly, playful pets remain friendly and playful. Dogs that are good watchdogs remain good watchdogs. Dogs that like to mount females in heat continue to like to mount females in heat; however, there is no chance of an unwanted litter. Disciplining a neutered dog to stop mounting is easier than disciplining an intact dog to stop mounting.

Neutering helps the pet that’s picked on

Negative effects of cat and dog neutering

In addition to changes in appearance, there are changes in health with neutering. The following medical problems increase with early neutering:

• incontinence,
• bone and joint problems (knee injury due to cruciate rupture, hip dysplasia and bone cancer), and
• prostate cancer.

1. Incontinence
Both male and female pets may become incontinent if surgically altered, and the likelihood of incontinence increases if the pets are altered when very young. Incontinent pets dribble urine during the day and may leak urine when they sleep at night. Most incontinent pets improve when given acupuncture and prescription drugs such as Proin or Cystolamine (phenylpropanolamine), estrogens, injectable testosterone, or anti-parasympathetic medications. However, these drugs can have detrimental side effects and they must be used for the life of the pet.

2. Bone and joint problems (cruciate rupture, hip dysplasia, and bone cancer)
Neutered dogs have increases in three types of bone and joint problems: torn knee ligaments (anterior cruciate ligament or ACL), hip dysplasia, and bone cancer. ACL injuries are common in neutered dogs of every size. Hip dysplasia and bone cancer (osteosarcoma) are common only in large dogs. Some veterinarians believe bone problems occur in neutered dogs because their bones grow larger than those of intact dogs. The larger growth occurs because testosterone, which normally tells the bones to stop growing, is not present to give the stop-growth signal. It appears that larger bone size predisposes these pets to bone and joint cancer.

Cats are not prone to ACL rupture or hip dysplasia. Cats do develop bone cancer, but the effect of neutering has not been clarified.

3. Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer occurs more commonly in neutered dogs than in intact dogs. On the other hand, benign prostatic enlargement does not occur.

Overall effect of cat and dog nneutering is positive

How Cat and dog neutering is done (procedure)

Techniques for surgery are slightly different in dogs and in cats. In dogs, hair is clipped from the lower abdomen, the area is cleaned, and an incision is made through the skin. The testicles are pushed up from the scrotum and removed through the incision. The incision may be sutured or stapled closed, or it may be left open to close naturally within hours.

In cats, the sac of skin around the testicles (scrotum) is plucked clean of hair and the skin gently cleaned. A cat’s scrotal skin is extraordinarily sensitive, so the area is not shaved with a clipper and is not scrubbed. An incision is made just large enough to slide the testicle through. Some veterinarians use one incision for both testicles, others create two incisions. The tiny skin incision is left open and it closes naturally within hours.

Although surgical techniques vary, the end result is that the testicles are removed and blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves that lead to the testicles are cut and the ends are tied off. Whether the incision is open or sutured, there should be no bleeding and minimal fluid will collect at the edge or drip. Although the skin edges seal within 24-48 hours, the area is not fully healed for up to three weeks.

Postoperative cat and dog nneutering care

Prevent jumping and running for one week, then slowly increase the amount of activity. Pets that become active too quickly can have several problems:

• scrotal swelling,
• pain,
• infection, and
• an open incision site (dehiscence).

To keep your pet comfortable after neuter surgery

• Use a calming pheromone, such as Comfort Zone DAP for dogs or Comfort Zone Feliway for cats.
• Provide fiber to establish normal bowel habits and prevent constipation in an animal that is less active than normal. Be Well for Dogs and Be Well for Cats are excellent sources of fiber and healing antioxidants.
• Place a cool pack on the scrotum to decrease swelling and pain. This is especially helpful for older pets with large scrotums.

Notify your veterinarian if there is:

• a fever
• swelling
• heat or redness
• vomiting
• no urine within 12 hours
• no appetite within 24 hours
• no stool within 24-36 hours
• a tendency to lick area excessively, or
• an opening of the incision.

Retained testicle (Undescended testicles or cryptorchidism)
The two testicles descend into the scrotum of pets during the first 8 weeks after birth. Some pets have testicles that don’t reach the scrotum and are called ‘retained” or “undescended” testicles. The scientific name is cryptorchid (crypt=hidden and orchid=testicle). These pets may still appear masculine because testosterone is produced as usual.

The testicles can be retained high up in the abdomen or low in the groin (inguinal region) where they are easy to palpate. Because the cells in the testicle are normally cooler than the rest of the body, when testicles are retained they overheat. Overheated cells are about 10 times more likely to develop cancer, and overheated sperm from that testicle is nonfunctional. Retained testicles can twist in the abdomen and create a painful, life-threatening torsion. Thus, veterinarians recommend surgery to remove retained testicles.

The tendency to have retained testicles is inherited in dogs and cats and is passed on through the DNA to the young. About 1% of dogs have retained testicles, with the most commonly affected being toy and miniature breeds: Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians, and Toy Poodles. In cats, 1-2% have retained testicles. The breeds commonly affected are Ragdoll, Maine Coon, Persian, and Himalayan. It is not considered ethical to use a cryptorchid dog or cat for breeding even when it has one normal testicle.

If you are going to spay or neuter your pet, this brochure from Best Friends Animal Society talks about the benefits and also counteracts some of the myths.

Anyone who needs assistance finding affordable spay/neuter services can benefit by using the SPAY/USA referral service.

The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians   Date Category Topic 01/30/07  Odor Control  MALE CAT SMELLS LIKE URINE - IS HE SPRAYING OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? 01/16/07  Urinary Tract/Kidneys  URINARY BLADDER PROBLEM OR LIVER SHUNT 12/12/06  Digestive Care  ONE KITTEN GETTING FAT 11/20/06  Digestive Care  DO CATS REALLY GET PARVO 11/03/06  Vaccines  3MONTH OLD PUPPY W/1ST SHOT. 10/30/06  Other  HAIR LOSS IN CHEST REGION 10/10/06  Other  NEUTERING BOXERS 08/29/06  Other  NEUTERING MALE CATS 06/14/06  Other  NEUTERING MALE DOGS 05/12/06  Skin Care  HAIRLESS SPOT? 04/28/06  Hormonal/Endocrine  NEUTERING 04/28/06  Anxiety Relief  SIGNS OF DEPRESSION 04/25/06  Other  DIAHRHEA 03/21/06  Hormonal/Endocrine  TESTICLES 02/15/06  Vaccines  VACCINES 1 2 »»

 

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