Post Surgical - Neuter

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

Did you know they are giving vasectomies now??? Neither did I. It's been 4 years since I had a dog neutered. Phoenix was heavily sedated, muzzled and went to doc yesterday for emergency neuter. He has never been in 1) a vehicle 2) a building 3) a doctor's office 4) an examining table 5) etc etc. He has been flinging himself against the pen wall and trying to scale it's 6 foot height, and I thought perhaps there is a female around, or maybe he has the "Call of the Wild" (do you know out of 5 people I said this too, only ONE had actually heard and read the book??). So in he went, operated, shots, and back to the pen. (It was in the low 40s last night and he will NOT use his Igloo) I was told to stay away (he could not overnight at the vet's he would have gone insane) as he gets too excited when I am around. Anyway, got there this am and he was totally huddled in pain and cold. His scrotum is quadruple the size - swelling is normal, but this is abnormal - and although there is some bleeding, there is no indication of infection, altho it is too early. Karen Wilkins came by with Tramadol at lunch time,and he napped. Tonight I tram'd him again. I know he will improve day by day, but I had never heard of vasectomies. Karen W said some docs dont cut - they tear!
Has anyone else had an experience like this? He is a charity case, so I have no room to squawk, but I wanted to feel this one out.

[Barbara Boehmer]

I believe that a vasectomy rather than castration has always been an option, but usually isn't mentioned, because it defeats a major purpose. If they are castrated, it stops the hormones and stops the male behavior. If they just have a vasectomy, they cannot produce children, but the external appearance, hormones, and behavior are the same. I have one cat that was originally only given a vasectomy, then I later had him neutered in the usual way (castration). He is the only cat that I have that has a major problem with spraying and I think it is because he was castrated later in life and male behavior had become a habit for too long. So, if all Phoenix had was a vasectomy, not castration, then once he recovers, he will still be seeking females. I think the vasectomies may have become popular with people who like their dogs to still act like males (usually a guy thing), but need to comply with some regulation requiring neutering or want to take advantage of licensing discounts and such.

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

Well, that's what I thought!
He IS a charity case, but the reason I think he might be flinging himself against the cage is either 1) the call of the wild, or b) a female in heat somewheres. Doc said testes would be absorbed by the body, when KarenW told me, I laughed and said, Does that happen in humans? That would be akin to a male castration, right?
Oh, well, we'll have to wait and see I suppose. Maybe this will be the magic pill but I cannot IMAGINE giving a wild dog a vasectomy.
Well, if I ever hit the money jackpot, he is going back to finish off the job.