Castration Concerns

[ariel]

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I have an 18 month old male whippet who has one retained testicle. I know this has been a hotly debated subject in the past, but I am really in need of other peoples' advice and experience. I have decided to have the retained one removed, and am happy with that decision. However, I am still unsure as to whether to have him fully castrated. This is not on ethical grounds (if it remained, I have no intention of breeding from him, so there is no issue there), rather because he displays none of the aggressive or sexual problematic behaviour (except occasionally showing a little too much interest in bitches) that people cite for reasons for castration. Also, castration reduces aggression and makes dogs more passive. As he has so little aggression in him, I am afraid it will actually have a negative effect on him, by removing his testosterone, will it actually make him more timid? He is, by nature, a bit of wimp, and I love him for that, but I wouldn't want to make him any more of one!

 

[JAX]

I dont know of any vets who just take the retained one . they usually want to do the`full` job

personnaly Id leave well alone :huggles:

 

[Trish]

i have two dogs with this problem and have decided to leave them as they are after having lenghty disscusions about it with our vets :thumbsup:

 

[ariel]

i have two dogs with this problem and have decided to leave them as they are after having lenghty disscusions about it with our vets :thumbsup:

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What were your reasons for leaving them?

 

[Trish]

i have two dogs with this problem and have decided to leave them as they are after having lenghty disscusions about it with our vets :thumbsup:

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What were your reasons for leaving them?

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my vets explained to me that if they get a problem with the retained testicle/s then it would be easily noticed on a whippet because they are so slim and you would see a swelling easily,also he said in his 30 years of been a vet all the problems with testicles hes come across where all benign (retained and fully descended ), so weve thought long and hard about this for months and our boys mean the world to us so where going to leave it though its possible we might change our minds in the future as nobodys words are 100% :thumbsup:

good luck in what you decide :luck:

 

[jezza]

I have a dog who has both testicles retained. He is booked in for his op tomorrow. He is very nervous by nature but I have decided to have him done because I have read too many stories about testicular cancer on other websites - and seen some pictures of testicles which have been removed - that I don't want to take the risk. I know it is a big risk having an op and I am shitting myself about it to be frank but it is not a decision I have made lightly Please wish him luck for tomorrow :luck:

 

[Trish]

I have a dog who has both testicles retained. He is booked in for his op tomorrow. He is very nervous by nature but I have decided to have him done because I have read too many stories about testicular cancer on other websites - and seen some pictures of testicles which have been removed - that I don't want to take the risk. I know it is a big risk having an op and I am shitting myself about it to be frank but it is not a decision I have made lightly    Please wish him luck for tomorrow  :luck:

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good luck to lenny for tomorrow lucy hope hes back home quickly :luck: :luck: :luck: :huggles:

 

[controversial]

good luck lenny hope its over quickly for him :thumbsup: he will bark like an o

 

[urchin]

I have a boy with the same problem ariel, and have finally found a vet who is more than happy just to remove the retained one.

Previous vets have all responded that it would be 'unethical' to just remove the problem furry plum, but have never backed that up with any ethics that made sense!

Like you, I will never breed my boy - so this isn't about preparing the way for a prosthetic to pass him off as entire (for showing or breeding purposes) - and in the past I have been pretty resentful of vets' attitudes which suggested that I wasn't being honest about this.

The new vet at the practice tells me that the descended one is at no increased risk whatsoever, so there is no medical reason to fully castrate him..........so my advice is to shop around. You have plenty of time - the risk of cancer isnt massively increased in a young dog so there isn't a rush to get this done.

Good luck :luck:

 

[Eceni]

Previous vets have all responded that it would be 'unethical' to just remove the problem furry plum, but have never backed that up with any ethics that made sense!
Like you, I will never breed my boy - so this isn't about preparing the way for a prosthetic to pass him off as entire (for showing or breeding purposes) - and in the past I have been pretty resentful of vets' attitudes which suggested that I wasn't being honest about this.

The new vet at the practice tells me that the descended one is at no increased risk whatsoever, so there is no medical reason to fully castrate him..........so my advice is to shop around. You have plenty of time - the risk of cancer isnt massively increased in a young dog so there isn't a rush to get this done.

Good luck :luck:

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New vet is right that the descended one isn't at risk, and as long as you're sure he'll never breed (it's an inherited defect, but then you know that) then there probably isn't any problem. I'd stick up for your vet in saying that we have less than scrupulous people trying it on every day of the week wanting surgery done on dogs so they can breed with them, or show them, or pass them off as something they're not, so coming across someone who's entirely up front with unblemished integrity is probably a wonderful surprise, and they might not be in the right frame of mind to take it on board. When you get to know your vet, and can reassure her/him that you're not about to try to pass your dog off as a full entire, then I would have thought you'd get a better reception

it's not ideal, but it seems to be the way the world is

good luck to both of you

m

 

[ariel]

My issue is not with my vet, he is willing to remove just the retained testicle if i so wish, it is more with my decision to get him fully castrated or not. I do feel very pressured to get him fully castrated, as he does pester female dogs on occasion, although we have no other problems with him. Has anyone got their dogs castrated and regretted doing it because it has changed their behaviour?

