Pros and cons of castration of Jack Russell Terrier dogs

Surgery to sterilize Jack Russell Terrier dogs involves depriving the pet of reproductive function. On the one hand, sterilization can save the owner of a Jack Russell Terrier from problems such as unwanted pregnancy. On the other hand, this surgical intervention also has disadvantages. In this article, we will help you figure out whether it is worth spaying your Jack Russell Terrier.

Basic theory

Before we start talking about sterilization of the Jack Russell Terrier, it should be noted that there are two types of operations due to which the dog can no longer reproduce:

When spaying a female dog, the uterus is removed or the fallopian tubes are blocked. In males, the seminal flows are blocked. As a result, the dog cannot reproduce, but its production of sex hormones does not stop.

During castration, the genital organs responsible for reproductive function are removed from the animal: testicles in males, ovaries in females. Because of this, the production of sex hormones stops, and along with it, the dog’s reproductive instinct disappears.

So that you can finally decide whether your Jack Russell Terrier needs such operations, we will consider in detail all the advantages and disadvantages of sterilization and castration.

Pros of operations

The main advantage of sterilization, for which dog owners perform this operation, is the termination of the animal’s ability to reproduce. In some cases, such surgical intervention is necessary due to medical conditions. For example, a tumor of the uterus in bitches.

Castration has many more advantages. Along with the removal of the dog’s gonads, many of the difficulties that caused inconvenience to the pet’s owners go away. For owners of bitches, all problems associated with estrus, pregnancy and childbirth will disappear.

Owners of male Jack Russell Terriers will be able to cope with their uncontrollability during sexual arousal - the pets will stop running after every bitch during her heat. Accordingly, the male will no longer see same-sex dogs as rivals.

Thanks to castration, you will get a more flexible and obedient dog, which is extremely important when training Jack Russell Terriers.

This operation also reduces the risk of various diseases. For example, tumors, inflammation or infections of the uterus, prostate cancer, prostate diseases.

In general, castration has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the Jack Russell Terrier, increasing its life expectancy. Therefore, if you decide to have surgery, give preference to castration.

But, like any operation, spaying and neutering also has its drawbacks.

Behavior after castration

You can be sure that the patient's behavior will not worsen after removal of the testes.

Perhaps there will be no changes at all, but in most cases the animals become calmer and easier to keep at home.

The level of working qualities does not decrease. They may even increase if surgery relieves your friend of his anxiety and nervousness.

In most cases, relationships with other dogs will change, and for the better. High levels of sex hormones stimulate the production of pheromones, the smell of which allows other male dogs to recognize your pet as a rival. This can provoke aggression towards him. A castrated dog is “read” as a harmless creature, like a puppy. The majority will have a friendly and peaceful attitude towards him, perhaps a little patronizing.

Cons of operations

After sterilization, the Jack Russell Terrier will not stop reacting appropriately to the opposite sex with all the ensuing consequences. The pet will also continue to mark territory or start fights with other dogs of the same sex.

In addition, after sterilizing your dog, you may experience sudden nervous or even aggressive behavior from your pet. He may refuse to eat. Some individuals may experience problems with urination.

The risk of certain diseases, such as various tumors, also increases. Jack Russell Terrier bitches may have inflamed ovaries.

After castration, your pet's risk of developing certain diseases increases. For example, the appearance of bone or prostate tumors, malfunction of the thyroid gland.

After castration, the Jack Russell Terrier begins to expend much less energy, so it can suddenly begin to gain weight, which can easily lead to obesity. You will have to completely reconsider your dog's diet.

Preoperative period

Before sterilization or castration, carefully weigh all the pros and cons of the operation you choose. After all, after it is completed, you will not be able to return anything back.

If you decide to undergo sterilization or castration, then you need to know a few nuances. Before surgery, the Jack Russell Terrier must be completely healthy, vaccinated and wormed. It is also necessary to show the dog to a doctor and pass all the required tests. Only after these steps will the veterinarian be able to tell whether your pet is ready for surgery.

You should not feed your Jack Russell Terrier for six hours before surgery. You should stop giving water to your pet four hours before surgery. If you do not follow these recommendations, your pet may not tolerate spaying or neutering well.

