Dog neutering (also known as neutering) is a common term used to describe the surgical procedure that prevents male dogs from being bred to neuter (make them sterile). This article will show you the process of neutering a dog and what it goes through before, during, and after the procedure.
1. Scrubbing and Get Ready to Start
Dog neutering requires both general anesthesia and inhalation (gas) anesthesia. During the surgery, the dog is kept asleep and pain-free. Veterinarians also gives intravenous fluids, monitor the dogs heart and breathing rates, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels, etc. Canine castration is an aseptic procedure, which means that every precaution needs to be taken to keep the surgical area clean.
After the dog is anesthetized, the veterinary nurse or veterinarian technician will scrape the surgical area and scrub it with a skin cleanser. Scrubbing is done from the incision area in circular motions, widening with each circle and then moving outward from the incision site. It ensures that the incision area is as clean as possible. The incisions for dog neutering are just in front of the testicles and scrotum, this is because the stratum tissue is thin and sensitive and bleeds more than skin incisions.
2. Incising the Dog’s Skin
The incision is made in the skin, just in front of the scrotum. Each testicle is pushed up and through this incision. Two methods can be used to neuter a dog: open or closed neutering. In the choice of method, it usually evaluated and selected by the vet who performs the operation according to the dog’s condition. In case of open castration, the touch membranous covering of the testis and associated structures, is dissected. Each structure is connected (ligated) separately. In the case of closed castration, the tunic is not incised, and the bold vessels, vas deferens and associated structures are ligated, usually in two or three separate knots to prevent bleeding.
3. Taking out the Testicles and Ligate the Blood Vessels
The vet tech will push the testicles to the surgical incision and clamps the spermatic cord, vas deferens, and blood vessels. To prevent bleeding, the spermatic cord is knotted and ligated, and the spermatic cord is tied with a hemostatic forceps. After the knot is squeezed firmly, the testicle is removed. Another method is that the vas deferens and testicular arteriovenous vessels are knotted several times, and the testicle was removed. In the same skin incision, the other testicle was removed as described above.
4. Closing the Incision
The skin is closed using dissolvable sutures used to ligate the testicles. The incisions are usually small and the closure is done in two to three steps. The first layer of closure holds the skin edges together, and the second layer closes subcutaneously so that no sutures can be licked by the dog. Some veterinarians also use surgical glue for the third layer of sutures. Surgical glue seals the skin edges together for less bleeding and maximum comfort, helping to prevent minor leaks from the incision.If insoluble sutures are used, they need to be removed within 10 to 14 days. For very active dogs, wire sutures are sometimes used. They can add strength to the sutures and stop the dog from licking. These sutures need to be removed within 10 to 14 days.
5. Operation Completed and Postoperative Precautions
By this step, the dog’s neutering operation is basically completed, and the next thing is to wait for the dog to wake up from anesthesia. The incision can be healed well if it is small, and it can be healed fast. During the recovery period, keep the dog well rested and prevent it licking the surgical wound. The scrotum shrinks over time. Larger dogs, especially those neutered over 6 months, may have remaining empty scrotum.
References
https://www.thesprucepets.com/dog-neuter-surgery-4121831