 

[ariel]

I have a dog who has both testicles retained. He is booked in for his op tomorrow. He is very nervous by nature but I have decided to have him done because I have read too many stories about testicular cancer on other websites - and seen some pictures of testicles which have been removed - that I don't want to take the risk. I know it is a big risk having an op and I am shitting myself about it to be frank but it is not a decision I have made lightly    Please wish him luck for tomorrow  :luck:

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Good luck jezza for your dog, I actually have mine booked in for tomorrow too. I have decided to go for full castration, having spoken to his breeder, who was really helpful. It has been an extremely hard decision and I am dreading tomorrow. Will be thinking about you and your dog too!! let me know how you get on! :luck:

 

[jezza]

I have a dog who has both testicles retained. He is booked in for his op tomorrow. He is very nervous by nature but I have decided to have him done because I have read too many stories about testicular cancer on other websites - and seen some pictures of testicles which have been removed - that I don't want to take the risk. I know it is a big risk having an op and I am shitting myself about it to be frank but it is not a decision I have made lightly    Please wish him luck for tomorrow  :luck:

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Good luck jezza for your dog, I actually have mine booked in for tomorrow too. I have decided to go for full castration, having spoken to his breeder, who was really helpful. It has been an extremely hard decision and I am dreading tomorrow. Will be thinking about you and your dog too!! let me know how you get on! :luck:

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Thank you :huggles: good luck for your doggie too :luck: :luck: :luck: I am so dreading him going in but I've got my bloke to take him, I'm going to work so I don't have to think about it

 

[Eceni]

My issue is not with my vet, he is willing to remove just the retained testicle if i so wish, it is more with my decision to get him fully castrated or not. I do feel very pressured to get him fully castrated, as he does pester female dogs on occasion, although we have no other problems with him. Has anyone got their dogs castrated and regretted doing it because it has changed their behaviour?

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I used always to suggest owners got their dogs castrated - there are good medical reasons (removal of the risk of prostatic disease/carcinoma) and as a vet, I became very, very pro-active in the move to stop unwanted matings (and some of the wanted ones). YOu don't have to work around rescue centres for long to know that each accident is a damaged life waiting in a cage for the euthatal. Clearly not all of them, but the euthanasia rates are soul-destroying

so - I've always had female dogs - and always speyed them - and been happy with the results - no change in behaviour, just less of a haemorrhage on a regular basis. And no, they didn't get fat.

but I've never had the chance to test out the male dog equivalent until last year when my step-daughter took the plunge and had her terrier mix rescue dog (from an unplanned mating) castrated. He's a lot nicer as a result - more biddable, less yappy and far, far less inclined to hurl himself teeth-first at any passing male. On the basis of that one, I'd recommend it every time, but one's hardly a statistically significant sample....

it has to be your choice, but I've never heard a useful argument against neutering (and I practise acupuncture, homoeopathy and shamanic medicine, so I'm hardly a hard-line scientist)

ms

 

[lisacb]

I have a dog who has both testicles retained. He is booked in for his op tomorrow. He is very nervous by nature but I have decided to have him done because I have read too many stories about testicular cancer on other websites - and seen some pictures of testicles which have been removed - that I don't want to take the risk. I know it is a big risk having an op and I am shitting myself about it to be frank but it is not a decision I have made lightly    Please wish him luck for tomorrow  :luck:

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Good luck jezza for your dog, I actually have mine booked in for tomorrow too. I have decided to go for full castration, having spoken to his breeder, who was really helpful. It has been an extremely hard decision and I am dreading tomorrow. Will be thinking about you and your dog too!! let me know how you get on! :luck:

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To both

I had Oscar castrated 2 weeks ago, it wasn't an easy decision but his behaviour was anti social and it was recommended by the vet. We were never going to show him or breed from him and he is very much a family pet. (Although I still felt guilty taking him to the vets.)

Anyway I expected him to feel a bit sorry for himself and a bit sore, but no. He bounded out of the vets and played in the garden when we got home. I thought he would pull at his stitches and would need one of those collars, but no. He kept his stitches clean, didn't pull at them and even the vet commented how well he'd healed when he had his stitches out (which was so fast I didn't even know they had been removed let alone Oscar).

He showed no signs of discomfort and although we know it takes time for all the hormones to settle down we have already noticed that the anti social behaviour has virtually stopped. He's as lively as ever and I don't regret it.

I know some people are against it but you have to do what you think is right.

Lisa

 

[jezza]

To both
I had Oscar castrated 2 weeks ago, it wasn't an easy decision but his behaviour was anti social and it was recommended by the vet.  We were never going to show him or breed from him and he is very much a family pet. (Although I still felt guilty taking him to the vets.)