Optimal time

Both spaying and neutering of a Jack Russell Terrier can be done at any time, but at an early age the risk of cancer is minimal.

Therefore, it is best for females of this breed to undergo any of the operations before the onset of puberty - between four and six months. A male Jack Russell Terrier can undergo surgery a little later, at eight to ten months. After all, the reproductive instinct in males manifests itself somewhat later than in females.

If your female Jack Russell Terrier has recently given birth and you decide to have her spayed or neutered, you must wait until her lactation ends.

Postoperative period

Male Jack Russell Terriers tolerate such surgical interventions much better than females. In some cases, a male dog can be spayed or neutered at home, while female dogs need to be operated on only in a hospital.

On the recommendation of your doctor, you will need to treat postoperative sutures with anti-inflammatory agents. After fourteen days, the female Jack Russell Terrier's stitches will need to be removed. To prevent inflammatory processes, your pet will need to be given a course of antibiotics. It is also necessary to ensure that the dog cannot reach the sore spot. You can buy her a special collar.

You should not feed your Jack Russell Terrier until he has completely recovered from the anesthesia. But a bowl of clean water should always be nearby.

Have you had your dog spayed or neutered? What were you guided by? Share with us in the comments.

Source

How to behave with a dog after sterilization?

Sterilization is a difficult operation for any dog. Therefore, after this procedure, you must provide your pet with both physical and moral support.

Next, here are a few mandatory points that you must follow in caring for your dog after sterilization surgery:

Immediately after the operation is completed, place the operated animal on a special bedding and allow it to recover from anesthesia (this takes up to 1 day).
After recovering from anesthesia, you cannot feed or water the dog for a day, but you can moisten its tongue and nose with liquid. If he really asks for water, you can let him take a couple of sips, but no more!
In order to prevent the sutures of the operated dog from coming apart, for the first time, it should be fed soft food (for example, pates) and feeding can only be started the next day after complete recovery from anesthesia.
It is necessary to treat the dog's stitches for 10 days. To do this, use ordinary antiseptics. In addition, make sure that the seams do not get wet.
The dog should also not be allowed to lick its stitches. This can be fraught with their divergence or introducing infection into the animal’s body. To prevent this behavior, use a protective collar.
It is necessary to follow the doctor's instructions. If, for example, he prescribed antibacterial drugs for your dog for 10 days, then that’s exactly how long you should give your dog!

Castration of a Jack Russell Terrier: pros and cons

Remember! A dog is the best thing that can happen in your home!

The topic of sterilization/castration has long been hackneyed: should it be done if there are no obvious indications? Of course, each owner makes his own decision and adheres to some of his own beliefs. We will not try to convince anyone of anything (why do we need another topic of controversy?), Below is information for those who have their first dog, who have not yet made up their minds or do not know what the choice is. (for experienced dog lovers, the information can also be very interesting.

So you have a dog. You are not going to knit it or have not yet decided whether to do so. Here is a list of significant advantages for castration/sterilization:

In addition, there are a number of popular myths about castration. We will list only the most popular:

If your pet does not have breeding value, then it is better to castrate it at a young age and not return to this issue. In the end, you bought a dog for yourself, for your soul.

Relative contraindications to preventive sterilization include the exceptional breeding value of the animal, severe diseases of the cardiovascular system in the decompensation stage, as well as similar problems with the kidneys and liver. Age up to 6 months (although in America some doctors perform sterilization at the age of 3-4 months). There are no absolute contraindications to sterilization for medical reasons.

To summarize, from a veterinarian's perspective, we recommend spaying and neutering for all animals not intended for breeding.

Castration of a Jack Russell Terrier: pros and cons

So you have a dog. You are not going to knit it or have not yet decided whether to do so. Here is a list of significant advantages for castration/sterilization:

In addition, there are a number of popular myths about castration. We will list only the most popular:

If your pet does not have breeding value, then it is better to castrate it at a young age and not return to this issue. In the end, you bought a dog for yourself, for your soul.

Pros and cons of castration of Jack Russell Terrier dogs

The experience of many years and countries shows that if you are not going to use your pet for breeding, then by sterilizing it you will save both yourself and the dog from many unnecessary troubles.

