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toapayohvets.com

Last Updated. 13 February, 2005  
Focus:  Small animals - dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits

HOW YOUR PUPPY CAN LIVE LONGER?
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS
Excerpts from "How Your Puppy Can Live Longer?" by Dr Kong Sing
 

"Female dogs are better," experienced dog owners will say. "No spraying of urine onto the walls, like male dogs."  Most Singaporeans live in apartments as Singapore is a city.  Therefore, female dogs are better appreciated. Castration at 6 months of age or earlier may resolve this problem. 


INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS

CASTRATION OF A MALE DOG AT TOA PAYOH VETS

WHAT TO EXPECT

The veterinarian removes the two descended testicles of the male dog. This is called castration. It is a major surgery.

WHAT TO DO BEFORE

Make appointments 6254-3326 for surgery.  The dog must be healthy and not obese.  He is active and has an excellent appetite.  Should have his last vaccination less than 12 months ago.  No food and water in the morning. Bathe the bitch the night before and clean his private parts and lower abdomen thoroughly. 

Bring the dog in at 9 a.m. No food and water in the morning. Make sure the dog has passed motion and urine.  He has no ticks or skin diseases
.

WHAT TO DO DURING

The dog is given a tranquiliser and a general anaesthesia using gas. The skin in the midline, above the scrotum is incised. The testicles are removed from the scrotum.  If there is only one testicle in the scrotum, the other one may be under the skin or inside the abdomen. In this case, the owner will be informed. Pictures are shown below.

WHAT TO DO AFTER

The owner takes the dog home at around 5 p.m. Make sure that the dog does not jump and run around for the next 7 - 14 days. The wound is covered by a plaster to prevent licking. Check the wound daily for signs of itchiness. Replace the plaster on day 5 if necessary. If not, remove the plaster on day 10.  The stitches on the skin will dissolve after 14 days and there is no need to return to the surgery for stitch removal. Consult the vet promptly if the bitch irritates the wound or is not feeling well.

CASTRATION PROCEDURES FROM 2005 AT TOA PAYOH VETS

In 2005, absorbable sutures, antibiotic powder and a plaster are used in dog castration at Toa Payoh Vets. An Elizabeth collar may or may not be necessary. Some owners are concerned about the length of the skin incision.  They compare and contrast with other friend's bitches spayed.  They prefer short incisions.  Whenever possible, the shortest cut is made as in this case.
 

Undescended testicle of normal size in 1-year-old Maltese
2 testicles removed by vet. Toa Payoh Vets. 2 absorbable 3/0 sutures.
The shortest incision is made after locating the undescended testicle. After removal of the the undescended testicle and the descended one inside the scrotum, the skin is stitched. Antibiotic powder will be put on the dried wound area.
Plaster bandage to prevent wound licking. Toa Payoh Vets
A plaster covers the wound for the next 10 days. It may be replaced earlier if the bitch feels itchy. Consult your vet at Toa Payoh Vets.

UNDESSCENDED TESTICLE.

What should you do when the puppy has undescended (retained) testicles? Two testicles should have descended into the scrotum by the time the puppy is six months old.  Yet, there will be cases when the testicle has not descended.

The risk of the retained testicle becoming cancerous when the puppy is older is present.  You may not be aware of the growth as you seldom check an older dog.  The cancerous growth can be as large as a hen's egg by the time the dog is over 10 years old.  The probability of developing a cancerous testicle is high if it is not descended into the scrotum. 

It may be sensible to get the retained testicle removed by your veterinary surgeon when the puppy is 6 - 12 months old.  If the male dog has unsociable behaviour such as urine spraying to mark his territory, bites people when unprovoked or guarding its feed bowl, mounting on people's legs and barking non-stop, it may be best to get him neutered early.    



This webpage:
www.asiahomes.com/singaporerealty/0607hunting_bigdining.htm

Extracts from the Asiahomes.com Book: How Your Puppy Can Live Longer  
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), MRCVS.
Buyers interested in this book, email to judy@asiahomes.com


Article contributed by: Dr Sing Kong Yuen, Veterinary Surgeon, Toa Payoh Vets. 
 

Copyright © Asiahomes Internet. All rights reserved. Revised: February 13, 2005  

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