Dog being castrated - what to expect?

[GnomeDePlume]

Dog (1 year old laborador/border collie cross) is booked in for surgery in a few days time. He saw the vet a couple of days ago for regular jab when the booking was made and was declared fit and well (if very nervous of the vet)

So what should we expect afterwards please?

• How long to get over surgery?
  
• Will their be personality/behaviour changes?
  
• Will their be physical changes?
  
  I know that this ha probably been done a thousand times before but any words of wisdom would be very welcome.

[marne2]

My dog was a bit sad when I got him home from the vets, within 48 hours he was back to his normal bouncy self, they are only allowed to go outside on a lead for a while ( so they don't hurt themselves ). I don't think it's calmed my dog down at all, he has filled out a little but was skinny anyway so this was a good thing for us.

[marne2]

Mines a lab x collie.

[GnomeDePlume]

Thank you, yes 'bouncy' is the word! Ours too is on the light side. He looks like a slimline black lab so a bit of filling out probably wouldnt hurt.

[Humansatnav]

My mums collie was 8 when he was done. He was subdued for a week or so, no personality change.
( he had a testosterone reactive tumor and after neutering lived for another 9 years )

[moosemama]

My 18 month old Lurcher was neutered at the beginning of November. He was very woozy and sleepy the first night and woke us in the night (although that's not unusual ). Then sleepy and a bit fed up the next day and back to himself within 48 hours.

We were very lucky as he didn't even seem to notice he had stitches and didn't bother them at all. I took advice on here before he had the op and a pair boxer shorts seemed to be one of the best methods of keeping them away from their stitches.

It's early days yet, but we haven't noticed any change in his behaviour, which is a relief, because he is fearful of other dogs and we were worried it might tip him over into fear aggression (although we're actively working on this anyway and have seen a behaviourist since he was neutered to advise us on how best to prevent this happening).

I've had two other males neutered over the years. It didn't affect the personality of either and they didn't gain weight or lose condition.

I asked my vet about weight gain when my boy was done last month. She said that, while there is a very slight change, neutering is commonly used as an excuse for overfed, under-exercised dogs and as long as we make sure he's neither of those things there is absolutely no reason why he should gain weight.

[basildonbond]

My pup was castrated at 8.5 months, earlier than I'd ideally have liked but his obsessive humping of virtually every dog we met was getting harder and harder to control plus he was being attacked constantly

He cried all night and until mid-afternoon the next day, then took himself off to his crate and slept for hours and was much more cheerful when he woke up. He developed an eye infection (always his weak spot when he's under the weather) and had a nasty stomach bug in the week after the operation so his recovery was a little longer than it should have been. However two weeks later he was back to his happy bouncy self. The humping stopped immediately as did being picked on by other dogs. He's not put on weight and is beautifully slim and athletic. He is terrified of all German/Belgian shepherds but that stems from before the operation so there's been no change there

[trashcanjunkie]

I run a little doggy hotel, and we have had a few dogs who came to me to be rehomed and the first thing I do is get them castrated. So far I have had a terrier who didn't seem to actually notice! Although his incessant marking indoors stopped immediately (even though it can take up to a month) and another little chihuahua type, who was a bit sleepy when he came home, but then still tried to hump anything and everything (we stopped him!!)

Both recovered completely perfectly and their basic personality stayed the same, although they were less frantic, but that could be down to more walking, iykwim.

I had my own little bitch spayed and although that's more of a shock to the system, she was absolutely fine afterwards, just a bit sleepy and tender for a day

[LokiBuddyBoo1]

My pup was done at 9 months only because he was constantly marking indoors when I took him to my father's house.
He was alittle groggy when I picked him up but he didn't bother with his stitches didn't even need to wear his buster collar. The indoor marking stopped immediately.
He was back to normal the next day and he's not gained any weight since being done either.
My sisters dog who was done at 6 months was sad and not himself for about 4 days after and has become extremely fear aggressive since being done.

[GnomeDePlume]

Thanks all. This is reassuring.

[DinnaeKnowShitFromClay]

He should have a small wound at the base of his willy as they push them forward out of the scrote to remove them. ( If you cut the scrotum it takes ages to heal as the skin is so thin. ) He will have either nylon stitches that need to come out in 10 days or some vets put in dissolvables. He must leave the wound alone or will have to wear the 'cone of shame'! Most vets send them home with a few days anti-inflammatories/pain relief and this stops 90% of them troubling their wound.
Our practice sees them after two days for a quick (free) post op check.
Castration effectively 'feminises' them by taking away the male hormones and this makes them less edgy, not so sexually driven and more like a sofa loafer type. They get every last calorie out or their food though so you may have to cut back by a third.
We say garden pottering for the first two days, lead exercise then until stitches out and after that, back to normal exercise. I can't imagine living with an un-neutered dog. they have a happier and healthier life in general I would say.

[GnomeDePlume]

Well, he is now back home with a cone on his head. As predicted he is looking very sad. On the plus side he has eaten some food. The cat is worried as with his new cone the dog looks like he has had an upgrade!

Many thanks for all the advice and reassurance.

[trashcanjunkie]

Ah glad it's all over and done with

[Adarajames]

As loads of fosters straight from neuter / spay, usually all back I themselves in day or so; usual issue, especial with young and collie types, is limiting them to short lead exercise for a while, they do tend to get cabin fever! If has lab tendency to eat anything, watch food intake and reduce if needed, so many obese labs / lab xs around, it's so sad for them. Not the neutering that makes them out on weight as some always blame, just their metabolic rate slows so they don't need as much food, but sounds like yours won't go that way with the collie energy!

[GnomeDePlume]

He is certainly much brighter today.

The problem now is going to be keeping him entertained. Also, with his new cone shaped head he keeps getting caught on things!

[Adarajames]

You can make a bumper type collar by rolling a thick towel and fixing it with gaffa tape, can't bend head around enough to get I wound but doesn't take a swipe out of your legs each time he passes you!
Stuffed kongs and brain puzzles good for entertaining gently

[GnomeDePlume]

He doesnt seem to be too bothered by the wound now. It doesnt look at all red so hopefully it is healing up properly.

He is wearing boxer shorts when we can keep an eye on him and the cone at night. If the cone becomes a real problem then we will try the towel collar. Thank you for that suggestion.