1. What is the difference between castration and sterilization?

Castration and sterilization are operations carried out for the purpose of regulating the birth rate; in simple terms, an animal is made so that it cannot reproduce. During sterilization, the gonads are left in animals, but during castration they are removed.

Thus, a sterilized animal, having working genitals at its disposal, produces a normal (and sometimes even greater!) amount of sex hormones. And sex hormones force the animal to behave accordingly, he (or she) marks the territory, fights for territory or a sexual partner, strives to find a sexual partner, and mates.

What are the benefits of castration?

Castrated animals are less distracted by sexual instincts. They may pay more attention to you and your family members. Neutered animals are less susceptible to wandering and injury in the process of finding their “half.” (Male dogs smell the bitch from a very great distance). Neutered animals go into labor much less often, that is, they are less likely to be injured (and, therefore, the owner is relieved of the need to pay higher fees). ethereal accounts). Castration of animals, contrary to popular belief, does not lead to obesity and laziness. On the contrary, after the operation the metabolism of animals changes, and they require less food. Such an animal reduces the owner’s expenses for food.

For those with bitches:

One of the terrible consequences (in terms of money and health) of not spaying a dog is pyometra, a collection of pus in the uterine cavity. In this case, major surgery is necessary. The disease creeps up unnoticed, without making itself felt, and appears suddenly. Pyometra can be open or closed. Both cases are serious, but closed pyometra can result in death from extensive infection. Tumors of the mammary gland are also more common in unspayed bitches. These tumors often become cancerous. Neutered females have a much lower risk of developing cancer and pyometra.

Bitches in heat stain the apartment with their secretions, sometimes urinate in the house, and become disobedient. In addition, they attract fighting and annoying male dogs. Each heat is physical and emotional stress for the bitch. Often a bitch's personality will change too dramatically when she is in heat, a Rottweiler or Pyrenean mountain dog that changes its personality can be terrifying. Other dogs in the house may suffer from the paws of a female dog in heat. She may become romantically interested in another bitch living in the same family, who may or may not reciprocate her feelings. She can become aggressive towards other females. She will torment all the males living in the house. They will lick her urine, whine, howl, scratch at the door. They will lose their appetite, and all their thoughts will be directed towards satisfying their desire. This situation, repeated several times, can significantly shorten the life of any male dog and lead to serious health problems.

Pregnant bitches eat much more during pregnancy and while nursing puppies. Health care for pregnant dogs is very expensive. Caring for growing puppies is expensive, because it is necessary to monitor their feeding, fight worms, vaccinate puppies and deal with issues of their implementation. Castration of a bitch eliminates all these problems!

For those who have males:

Neutered males have a much lower chance of getting disorders and diseases in the genitourinary tract, and diseases of the prostate gland. These diseases often lead to kidney problems (urolithiasis). This is the most common disease in male dogs over five years of age. If a male dog has medical problems, such as severe hormonal imbalances that can lead to behavioral problems such as uncontrollable lunging at other dogs, frequent erections, or spontaneous ejaculations, then neutering is the only way to normalize the dog's health and behavior. Males try to “look after” all the females in heat who live or simply run through the territory available to them.

In a state of excitement, males become more aggressive, pugnacious, and try to satisfy their sexual needs on all objects that they find attractive. In simple terms, “knits whatever comes in your way.” When a male dog is close to a female who is in heat, he gets very excited. This is especially true for male dogs who have already had experience of bonding with a female dog during heat. All male dogs experience emotional and physical torment when they are near a female in heat. They moan and howl. They cannot calm down until they are completely exhausted. They cannot concentrate their attention on obedience training or anything else. All their thoughts are focused on satisfying desire. Even if the bitch is taken away, they still cannot come to their senses for a long time. The more often they are subjected to this torture, the more difficult it is for them to do it later. We are convinced that if you expose your dog to this kind of trauma, you are cutting years off his life. An animal in heat, obeying the instinct of reproduction, tries in any way to escape from home. Runaway pets are often injured, hit by cars, contract infectious and parasitic diseases, and sometimes disappear forever. If the owner is a professional breeder, he can only rejoice at the sexual activity of his pet. If an animal was adopted into a family simply as a pet, then its behavior during the heat period causes unnecessary concern. Castration of male dogs helps to avoid these problems!

