CASTRATION OR NEUTERING OF MALE DOGS

CASTRATION OR NEUTERING OF MALE DOGS

I Gusti Ngurah Sudisma

Surgical and Radiology Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Udayana University

Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman Denpasar Bali Tel. (0361) 223791. Email: sudisma@unud.ac.id

            The cause of so many dog​​populations in addition to factors due to human maintenance, also very much depends on the reproductive ability of the dog itself. Within a year, a female dog produces an average of 13-18 puppies. If this is allowed, then how many thousands of stray dogs die needlessly due to overpopulation. Overpopulation will also have an impact on humans, namely the increased likelihood of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans) such as rabies or toxoplasma. So the birth control program or birth control in dogs is very necessary. There are several birth control methods, namely using hormones on a temporary basis (birth control method, not recommended for dogs) or sterilization and castration. Castration is one of the most inexpensive and easy population control programs for dogs.

            Castration or Orchiectomy is a surgical procedure that removes (removes) the testicles. Castration can reduce animal populations because it can prevent male fertility (the purpose of sterilization), reduce roaming traits, and reduce bad urinary habits. Castration can also reduce the risk of diseases associated with androgen hormones such as prostate disorders, tumors, and perineal hernias. Castration can avoid inherited abnormalities, testicular and epididymal disorders, prevent scrotal tumors, trauma and abscesses and can reduce endocrine disorders.

            The main advantages of doing castration on dogs are to prevent unwanted births, prevent animals from wandering or to prevent aggressive male behavior, to keep the population under control, and to allow the owner to care for his pet to the full. Male dogs can find out where the female dog is being lust during the breeding season through pheromones, then look for and come to the female even though the distance is quite far. Male dogs that have been castrated tend not to react to these pheromones and prefer to stay indoors.

            Another advantage of doing castration in dogs is that dogs rarely fight and wander, thereby reducing the chance of contracting diseases through contact between dogs. Many disorders or diseases of the male genitals that can be overcome by castration, namely scrotum tumor, scrotum edema, monorchid, cryptorchid, orchitis, epididymitis, prostatitis, phimosis, paraphimosis, venerial sarcoma, and reducing the size of the prostate to relieve symptoms in pelvic obstruction . Castration in dogs is very useful to maintain their health, it is also very useful to maintain the dog's behavior. Dogs that have been castrated are also quieter and more comfortable at home.

            Dogs should be castrated before entering marriage. The younger the dog's age, the easier the operation is performed and the faster the healing. Castration of male dogs can be done from the age of 8 weeks. Castration should be done in dogs before puberty (age 6-9 months). Castration can also be done if the dog is over 6-9 months old, with more attention on older dogs, obese dogs or dogs that have health problems.

            Castration in dogs is done in a state of conscious animals with local anesthesia or in an unconscious state with general anesthesia. The castration method in dogs is divided into two types, namely: 1. The open method, ie the incision is made until the tunica vaginalis communis, so that the testis and epididymis are no longer wrapped. 2. The closed method, ie the incision only reaches the tunica dartos, so that the testis is still encased in the tunica vaginalis communis and the incision is made on the funiculus spermaticus. While castration surgery techniques in dogs can be done through prescrotalis, perinealis and scrotalis approaches. The approach through a prescrotalis incision is the most common and easier to do. Testes are very difficult to remove through the perineal approach, but the perineal approach is done if it is needed as in the case of perineal hernia. While castration through the scrotalis approach is also commonly done, namely by making an incision on the scrotal skin above the rapotal scrotalis.