My 3.5yo, 20# intact male has a surgical appointment for castration in 2 weeks. This is my first dog that will undergo the procedure as a mature adult. Of course this is a very simple surgery with a juvenile animal but how does that change with a mature male? Are there things I should look out for or expect in regards to recovery? My vet seems to think I am overthinking this (and I probably am) and just keeps repeating the 2 weeks of rest, no jumping, no training (he is an agility dog). I have taken 2 weeks off work to sit home with him and monitor his recovery. Please talk to me of experiences with castration recovery, both good and bad. Thanks.
I foster dogs, all have come to me not altered whether puppies or adults. My last two adult foster male dogs, one had some swelling and felt bad, ended up on antibiotics and nsaids, but within a week was much better. The other never looked back. I do think it is dog dependent and also who does the surgery. We have a spay/neuter mobile van that does most of the rescueās and they do fabulous work.
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Choice of suture material matters.
Po is crazy high energy so needed heavy duty removeables sutures.
Which of course he found totally objectionable.
I left his cone on MUCH longer than instructed to keep his head out of his arse area.
Oh my! 2 weeks off of work!
Older dogs usually stay down a little longer because of the anesthesia, more mature blood vessels cut, etc. But within a few days they are back to normal, except with a cone on.
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My older dog had no issues with later in life castration.
Jingles & AO this surgery is a non-event for your dog too.
You will not need two weeks off work ā¦ unless you want to be off work.
Happy Holidays !
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I had a french bulldog that was castrated at 2.5 years old. His recovery was pretty normal. One note, seems that when you castrate a young dog their āsackā skin eventually shrinks back up nicely. Because my frenchy was older it never did. I used to joke that it was his little ācoin purseā.
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Thanks everyone for commenting. I, too, hope it is a non-issue, perfectly routine surgery and recovery. I would take time off over the holidays anyway as they are obligatory days off (facility closed), just filling in a few personal days in between to make it a block of two weeks and scheduled the surgery for Day -zero-. The way Christmas and New Years (and eves) fall in the week this year it works out well. I can stay home with him and make sure he doesnāt get at his stitches. I donāt fully trust the cone. Heās a pretty delicate flower about things and has terrible luck. Thanks again.
Not sure what Day -zero- is, but me personally, I try not to schedule surgeries the day before a weekend or holiday the clinics are closedā¦Just in case.
This coming from the COTHer whose cat blocked on Christmas Day.
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My first all-my-own dog was a Yorkie who came to me at age 4. I had him neutered and some dental work done at the same time (he had retained all of his deciduous teeth and had double rows upper and lower. He looked like a shark). The dentistry was far more traumatic than the neutering, to which he paid no attention.
Had several doneā¦never had a problem.
i put cortisone cream on shaved area, but not too close to incision. Helps with the prickly itchy problem that makes them want to violently bite to scratch it.
. Also put mens or boys boxers on them backwards with tail comingbout crotch.
You can use knee highs to secure to harness, so they cant lick.
Soft cones, seem to be more comfortable than plastic cones.
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Another idea here, but why not get him used to the cone now? Teach him with lots of treats/praise/rewards that the cone is a good thing. Start playing low impact games that he can learn now and continue to build on post surgery.
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Thatās a great idea, thanks, BEARCAT!
Just to update the thread, the surgery was a success and the dog is recovering well. Anesthesia hit him hard and it took him a good 12hrs to really wake up, and a full 24 before he was feeling himself again but his appetite is normal, the surgical site is healing well, no drainage that I can see and very little swelling or redness. I now foresee the most difficult part going forward will be the activity restrictions and am considering if I should back off on the pain medication.
Surgery day I dropped him off and went to work. Instructions were clear that I should call around 4:30pm to confirm pick up between 5 and 6pm. Vetās office called me at work at 1:30pm and I went OMG!!!ābut they were just calling to say surgery was successful, dog was waking up and would be ready to go home anytime after 3pm. Jiminey crickets talk about a freak out. Yes I am a spaz.
Glad to hear he is a trooper. Lmao
Yes, the worst is generally the anesthesia, but again, itās not such a bad thing to keep them calmer for that day.
When the vet says, try to keep them calm and activity restricted, they actually mean it. More with spays and abdominal sx, but still.
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Glad to hear the āsnipā is behind him ~
Jingles & AO for a speedy recovery ~
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!
