Canine Orchiectomy (Neuter)
Overview: Surgical removal of the testicles
At Camrose Animal Clinic our basic procedure is the following:
ü A thorough presurgical examination is performed, paying particular attention to heart rate, rhythm, lung sounds and overall body condition.
ü Presurgical blood tests may be performed to check the function of vital organs and the health of the dog. We recommend blood tests for all dogs and may require them if your dog is older or has a known medical condition. This ensures that we can choose appropriate medications and anesthetics for your dog.
ü A presurgical injection is administered to sedate the dog, reduce his anxiety and to allow us to use less general anesthetic.
ü Intravenous (IV) fluids are recommended during and following surgery, to promote a faster recovery, prevent shock, and to allow us to give your dog medication injections painlessly. We recommend IV fluids for all dogs and may require them if your dog is older or has a known medical condition.
ü Depending on the size of the dog, anesthesia may be induced by inhalation or by intravenous anesthetic.
ü An endotracheal tube is placed in the trachea or windpipe to administer inhalant anesthetic, and to ensure an open and patent airway.
ü The patient is connected to the anesthetic machine and monitors. The inhalant anesthetic we use is isoflurane, which is considered to be a very safe anesthetic. A pulse oximeter is attached to the patient's tongue with a soft rubber clip, which measures heart rate, pulse quality and blood oxygen saturation. An electrocardiograph can also be employed to monitor the patient’s heart rhythm.
ü The patient is positioned and the surgical site is clipped and scrubbed to make the area sterile.
ü The patient is transferred to the surgery room along with connected monitoring equipment.
ü The assistant continues to monitor the patient's vital signs throughout the anesthetic.
ü An incision is made midline prescrotally.
ü The testicles are pushed out through the incision one at a time.
ü The tissue is stripped from the testicle exposing the vasculature that provides blood to and from the testicle as well as the passageways for sperm.
ü The vasculature that connects the testicles to the body is clamped, ligated (tied) and replaced into the body and the testicles are discarded.
ü The subcutaneous and skin layers are sutured closed separately with dissolvable sutures.
ü All the stitches are placed under the skin and will dissolve on their own.
ü The dog is given an antibiotic injection as a prophylactic measure against infection. He is also given an injection for pain control, which may be repeated as necessary.
Individual variations on this procedure may exist.
Please feel free to ask the veterinarian or veterinary assistant any questions you may have regarding the surgery.
The procedures described are basic procedures only, and are not intended to be comprehensive. Individual patient variation may exist.
How old does my dog have to be?
He must be at least 6-months-old.
I have an older dog. Can he still be neutered? Is it important to have him neutered?
Yes, he can still be neutered. It is quite common for older unneutered dogs to develop prostate or testicular problems, however, if these are discovered in time, they can be remedied by neutering him. The veterinarian would perform a presurgical examination on your dog and may require that blood work be done before the surgery. The veterinarian would develop an individualized anesthetic plan for your dog and he would be carefully monitored during and after anesthesia.
How long does the procedure take?
The surgery itself takes approximately half an hour, however, because your dog is put under general anesthetic, he will need to stay at the clinic for the day. We ask that he be dropped off between 8am and 9am on the day of the surgery and he will be able to go home between 4pm and 5:30pm this same day.
What kind of care is required for my dog after surgery?
· Please mildly restrict his activity for 10 days while the incision is healing.
· Monitor the area for any redness, swelling, or discharge of any colour. Please call the clinic promptly if any of these are noted. Do not apply ointments of any kind to the incision.
· Do not bath him for 14 days after the surgery.
· Do not let him lick at the area, since this will delay healing. If he is licking, please come in and pick up a collar.
· Suture removal is NOT required since the sutures are all put in under the skin and will dissolve on their own.
· He may have a regular meal when he gets home. Do not be alarmed if he does not eat the full amount the first night. If this continues, however, please give us a call.
· He was given post-operative pain control. If he seems to be in a lot of discomfort, please let us know and the veterinarian may prescribe continued pain control for him.
Please call the clinic 672-7800 if you have any questions or to book an appointment.