Introduction

Unless a dog owner has firm plans to use this animal in a formal breeding program, the best prevention strategy for prostate problems is surgery (castration).

Risks Associated with Dog Castration

The risk of a routine surgery is very low, and it would not be considered an endangerment to health to make this decision on a dog's behalf. It is often helpful to review information, and discuss the decision further with the health care team before making the final decision.

The potential devastation from possible future prostate problems would be generally viewed as a much more worrisome scenario than a sterile surgical procedure performed in a modern veterinary practice by an experienced veterinary surgeon and their support team.

The Procedure

The surgery itself is not a long one. The average procedure would take 10-20 minutes, and complications are rare. With proper post-operative rest and care, the chance of a problem is very low. Most practices will see the dog back for a "post-op" check in 7-10 days, and during that early healing phase, they are especially willing and able to address any questions or concerns that might arise.