HOW TO NOT RECOVER AFTER CASTRATION Many owners whose four-legged charges are distinguished by their “lush” shapes are wondering how to properly and safely rid their pet of extra pounds?

Unfortunately, obesity is not only a purely human disease; our smaller brothers, especially those living in close proximity to humans, are also susceptible to it to a large extent. After all, it’s rare that an owner’s heart will not tremble at the sight of a dog’s sad gaze at a piece of forbidden sausage. Overfeeding does not imply love for the animal; on the contrary, by doing so you cause irreparable harm to the health of your beloved creature, significantly shortening its life. To help your dog become slim and healthy again, use a few tips below.

1) And you need to start the fight against excess weight with a reasonable reduction in the amount of food. A dog should not lose more than 2% of its weight per week, that is, a dog whose weight is 60 kg should lose approximately 1 kg per week. Losing weight at a more rapid pace can spoil the dog's stomach and affect its behavior in a negative way.

2) Secondly, try to train your dog to adhere to a certain diet (for example, twice a day). To improve digestion, include more fiber in your animal's diet, while reducing the amount of fatty foods and carbohydrates.

3) Long walks in the fresh air also contribute to weight loss. But do not try to torture your dog with excessive exercise or long walking on the first day. For a previously sedentary dog, this method of losing excess weight will only lead to extra stress on the heart. Gradually accustom your pet to active walks. At first he just walks next to his owner, after some time he runs next to him, and in the future, perhaps, you will be able to take him with you even on cycling rides. And if possible, do not deprive your dog of the pleasure of splashing in a pond.

4) By the end of the first month, the first results should already be observed. At this time, the main thing is not to give up and not start feeding the dog out of pity. Often, snacks from the owner’s table are more plentiful and higher in calories than the main meal, so no matter how hard it may be, you need to force yourself to give up the habit of pampering your dog with unhealthy treats.

5) Pay more attention to your four-legged friend. Sometimes, with its “unhappy” appearance, the dog just asks for love and affection from the owner, and not for another portion of food.

Castration of a male dog: pros and cons, at what age, is it worth surgery

When it comes to castrating a male dog, most owners react negatively. It seems pointless to them to put their pet at risk on the operating table. Why deprive your pet of his masculinity if he:

While the owners of bitches worry about the health of the uterus and mammary glands, the owners of male dogs breathe a sigh of relief and do not rush to the surgeon. And in vain. There are situations when castration is necessary for medical reasons.

I will try to explain in detail why every veterinary surgeon encroaches on the “household” of your dog. Spoiler: not for profit. Regarding the well-being of the pet, castration of a male dog has both pros and cons. Only after weighing all the pros and cons yourself, you can decide with peace of mind whether to castrate the dog, and at what age.

Some owners are terribly worried that after surgery their pet will become an “inferior” asexual creature. And we are sure that other dogs will begin to despise their relative. The source of such reasoning is the humanization of animals, which we all sin to one degree or another.

I'm sexy and I know it!

It should be admitted: a castrated male differs from an uncastrated male in only one thing: the level of testosterone in the blood. This entails both pros and cons.

Author of the article: Olga Shiltsova, practicing veterinarian, author of the books “Dachshund of Fate” and “Tails of Fortune”

Does the dog hurt?

Castration itself, along with sterilization, is considered one of the most easily tolerated operations for animals. She goes under anesthesia very quickly. The stitches, as a rule, do not bother the dog too much and heal quickly.

In addition, in the first few days after surgery, the animal is prescribed painkillers that relieve possible discomfort.

Medical indications: 3 situations when castration is necessary

There is nothing unnecessary in the body - the main argument of opponents of castration. This is true. The problem is that in nature, canines live on average 6-8 years. And our pets last much longer, 10-16 years. And with age, some earlier and some later, diseases associated with the activity of the testes arise. The only treatment and the only prevention is castration.