Anyway I expected him to feel a bit sorry for himself and a bit sore, but no.  He bounded out of the vets and played in the garden when we got home. I thought he would pull at his stitches and would need one of those collars, but no.  He kept his stitches clean, didn't pull at them and even the vet commented how well he'd healed when he had his stitches out (which was so fast I didn't even know they had been removed let alone Oscar).

He showed no signs of discomfort and although we know it takes time for all the hormones to settle down we have already noticed that the anti social behaviour has virtually stopped.  He's as lively as ever and I don't regret it.

I know some people are against it but you have to do what you think is right.

Lisa

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Thanks Lisa, I am a bit worried that Lenny might pull his stitches out because he is a little git at the best of times, always getting himself into mischief - so I have booked some time off work to keep a close eye on him!

I am at work at the moment, supposedly not thinking about the op at all but here I am on k9 getting myself worked up :lol:

 

[ariel]

To both

I had Oscar castrated 2 weeks ago, it wasn't an easy decision but his behaviour was anti social and it was recommended by the vet.  We were never going to show him or breed from him and he is very much a family pet. (Although I still felt guilty taking him to the vets.)

Anyway I expected him to feel a bit sorry for himself and a bit sore, but no.  He bounded out of the vets and played in the garden when we got home. I thought he would pull at his stitches and would need one of those collars, but no.  He kept his stitches clean, didn't pull at them and even the vet commented how well he'd healed when he had his stitches out (which was so fast I didn't even know they had been removed let alone Oscar).

He showed no signs of discomfort and although we know it takes time for all the hormones to settle down we have already noticed that the anti social behaviour has virtually stopped.  He's as lively as ever and I don't regret it.

I know some people are against it but you have to do what you think is right.

Lisa

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Thanks Lisa, I am a bit worried that Lenny might pull his stitches out because he is a little git at the best of times, always getting himself into mischief - so I have booked some time off work to keep a close eye on him!

I am at work at the moment, supposedly not thinking about the op at all but here I am on k9 getting myself worked up :lol:

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Well I took my Stan in this morning for his op and I have been cleaning like a woman possessed since i came home, to try to take my mind off it! My vet actually made me have a last minute change of mind, it was his opinion that as there was no medical reason to give him a full castration, then why take the risk of causing any possible change in behaviour? (I know lenny had both retained, so full castration for him was the right choice) A very refreshing approach from a vet, I think. So, it will still be Stan the man, or at least, half a man....

 

[jezza]

Well I took my Stan in this morning for his op and I have been cleaning like a woman possessed since i came home, to try to take my mind off it! My vet actually made me have a last minute change of mind, it was his opinion that as there was no medical reason to give him a full castration, then why take the risk of causing any possible change in behaviour? (I know lenny had both retained, so full castration for him was the right choice) A very refreshing approach from a vet, I think. So, it will still be Stan the man, or at least, half a man....

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Thats good news that Stan will still be half a man - unfortunately Lenny will be a woman when he comes home

My boyfriend just phoned to tell me that he had taken him in, with his muzzle because he can be quite aggressive with strangers and other dogs. Well the muzzle wasn't needed because he was apparently 'flirting' with the nurse and when she walked him into the back he just trotted off without a backward glance Nice to know when you're loved :lol:

 

[ariel]

Well I took my Stan in this morning for his op and I have been cleaning like a woman possessed since i came home, to try to take my mind off it! My vet actually made me have a last minute change of mind, it was his opinion that as there was no medical reason to give him a full castration, then why take the risk of causing any possible change in behaviour? (I know lenny had both retained, so full castration for him was the right choice) A very refreshing approach from a vet, I think. So, it will still be Stan the man, or at least, half a man....

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Thats good news that Stan will still be half a man - unfortunately Lenny will be a woman when he comes home

My boyfriend just phoned to tell me that he had taken him in, with his muzzle because he can be quite aggressive with strangers and other dogs. Well the muzzle wasn't needed because he was apparently 'flirting' with the nurse and when she walked him into the back he just trotted off without a backward glance Nice to know when you're loved :lol:

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[ariel]

Well I took my Stan in this morning for his op and I have been cleaning like a woman possessed since i came home, to try to take my mind off it! My vet actually made me have a last minute change of mind, it was his opinion that as there was no medical reason to give him a full castration, then why take the risk of causing any possible change in behaviour? (I know lenny had both retained, so full castration for him was the right choice) A very refreshing approach from a vet, I think. So, it will still be Stan the man, or at least, half a man....

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Thats good news that Stan will still be half a man - unfortunately Lenny will be a woman when he comes home

My boyfriend just phoned to tell me that he had taken him in, with his muzzle because he can be quite aggressive with strangers and other dogs. Well the muzzle wasn't needed because he was apparently 'flirting' with the nurse and when she walked him into the back he just trotted off without a backward glance Nice to know when you're loved :lol:

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Ha! He sounds as if he's gonna be fine. I handed the lead to the vet and he had to pull him away. My last vision of Stan was him being dragged into the back room, feet splayed out with his claws scratching along the floor and looking pitifully over his shoulder at me. If there were doggy Oscars, he would def be in the running! (w00t)