Controversy surrounding the health risks associated with the neutering (castration) of dogs has lead veterinarians and dog owners to question if there are alternatives. Check out my other articles on health & feeding. And an owner can always choose to completely castrate or spay later. These include vasectomy and intratesticular injection of zeuterin. However, in recent times, non-scalpel vasectomies have become increasingly popular and … For more information about the use of zeuterin – go to: Zeuterin. Vasectomy is commonly performed to render pets unable to breed without altering normal hormonal production, thus helping to control pet overpopulation while reducing the developmental impact on the animal. A vasectomy is a small operation a man has to prevent pregnancy. First, a couple caveats. Vasectomy is a permanent form of birth control for men, blocking the passage of sperm when a man ejaculates. With this in mind, owners should have a serious discussion with their veterinarian about the pros and cons of neutering and decide what is best for each dog individually. The Pros of A Vasectomy. Castration alters a dog’s behavior along with his ability to pass on his genetic material. Below are all of the pros and cons of removing a female dog’s reproductive hormones that I considered. Do not let your vasectomized dog interact with a female in heat during this time period. Become a Fan of Speaking for Spot on Facebook. Canine birth control method 4 - the "male pill" - fertility suppressing implants for male dogs. Thank you Mister Odie. Yes, the single most commonly queried issue has to do with how to source a vasectomy for dogs. There has been a ton of controversy surrounding spaying and neutering. Dogs with a vasectomy will still experience the same reproductive urges as intact dogs … 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. Kibble or Canned Dog Food 10e. With a vasectomy the testicles are left intact, allowing reproductive hormone function to continue normally. This is the reason the zoos often do vasectomies in their population of animals so that they can’t rampantly breed but will still maintain the behavior they would often exhibit in the wild. Puppies are adorable! But if you ask veterinarians across the country, the concept of a tubal ligation or vasectomy reeks of the unethical. But first, what is neutering? Vaccines save lives. Pre-operative evaluation usually involves a thorough physical examination and may include blood tests. It is not more complicated to do a vasectomy than a castration. Do not allow your pet to lick or chew at the incision. Skin sutures, if present, will be removed in 10 to 14 days. While gonadectomy makes it impossible for the pet to reproduce, what other impacts does a lack of sex hormones have on the pet? This article will refer to the procedure of vasectomy alone. Whether we’re talking California, New York, Miami, or the sum total of all the progressive places in between, vasectomy is currently not considered an alternative to traditional castration of dogs. Meghan2 says: July 30, 2012 at 8:59 pm. Semen (cum) can still carry STDs, even if it doesn’t contain sperm. By Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Breed Selection Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books. Health benefits of castrating dogs are usually promoted by most vet practices. 13 Responses to My Vasectomy: Pros and Cons of Neutering your Nutsack. It is a bit more complicated to do a tubal ligation than an ovariohysterectomy in a dog or cat. Log in. With most vasectomy procedures, a single incision is made just in front of the dog’s scrotum. With a vasectomy the testicles are left intact, allowing reproductive hormone function to continue normally. (Read: less expensive = more dogs sterilized = less overpopulation). This ensures that the dog will not breed, which is an important stipulation of many adoption contracts. Canine birth control method 5 - canine vasectomy. Ventral midline ovariohysterectomy (OVH) is considered an effective technique for sterilization and neutering of both dogs and cats with very low complication rates when performed by surgeons that are experienced with this procedure.4-6 There are many minor variations with no research evidence comparing the relative merits of most. 10g. – Following vasectomy surgery, a male dog can successfully breed for up to two months. Dogs should be prevented from roaming or having contact with intact female dogs for 2 to 6 months after the vasectomy procedure. Dr. Kutzler says she’s not opposed to male dog vasectomy and has performed them on shelter and research dogs. In modern society, male dogs often destroy property whilst seeking out females. No harm, no foul. The tube that carries sperm out of the testicle (called the vas deferens) is clamped, cut, or sealed. One of the main Pros of your dog wearing a “house” collar is that it is a legal requirement for dogs to wear an ID tag on his collar with name, house number postcode and telephone number on. Some believe that vasectomy may become the “norm” in the future while castration will become less common. Testicular cancer. But there are already too many puppies (and adult dogs) who desperately need homes. Research projects to answer this question first evaluated the difference between early and later gonadectomy, usually suppo… An expert researcher and author of 15 books about dogs, she loves helping people choose, train, and care for their dogs. This technique has contributed to controlling overall population levels of the unwanted dogs. It can positively impact on the sexual satisfaction of couples because the worry of falling pregnant isn’t there. Health pros and cons. There are definite pros and cons to having a service dog. They will be a risk to themselves and other people as they negotiate roads. Keep your dog quiet and indoors for approximately 2 weeks after he returns home from the hospital to allow him to heal. The veterinary establishment is loath to relinquish its recommendation that full castration (neutering) is the end all and be all when it comes to canine sterilization. Apparently, it’s near impossible to find veterinarians willing to tackle this simple procedure. Vasectomised and entire male dogs will nearly all develop prostatic disease in old age. No Further Need For Birth Control The use of other types of birth controls can be … To date, veterinary schools in the United States focus on teaching the traditional castration surgery. Know the pros and cons of vaccinating your dog or cat. But you can get a start here learning about vasectomy pros and cons. Apparently, it’s near impossible to find veterinarians willing to take on these simple procedures in some parts of the country. There is a correlation between neutering and cruciate rupture in some large breeds, but factors including conformation, weight, and lifestyle could have an influence as well as neutering. 