If you just adopted your first dog, you can expect to have a lot of "firsts" in the next couple of months. You'll probably attend your first obedience class, face rolls of torn up toilet paper for the first time, and if you have a male dog, make your first plans to have a dog neutered. Along with the neutering appointment usually come a few questions, which you'll find the answers to below.
Is neutering really necessary?
Some people just figure they'll let their male dog stay in tact and make sure they keep him away from any female dogs. But this plan is more foolish than it sounds. You do not get a male dog neutered just so that he does not breed. Neutering also makes males less aggressive, makes them less likely to roam, and makes it safe for you to take your dog places like the dog park and vet's office, where there will more than likely be female dogs. Neutered male dogs also can't develop testicular cancer, an ailment that is unfortunately common in intact male dogs. So in other words, yes, neutering your dog really is that important.
Will neutering hurt?
Of course you don't want your beloved puppy to feel any pain, so it's only natural to worry about this. Neutering is a surgical procedure, and as such, your dog will have some discomfort. However, the procedure is far less invasive than most people realize. The vet will only need to make two tiny incisions in the scrotum. Your dog will be asleep when this happens, and they'll get pain relievers for a few days afterwards. Most dogs are back to their normal selves within a day since the pain is minimal and well managed.
Will the dog need to stay overnight after being neutered?
In almost all cases, the answer is "no." Vets typically send a male dog home just a few hours after neutering, as soon as they've mostly recovered from the anesthesia. As mentioned above, the incisions are small and only made in the scrotum, not the abdomen, so there are not a lot of risks to worry about post-surgery and dogs can recover just fine at home. You may need to put a cone on your puppy's neck to keep him from bothering the incisions for a few days, but that's about it.
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of neutering and what the process involves. It really is the best thing you can do for your new male pup.
Most veterinarians go into this field because they love animals and want to care for them. And they let that love shine through in everything they do, from vaccinating puppies to performing joint surgery on elderly cats. The veterinary profession can be demanding and even a bit sad at times, but at the end of the day, love for the animals carries a vet through.
If you would like to learn more about vets, we hope you will read the articles on this blog. Whether you're an average pet owner or you're thinking of becoming a vet yourself, there is true value in understanding this profession and the motivation behind it.