Apipet



Castrations - preoperative and postoperative procedure

Castrations - preoperative and postoperative procedure

Did you know that one uncastrated bitch and her offspring can produce as many as 67,000 puppies within seven years? Also, did you know that timely castration significantly reduces the risk of malignant tumours in the bitch's mammary glands and prostate enlargement in males later in life?

Besides these facts, castration helps reduce aggressive behaviour in males and limit excessive urination for territory demarcation.

Castration is a surgical procedure in which the gonads are removed: the testicles in male animals (orchidectomy) and the ovaries in female animals (ovariectomy).

In female animals, the uterus is often also removed. On the other hand, the term sterilisation is usually used for rendering gonads infertile by various methods, but not by surgical removal.

Misunderstandings about spaying and neutering:

  1. Sterilisation is the castration of a female animal. - Sterilisation does not refer to the castration of a female animal, as many owners think. The term castration is used for the surgical removal of the gonads in both male and female animals.
  2. It is best to castrate a bitch after the first heat or litter. - The best time to castrate a bitch is just before the first heat. Only then is the risk of tumours in the mammary glands significantly reduced. Castration after the first litter actually increases the risk of developing tumours.
  3. My dog will get fat after neutering. - Castration does not cause weight gain. By properly managing your dog's diet and exercise, you can keep his weight under control.
  4. Castration changes the dog's character and behaviour. - Castration does not change a dog's character. It only reduces aggressive and unwanted behaviour.

 

 

If you do not intend to breed dogs, it is best to have your pets neutered. Castraties - preoperatieve en postoperatieve procedure

It is best to castrate bitches before they go into heat for the first time, but they should be physically developed enough. Each breed of dog develops at a different pace, so the ideal time for castration of bitches can vary between 5 and 10 months. Owners of male dogs usually have their dogs castrated around 6 months of age, although the time for castration also depends on the breed.

Once you have decided to have your "four-legged friends" neutered, you should contact a vet, who will examine your dog and determine important parameters for the operation.

This usually includes the dog's overall health status, body weight and the function of the liver and kidneys, which are crucial for draining anaesthetics from the dog's body. For most veterinary clinics, castration is a routine procedure, so there is no reason for undue concern.

There are a number of rules dog owners must follow when their pet is neutered:

  • The dog should not eat 12 hours before the scheduled operation, but should have access to water until the morning of the operation.
  • Before surgery, let your dog out to do his business.
  • The dog should be clean before castration to reduce the risk of infection as much as possible.
  • If you notice any changes in your dog, inform the vet!

 

                                                                    Castration procedure

 

The castration procedure itself usually takes no more than an hour, but it is important that your pet remains in the vet's clinic for some time. This is usually a few more hours, until the animal is fully awake and the vet is sure that everything has gone well.

After castration, dogs often have a few stitches, which are removed later. In addition, an antibiotic spray is often applied to the incision to prevent infection. You can offer your dog water after 6 hours and food after 8 hours. It is important that the dog does not bite or scratch the wound to prevent the sutures from coming loose or microorganisms from entering the wound. Scratching and biting the wound is prevented by using a collar.

Castraties - preoperatieve en postoperatieve procedureIn the beginning, it is necessary to check the castration wound regularly to notice any changes, such as swelling or loosening sutures. Usually, the vet will write a prescription for painkillers in tablet form, which you can give to your dog if needed.

When you take your pet home, you should give it rest and avoid contact with other animals. Owners should also take care that their pets do not run or jump for at least one to two weeks after surgery.

The dog should not be washed for 10 days after surgery. Of course, if you notice any changes such as vomiting, diarrhoea, prolonged lethargy, etc., contact your vet immediately!

If the surgery and post-operative process were successful, your dog should make a full recovery within one to two weeks.

Although rare, unwanted side effects such as incontinence, increased appetite and changes in coat can sometimes occur after castration. Inform your vet if such side effects occur so he can help you treat them.

Castration has numerous positive effects on the health of your pets, plus it prevents unwanted pregnancy in bitches and reduces stray animals.

By adhering to simple rules for pre-operative and post-operative care, we ensure the quick recovery of our pets so that they can return to our daily activities as soon as possible.