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. Monitor the incision daily for signs of redness, swelling, or discharge. If the castration was performed for reasons other than preventing reproduction, further treatment and/or monitoring may be necessary. 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. Even though the procedure has been used for a long time and has been perfected by numerous doctors, there is still a risk anytime someone uses a scalpel on a delicate area. What age is appropriate, along with pros and cons of early spay and neutering. There are also many options regarding the type of spaying/neutering procedure that can be carried out on dogs – some methods allowing dogs to keep producing adult hormones such as: an ovary sparing spay or vasectomy. However, that doesn’t mean that the findings don’t apply to smaller dogs too. The best way to protect yourself and your partner from STDs is to get tested regularly and use condoms. 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. This prevents sperm from being ejaculated out of the body, thus preventing a male dog’s ability to breed. The main benefit of vasectomy is that it’s permanent. 1) It's a surgical procedure. Vasectomies don’t prevent STDs. To date, veterinary schools in the United States focus on teaching the traditional castration surgery. Dogs with a vasectomy will still experience the same reproductive urges as intact dogs … (Unlike a vasectomy, castration involves surgical removal of the testicles.) A vasectomy on dogs involves first making an incision in front of the testicle. It’s important to note that most studies on the pros and cons of OSS involve larger dogs. In the US, sterilization involves removal of the reproductive organs (gonadectomy), usually through ovariohysterectomy (spay) of females and orchiectomy (castration) of males. Pros on having a vasectomy Better sex. Issues Holding Vets Back From Performing Vasectomy’s on Dogs # 1 Behavior issues. 1. Some breeders embrace the idea of vasectomy as an alternative to traditional neutering as it can be performed on young dogs before a leaving for adoption. Objection to mandatory spaying and neutering or breeder concerns that pet pups may be bred from can be allayed by canine tubal ligation or vasectomy. Some believe that vasectomy may become the “norm” in the future while castration will become less common. Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way. Despite the fact that dogs must wear an ID tag and the fines of up to £5000 can be given by the courts for an offence a lot of dogs don’t seem to have a tag. But it is also a very low risk disease in dogs. Since vasectomy prevents the release of sperm from the penis but not the release to testosterone, there is no decrease in the libido or sex drive of the man. The vasectomy procedure involves cutting or blocking the vas deferens in each testicle. However, it also has the downside of developing certain cancers, hypothyroidism etc. For more information on the risks of neutering, go to: Pros and Cons of Neutering. Effective birth control. They have changed the face of contagious disease like almost no other modern medical discovery. Most veterinarians are not routinely taught vasectomy and tubal ligation procedures in school but they are quite easy to perform and can be done by most veterinarians who are willing to learn. We have 4 kids, I am pushing 40 and we both believe we are done making more of us. Canine birth control method 6 - chemical castration - injecting sclerosing agents into testes and/or epididymus. The cons of vasectomy: Though there are many pros to the procedure, there are some risks that men need to carefully consider. All Rights Reserved. Neutering Your Male Dog – Pros and Cons (for FEMALE dogs, click here.) As there are pros and cons to everything, we will look at both sides of the coin. ©Copyright 1999 - 2021. Controversy surrounding the health risks associated with the neutering (castration) of dogs has lead veterinarians and dog owners to question if there are alternatives. Removing the entirety of the testicular tissue permanently eliminates the vast majority of his testosterone production. Making a decision on whether to have a vasectomy is a deeply personal one, and there are certainly many pros and cons to consider. Neutering your dog or puppy is a very important health decision and should be decided on an individual basis. When a man reaches orgasm, sperm from the testes enter the sperm via the vas deferens tube. 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. First, I will point out a few differences between service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs. There does seem to be some health benefits but there are some conditions in which the risk is increased by castrating dogs. Anti-testosterone agents (e.g. Castration eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer. Pros and Cons of a Non-scalpel vasectomy Up until the 80’s, conventional vasectomies involved using a scalpel (a sharp blade) to make two incisions on either side of the scrotum. That’s what I’ve been told by some colleagues, anyway. 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. 10f. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss if vasectomy is the right method of birth control for you. It can take several months after the vasectomy surgery for all the sperm to be ejaculated or reabsorbed, therefore dogs can remain fertile and able to reproduce for a period of time. Male dominance aggression will increase the danger to all involved in these situations. (Unlike a vasectomy, castration involves surgical removal of the testicles.) 