Keep your dog quiet and indoors for approximately 2 weeks after he returns home from the hospital to allow him to heal. Indeed, vasectomies are so rare that I recall being laughed at by my professor in my Principles of Surgery lecture when I asked whether anyone was performing this technique in lieu of castration. To date, veterinary schools in the United States focus on teaching the traditional castration surgery. In the US, sterilization involves removal of the reproductive organs (gonadectomy), usually through ovariohysterectomy (spay) of females and orchiectomy (castration) of males. “Neutering dogs before puberty causes the growth plate in the long bones to close later, and this can lead to altered joint angles as well as taller dogs. There has been a ton of controversy surrounding spaying and neutering. A vasectomy procedure is a form of male birth control that involves the surgical sealing or severance of the vas deferens. ©Copyright 1999 - 2021. Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way. Apparently, it’s near impossible to find veterinarians willing to tackle this simple procedure. Know the pros and cons of vaccinating your dog or cat. But it is also a very low risk disease in dogs. Photo: Skitterphoto. Of all the e-mails and phone calls the last five years of blogging has brought my way, the most commonly queried issue has to do with how to source a tubal ligation or vasectomy for dogs. Neutering is a much simpler surgery … Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook. All Rights Reserved. This article will refer to the procedure of vasectomy alone. Controversy surrounding the health risks associated with the neutering (castration) of dogs has lead veterinarians and dog owners to question if there are alternatives. Controversy surrounding the health risks associated with the neutering (castration) of dogs has lead veterinarians and dog owners to question if there are alternatives. First, I will point out a few differences between service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs. Some veterinarians use nonabsorbable sutures to close the incision that needs to be removed, while others use absorbable sutures beneath the surface of the skin that will absorb on their own. The Pros & Cons of a Vasectomy Procedure Vasectomy is a routine procedure, but you should get all the facts before you decide whether or not it's right for you. Overview of Canine Vasectomy The procedure referred to as a “vasectomy” in dogs is a method of birth control which redirects the release of sperm in the male dog during breeding. They have changed the face of contagious disease like almost no other modern medical discovery. If you find it is impossible to stop your pet from irritating the area, obtain an “Elizabethan” or “e-collar” which is placed around the neck to prevent access to the incision. No harm, no foul. Pre-operative evaluation usually involves a thorough physical examination and may include blood tests. The testicle will still produce sperm but it is reabsorbed by the body. 10g. Dr. Kutzler says she’s not opposed to male dog vasectomy and has performed them on shelter and research dogs. If the castration was performed for reasons other than preventing reproduction, further treatment and/or monitoring may be necessary. There does seem to be some health benefits but there are some conditions in which the risk is increased by castrating dogs. As an additional benefit, young dogs who are neutered are less likely to suffer problems with growth and development due to a reduction in hormones as a result of castration. Canine birth control method 6 - chemical castration - injecting sclerosing agents into testes and/or epididymus. Issues Holding Vets Back From Performing Vasectomy’s on Dogs # 1 Behavior issues. This prevents sperm from being ejaculated out of the body, thus preventing a male dog’s ability to breed. The vasectomy procedure involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens in each testicle. The only downside is that – as with tubal ligation – vets are not trained to do a vasectomy in school and so you must make sure your vet has received additional, specialized training in this procedure. An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. Removing the entirety of the testicular tissue permanently eliminates the vast majority of his testosterone production. The best way to protect yourself and your partner from STDs is to get tested regularly and use condoms. Monitor the incision daily for signs of redness, swelling, or discharge. Castration eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer. The cons of vasectomy: Though there are many pros to the procedure, there are some risks that men need to carefully consider. 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