So all being fair last month we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of spaying and so this month it seemed only fair we turned our attention to the male variety and castration.
Advantages
Like spaying there are a number of advantages to neutering. The first one is obviously that once castrated your dog won’t be able to get a female dog ‘in the family way’. With many thousands of dogs in rescue unless you intend to breed from your dog, castrating and preventing unwanted puppies can literally save dogs lives. Also, your dog should quite literally stray less as he won’t be drawn to that local female in heat, which by the way he can smell from a very long distance away.
Some dogs once they reach sexual maturity will become a little obsessed with items such as cushions, legs and even other animals including the cat. Castration should reduce or stop this behaviour. They will also scent mark less around your home and other homes when he goes to visit.
Another behavioural advantages include reducing dominance and aggressive behaviour to others and indeed others to them. It can also calm some dogs down and make them more focused on humans and the relationship with their owners than on other male or female dogs.
From a health prospective there are also a number of key advantages to castration. Instances of both prostate and testicular cancer can be reduced or alleviated by castrating.
Disadvantages
Nothing is always one sided and castration can also have some negatives.
Dogs who are castrated can if feeding is not adapted put on weight significantly more easily than uncastrated dogs. Not all dogs’ metabolisms change in the same way but this is something to keep a close eye on post castration so as to avoid health risks that come with weight issues in your dog.
Like in spaying castration can affect the overall endocrine system and as such there appears to be good evidence that while not common, there is an increased risk in castrated dogs of hypothyroidism. There are also thoughts on neutered dogs being more prone in later life to dementia as hormones appear to protect the brain in some regards.
The other health risk again like that in spaying is that castration does require an anaesthetic and there are always health risks with general anaesthetics in humans and animals.
If castration is done too early before full growth is complete in dogs there does appear to be good evidence that it can impact bone growth and issues such as hip dysplasia.
Finally – Microchipping laws
As a final aside please note the new laws on having your pet microchipped come into force on the 6th of April 2016. If your pet is not microchipped after that date, you can incur significant fines. If Calagran Four Paws Hotel can assist you, we are licenced implanters and can chip your pet from £15.
Shelly (7th January 2019)
"All three of my dogs have been very happy here. They always come back happy and healthy having been treated with care. Love the exercise pens for them to run free in."
Philippa Groves (18th September 2016)
"My dog, Roscoe has been staying at the pet hotel since he was 4 months old and I can honestly say that he loves going and I am told he doesn't miss us when there!!!
Roscoe always has the pet taxi service there and back and a bath before he comes home. He always smells divine.
I love how we get photos sent by email during his stay.
I know that Roscoe is very well looked after. He loved the play paddock and thoroughly enjoys his stays."
Caroline Royle (6th October 2016)
"Have been bringing Indie here for a couple of years now and can go on holiday with complete confidence that he will be taken care of, with as much attention and care as if he were at home. Everyone there is knowledgeable, friendly and confident. The services offered are 5 star indeed on every aspect"
Steven Moore (24th September 2016)
"Kennels are kennels, boarding is a compromise, but the staff at C4P are professional and caring and one of the best available in the UK. I actually decided on C4P because during the difficult process of importing my dog they were the only ones to give friendly and helpful advice. 100% happy to recommend C4P to anyone."
Anne (9th December 2019)
"We have been using this kennel for many years. The staff are very caring and all our dogs have always been excited to go. Thank you C4."
Clare Tebb (6th June 2017)
"Our boys love this place and as soon as they know where they are off to they start with the excited jumping about in the back of the car and cant get out quick enough and that is a sure fire show of how wonderful this place is. A dedicated hotel just to animals and the well kept areas the cleanliness the professional friendly staff and the whole feeling of, "Yes" we have made the best choice. The Hotel enables us to go away knowing that our most treasured boys are in good, safe, secure hands and are happy boys and we know that they are being looked after as if they were their own pets. Our two huge Labs are a handful,naughty and very strong and the girls welcome them with open arms. What more could you want with huge open airy runs a lovely warm sleep area and a lovely field to run about in. I cant recommend the Hotel enough."
lisa clibbery (25th October 2018)
"excellent facilities fab paddock, easy to keep clean kennels and even a doggy spa."
Mary Wigmore (8th August 2016)
"Having a lively cocker spaniel & a cockerpoo I need to know they are looked after & exercised daily ,it speaks for itself if I have returned my dogs & the acre exercise field is what mine needed ,the fact that you can just call in & see them being excercised or shown round shows how caring the staff are ,"
Lynne (9th December 2019)
"This is the only place I would trust to bring my dog to and its absolutely worth every minute of the hour long round trip. Everyone is so caring, friendly and the dogs are always so well looked after."
Steve & Jayne (20th April 2017)
"We had reservations about kenneling our dogs but after this trail we are more than happy to use this service again. Dogs there mentally stable & not displaying signs of stress. Overall we are very happy and pleased to use this service again"
Calagran Four Paws Hotel
Deep Sic Lane
Arkwright Town
Chesterfield
S44 5DN
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