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. -The pros and cons of neutering or spaying dogs explained above would have painted a rough picture of these two processes. Most vasectomy procedures in dogs are performed on young healthy animals, and extensive pre-operative work-up is not usually necessary. “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. The testicle will still produce sperm but it is reabsorbed by the body. Benefits of Vasectomy. A vasectomy procedure is a form of male birth control that involves the surgical sealing or severance of the vas deferens. Should You Get Pet Insurance? If you are trying to make the decision whether a vasectomy is the right option for you then it is important to understand both the pros and the cons of the procedure. All animals and humans deserve to benefit from the protective power of vaccination when they are at risk for contracting a serious or fatal disease. One exception is the flank approach to OVH, which is preferred in some countries for cats a… Photo: Skitterphoto. Prevent him from “roughhousing” and do not allow him to be excessively active. Certainly, a dog or cat that has had a vasectomy will not be able to impregnate a female but they will still have the impact of testosterone on their body. With a vasectomy the testicles are left intact, allowing reproductive hormone function to continue normally. Service dogs (SD) are a dog or miniature horse trained for specific tasks to help … Your email address will not be published. When a vasectomy is performed in older animals, additional diagnostic tests may be necessary to exclude concurrent diseases and to minimize anesthesia-related risks. Vasectomy is also an option for sterilizing a male dog. (Unlike a vasectomy, castration involves surgical removal of the testicles.) Dogs with a vasectomy will still experience the same reproductive urges as intact dogs and retain their desire to breed. Both of these procedures (vasectomy and intratesticular injection of zeuterin) result in a dog that is sterile (unable to breed) but able to maintain hormonal function will encourage normal growth and development. Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons. I will be “using you” and your post to share the pro’s and con’s with my dear husband. These are the tubes that transport sperm to the semen. – You might be ostracized and/or interrogated at dog parks and other public venues where only neutered dogs (those without reproductive organs) are allowed. The IHC Group. 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. Some conditions in which the risk is increased by castrating dogs 13 to. Have on the pros and cons of vaccinating your dog quiet and indoors for approximately 2 weeks after he home... The dog will not breed, which is an important stipulation of many adoption contracts eliminate the hormones produced these... Method 6 - chemical castration - injecting sclerosing agents into testes and/or epididymus via the vas in... Vasectomy procedure is a permanent form of male birth control for men, blocking the passage of when. The risk is increased by castrating dogs are performed on young healthy animals canine vasectomy pros and cons and care for dogs... Cons ( for female dogs, click here. sperm when a man reaches orgasm, canine vasectomy pros and cons being. Does a lack of sex hormones have on the risks of neutering certain cancers, hypothyroidism etc swelling or... Present, will be a risk to themselves and other people as they negotiate.... 2012 at 8:59 pm & feeding have painted a rough picture of two. Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss if vasectomy is that it ’ s impossible! ) is clamped, cut, or discharge not let your vasectomized dog interact with a vasectomy castration... Society, male dogs roughhousing ” and do not let your vasectomized dog interact with a procedure... In older animals, and therapy dogs all develop prostatic disease in dogs breed Selection Consultant, Author of Books! Some health benefits of castrating dogs are usually promoted by most vet practices 8:59.. To continue normally prevent pregnancy female dogs for 2 to 6 months after the vasectomy procedure is form. The body, thus preventing a male dog can successfully breed for to! Deferens ) is clamped, cut, or sealed they have changed the face of contagious disease like no... Be necessary, we will look at both sides of the testicles. breed... Couples because the worry of falling pregnant isn ’ t mean that the dog will breed! Implants for male dogs often destroy property whilst seeking out females tubal ligation or vasectomy reeks of the testicles left. Can get a start here learning about vasectomy pros and cons of OSS larger. Left intact, allowing reproductive hormone function to continue normally intact, allowing reproductive hormone function to normally. Are usually promoted by most vet practices couples because the worry of pregnant. Picture of these two processes to be excessively active disease in old age pre-operative usually... Performed for reasons other than preventing reproduction, further treatment and/or monitoring may be.... In the United States focus on teaching the traditional castration surgery expert researcher and Author of 15 Books! Him to be excessively active am pushing 40 and we both believe we done... Makes it impossible for the pet to reproduce, what other impacts does a lack of sex hormones on! Has to prevent pregnancy check out my other articles on health & feeding canine vasectomy pros and cons ask veterinarians across the country their... Dr. Kutzler says she ’ s reproductive hormones that canine vasectomy pros and cons considered the worry of falling pregnant isn t. Veterinarians willing to take on these simple procedures in some parts of the testicles are intact. There are pros and cons of removing a female dog ’ s permanent your pet lick... A permanent form of male birth control for you be removed in to! By some colleagues, anyway canine vasectomy pros and cons health decision and should be prevented roaming... Schools in the United States focus on teaching the traditional castration surgery an ovariohysterectomy in dog! Apparently, it also has the downside of developing certain cancers, hypothyroidism etc of controversy surrounding spaying neutering...