What is a Castration.....

A castration is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of both testicles. This is most commonly done to help control pet overpopulation. There are also several health and behavioral benefits gained by castrating your pet. Dominant or aggressive tendencies can be decreased dramatically by castrating your pet. Health concerns such as bladder infections, prostate infections and certain types of tumors can be reduced and controlled by castration.


So what happens when your pet comes in for surgery??? Your pet is examined to make sure he is healthy. If you have elected, blood is drawn for pre-anesthetic lab work. A sedative injection is given to help relax your pet in preparation for anesthesia and surgery. An injection is given to induce general anesthesia, then a tube is placed into your pet's throat and he is connected to an anesthetic machine that mixes an anesthetic gas with oxygen. This mixture is breathed by your pet to maintain adequate anesthesia during the surgery.  If you have elected, or if it is deemed necessary, an IV catheter is placed and your pet is started on fluids. The surgical area is prepared by clipping the hair from the site and then using disinfectant agents to scrub and clean the area. Your pet is then transferred to the surgery table, monitoring devices are attached and a final preparation of the surgery site is done.  At this point the actual surgery begins.

For dogs, an incision is made just in front of the scrotum. Each testicle is removed and the blood vessels are ligated to prevent bleeding. Once the testicles are removed, a dissolvable suture is used to close the incision. Either glue or skin sutures are then used to finish the surgery.  For cats the procedure is slightly different. Because of slight differences in anatomy, the testicles of a cat are removed through two small incisions in the scrotum itself. These incisions are then left open to heal on their own. Suturing these incisions would cause more pain and swelling then leaving them open.  After the surgery is complete, your pet is cleaned and disconnected from the anesthesia machine. Post operative pain medications are administered along with any other medications that are necessary. Your pet is then moved to a cage and monitored until he is awake. In most cases your pet will be able to go home the same day.

Below are pictures of various stages in a castration. These pictures are not overly graphic, but may not be for the faint of heart.


      This is a picture of a cat clipped, scrubed and ready for surgery.


    This is a picture of a dog. The initial incision has been made. The scrotum is under the drape at the bottom of the picture.

    Here the testicle has been clamped in preparation to ligating it with suture and removing it.