Oncology

Neoplasms of the testes are a common occurrence in older dogs over 7-8 years of age. There are several types of testicular tumors:

This is a tumor consisting of special Sertoli cells. It produces female sex hormones - estrogens. It is with this “feminization” that the symptoms are associated:

Sertolioma is insidious in that it does not always cause testicular enlargement. It can be difficult for a doctor to convince the owner of the need for surgery and subsequent histological examination of the removed testis. The evidence base in this case is ultrasound of the testes and determination of hormone levels in the blood.

This tumor consists of the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. The average age of onset of seminoma is 10 years. The tumor can behave as benign; it rarely metastasizes. However, it increases in size rapidly and requires urgent surgical intervention.

Seminoma on the left, unaffected testicle on the right

Malignant tumor of the testis

With a Leydig cell tumor, the amount of testosterone in the body begins to go off scale. This leads to an enlarged prostate and tumors around the anus. Perianal tumors can be either benign (adenomas) or malignant (adenocarcinomas).

Prostatitis

Prostatitis occurs in uncastrated male dogs older than 5-7 years. Benign enlargement of the prostate gland in a male dog goes unnoticed for a long time. Only an advanced form of prostatitis causes difficulty urinating and defecating. Prostate infections produce small amounts of pus or blood in the urine. Regular mating prevents congestive prostatitis, but it is impossible to ensure it throughout life.

Treatment of prostate adenoma or bacterial prostatitis begins with surgical or chemical castration. A decrease in testosterone levels causes almost complete atrophy of the gland within 3 months after surgery.

Much more dangerous is prostate adenocarcinoma, a malignant tumor of the gland. In this case, treatment is almost impossible. Not every surgeon will undertake to remove the entire prostate followed by reconstruction of the urethra (urinary canal). But even such a complex operation will not protect against the occurrence of metastases.

Possible complications

Complications from this simple procedure are rare. Usually they can be associated with the unprofessionalism of the surgeon, improper care of the sutures, their damage, and infection.

Abscess. An inflammatory process that occurs if the testes are not completely removed. The “forgotten” fragment becomes inflamed, and pus may be released from the sutures. The pet loses its appetite, drinks a lot, and tries to lick the seam. Body temperature is increased. In this case, a repeat operation, disinfection, and medications are necessary to help cope with the inflammation.
Swollen and inflamed suture. Reason: insufficient or careless antiseptic treatment. Possible bleeding and pus. Local treatment is required, and a course of antibiotics is usually prescribed.
Cut divergence. This is especially true for large and active breeds. Repeat stitches will likely be required. If the wound has already healed sufficiently, local treatment will be sufficient.

Is it necessary to castrate a cryptorchid?

I often hear the following phrase: “Remove the testis that has not descended, and leave the other one.” For what, for beauty? After all, you can’t breed a male! "We want him to remain a man." I refuse to carry out such an operation, if castrate, then with the removal of both testes!

The temperature in the scrotum is 3-4 o C lower than the body temperature in the abdominal cavity. This is necessary for normal sperm formation. The testis, which is constantly overheated, eventually degenerates with the appearance of a malignant tumor. If in an ordinary male the average age of detection of seminoma is 10 years, then in a cryptorchid it is 5-6 years.

Testicular tumor in a 9-year-old Jack Russell

Tumor of the testis located in the groin area

If the testicle is not located under the skin in the groin area, but in the abdominal cavity, then the danger increases many times over. Owners do not see changes in the size of the testis, and the tumor manages to metastasize. And most importantly, torsion of the testis on the vascular pedicle is possible. This causes sharp pain (acute abdomen), the cause of which the therapist may be looking for in the “wrong place.”

The operation to lower the testis into the scrotum and fix it in it in the Russian Federation is recognized as illegal (fraud) and should not be carried out. Cryptorchidism is a direct indication for castration, which will not prevent a male dog from living a long, fulfilling life.

Sometimes an undescended testis can be easily felt under the skin

Two stitches after castration of cryptorchid

At what age is a male dog castrated?

There is no optimal age for castration. One thing is clear: it must be a young, healthy animal. With current vaccinations, free of parasites, in optimal physical shape.

Since the puppy receives the second vaccination at 3 months of age or older, castration before 4 months is not indicated. And early castration is not accepted in Russia. From 4 to 6 months, teeth actively change and bones grow rapidly. Sexual behavior is not yet a concern for owners.

