This document provides information about neutering male dogs and cats. It discusses the surgical procedure for neutering, which involves making an incision to remove the testicles. The benefits of neutering include preventing unwanted litters and reducing behavioral issues. Potential risks include weight gain and delayed growth. Neutering can be done between 5 to 16 months old in dogs and at around 6 months in cats. Post-operative care involves monitoring wounds, limiting activity, and providing pain relief if needed.

1. Castration
(castrating) Male neutering, otherwise known as sterilisation, "fixing", desexing or by its correct
veterinary name: orchiectomy (also termed gonadectomy), is the surgical removal of testicles for
the purposes of population control, medical health benefit, genetic-disease control and
behavioural modification.
Neutering pros and cons in dogs:-
The benefits of neutering
 The prevention of unwanted litters.
 The reduction of stray and feral animal populations.
 To reduce the spread of inferior genetic traits, genetic diseases and congenital deformities.
 The prevention or reduction of testicular (and epididymal) diseases.
 The prevention or reduction of testosterone-induced diseases.
 The prevention or reduction of testosterone-mediated behavioural problems.
The disadvantages of desexing
 The dog may become overweight or obese
 Desexing equates to a loss of breeding potential and valuable genetics
 Loss of testosterone as a result of desexing may result in immature development of
masculine characteristics and a reduced body musculature
 Loss of testosterone as a result of desexing may result in delayed growth plate closure
 Neutering reduces the male animal's drive to herd, hunt, guard and work
 As an elective procedure, desexing costs too much
Information about neutering age of dog
for elective procedure it can be done any time between 5 to 16 months. In America some
are being done at 8 weeks and they routinely neuter at between four and six months. for
any pathological problem it can be at any time when dog is anesthetically safe.
Cat:-
The benefits of neutering in cat
Roaming: More than 90% will reduce this behavior with neutering. Approximately 60% reduce this
behavior right away
Fighting: More than 90% will reduce this behavior with neutering Approximately 60% reduce this
behavior right away
Urine marking: More than 90% will reduce this behavior with neutering. Approximately 80%
reduce this behavior right away.
Another reason to neuter a male cat has to do with the physical appearance. Cats neutered prior to
puberty (most cats are neutered at approximately age 6 months) do not develop secondary sex
characteristics. These include a more muscular body, thickenings around the face called shields,
and spines on the penis.

2. Male cat neutered prior to puberty
Male cat neutered after reaching
puberty

3. Neutering procedure (desexing surgery) - a step by step
pictorial guide to canine neutering.
After the dog is under anesthesia, the vet techs or veterinarian shave the surgical area and
scrub using a skin cleanser. The scrubbing is done in a circular motion, starting small at the
incision area, and widening out with each circular stroke. This ensures that the incision area is
as clean as possible.The incision for a dog neuter is made just in front of the testicles and
scrotum.
This is because the scrotal tissue is thin, very sensitive, and bleeds more than the skin incision.
As mentioned in the previous photo, the incision is made in the skin, just in front of
the scrotum. Each testicle is pushed up and through this incision.
The tunica vaginalis is incised and the testicle exposed.

4. The surgeon has clamped the vas deferens (spermatic cord), pampiniform plexus (vessels
around the vas deferens), cremaster muscle, and arterial supply.
A dissolvable suture, usually a synthetic monofilament, is used for the internal ligations (knots) around the
vessels, vas deferens and thin cremaster muscle.
There is always some danger that the vessels may slip out of
a knot. Transfixing ligatures help to ensure things stay
where they should and no bleeding occurs.
A needle is used to thread the suture gently between the vas deferens and
vessels. The suture is then wrapped around everything to secure the knot.
This is called a transfixing ligature or suture , and helps keep the knot in
place to prevent bleeding or seepage from the vessels.

5. The skin is closed using the same dissolvable suture that was used to ligate the testicles.
The incision is usually very small and the closure is in two or three steps. The first closure brings the skin edges
together, and the second layer closes the subcutaneous level. This way, there aren't any sutures visible (or
lickable) on the outside skin surface. Some vets use surgical glue for a third level of closure.
Some veterinarians use non-dissolvable sutures that will need to be removed in 10-14 days. In cases of a very
active dog or one known to lick, sometimes wire sutures are used - they add strength and the prickliness
discourages licking. They also need to be removed in 10-14 days.
The incision is small and will heal nicely. Dogs must
be kept quiet and discouraged from licking the
surgical area for fastest healing.

6. Neutering procedure (desexing surgery) - a step by step
pictorial guide to feline neutering.
The kitten's scrotal sac and groin regions are shaved free of hair (fur) and the
bare skin is scrubbed in an antiseptic, antibacterial solution (chlorhexidine
scrub and alcohol) prior to surgery. This pre-surgical skin preparation reduces
the amount of bacterial contamination that is present on the skin prior to the
first incision being made.
Scalpel incisions are made in the scrotal skin directly over each testicle.
Bleeding is very minimal.

7. After the skin has been incised with the scalpel, each side of the scrotal sac is squeezed so
that the testicle (the pink ball seen in the images above) contained inside pops out, ready
for removal.
The vas deferens (also called the spermatic duct or
deferent duct) and epididymal structuresare
separated away from the testis and testicular blood
supply. This creates two separate "strings"which
can be tied around each other: as indicated in the
next step.
The testicular blood vessels and spermatic cords
are knotted tightly around each other repeatedly
in order to occlude (block) the blood vessels
supplying the feline testicles. This prevents the
animal's testicular blood vessels from bleeding
once the testicle is cut off. It also prevents the
veterinarian from having to place any sutures.

8. The surgeon cuts off the testicle (testis and
epididymus) above the level of the knotsand
discards it. The first testicle has been removed.
The subcutaneous fat layers and skin are not sutured
closed (stitched shut).

9. Neutering after-care - what you need to know about caring for your pet after
neutering surgery.
1) Feeding your cat immediately after feline neutering surgery.
2) Exercising your cat after neutering.
3) Wound care after feline neutering surgery.
Check the scrotum daily.
Do not let your pet lick its neutering wounds.
4) Bathing or washing your cat after cat neutering.
5) Pain relief after neutering.
Possible surgical and post-surgical complications of neutering.
1) Pain after surgery (common).
2) Swollen, bruised, blood-filled scrotum after desexing (common).
3) Desexing wound infections (not very common at male feline neutering
sites).
4) Penis and/or urethra laceration (very rare).
5) Excessive wound hemorrhage - excessive bleeding during or after cat
neuter surgery (rare).
6) Failure to ligate (tie off) the testicular blood vessels adequately
(uncommon).
Late onset complications of neutering.
1) Weight gain.
2) Preputial scalding and infection - a potential complication of
early age desexing (formation of urine pool).
submitted by:-
Rajeev Kumar Mishra
L2010V85B
submitted to :-
DR. Rahul
Assistant Professor Department of Surgery & Radiology