Therefore, I consider the best age for castration of a male dog to be between 7 and 12 months. The testes are small and “tender”, so the incision is tiny and the suture heals quickly. In miniature dog breeds, at the same age, milk teeth that have not been replaced on their own are removed. These procedures can be performed under one general anesthesia.

Most often, male dogs are referred for castration at the age of 1.5-4 years. By this point, it becomes clear how promising the manufacturer’s career is and whether behavior correction is required. There is no upper age limit. Older dogs have to take operational risks for medical reasons. Another question is that the wear and tear of the body and chronic diseases add work to the anesthesiologist.

The owners would not agree to castrate this Jagd Terrier under any pretext.

I recommend castrating an abdominal cryptorchid as early as possible. Although the owners promise to appear for an ultrasound of the “hidden” testis at least once every six months, in fact it is often left unattended. And already at 4 years old there is a real risk of developing cancer. Why take the risk?

If both testes are in the scrotum, starting from the age of 4-5 years, you need to do an ultrasound of the prostate. And castrate a male dog at the first signs of congestive prostatitis.

Preparing for castration

Removal of glands can only be carried out on a healthy animal. For an organism weakened by any disease, even a minor surgical intervention carries potential danger.

To ensure everything goes correctly, follow these conditions:

Shortly before surgery, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the pet.
We need to rid the dog of parasites. This is a must, even if you think there are none. It is worth using special medications to prevent even the possibility of infection.
A couple of days before the procedure, the animal should be put on a diet - fed light food that is quickly digested. This will prevent complications with stool.

Castration of a male dog: cons

If people were confident in the beneficial effects of castration on a pet’s body, this operation would be performed much more often. But the fact is that castration of a male dog does not have any negative effects. There are some things that still confuse me though:

Tendency to obesity

The male sex hormone (testosterone) is a powerful fat burner that accelerates metabolism and supports the growth of muscle rather than fat tissue. After castration, testosterone levels decrease, which increases the dog's tendency to become obese. Plus, the male stops chasing females in heat, refusing to eat. He does not sit for a week in a row in front of someone else’s entrance, where the “lady of his heart” lives.

I often meet fat, uncastrated males. And even more often – slender, athletic, sterilized dogs. The secret is that fat does not come from thin air! It is enough to feed the dog correctly so that castration does not affect the weight in any way.

A castrated male gets fat for the same reason as a fertile male. The owners feel sorry for him and slip tidbits from the table, without devoting time to active games and walks.

Diet and an active lifestyle allow your dog to stay in shape after castration.

Operational risks

If a veterinarian says that castration of a male dog is an absolutely safe procedure, he is lying. At a minimum, the operation is performed under general anesthesia, and this is a certain risk. Errors during the operation cannot be ruled out, although an experienced surgeon practically never makes them. We are talking about bleeding that occurs if a ligature comes off a vessel feeding the testis.

Bleeding can also occur from skin vessels. At risk are dogs with bleeding disorders. There are hereditary diseases, such as von Willebrand disease, which can cause your pet to bleed to death. If the breed is at risk, like Bernese Mountain Dogs, a genetic test should be done before surgery.

Before castration, the animal is not only examined, but also examined. For young male dogs, it is enough to do:

For older animals, the list is expanded at the discretion of the doctor:

Anesthetic risks are significantly higher for dogs of brachiocephalic breeds.

The owner must be aware of operational risks - not to be afraid of the operation. And in order to properly prepare for it and choose a clinic wisely.

There are no absolute contraindications to castration. To those who say with a sigh, “ours is too old and won’t survive the operation,” I want to say one thing: old age is not a diagnosis! Options are always possible. If castration is necessary for medical reasons, and the animal has serious heart or kidney failure, Suprelorin is used. This is a subcutaneous chip that releases hormones that block the functioning of the testes.

Read more about chemical castration of a male dog HERE (the article will open in a new tab)

Complications after castration of a male dog

Castration of a male dog is not an abdominal operation (unless we are talking about abdominal cryptorchid). Complications after the intervention are rare. The most common problems:

Complications are always associated with a violation of the surgical technique or care during the recovery period. These problems are discussed in more detail in a separate article.

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