Balls off !!

[Vics]

I'm sitting typing as Dodger the Wheaten Terrier dog is downstairs whimpering after having been castrated today!! He wasn't an aggressive dog or too oversexed - but other entact males seemed to take dislike to him which sometimes resulted in disputes whereby Dodger would not submit. (So perhaps I did it for my own benefit so I would not have to break up a fight) I now feel a bit guilty. Can anyone say anthing that will make me feel better. Many thanks Vics X

[jennifer_cro]

Vics

I think you did the right thing. There are too many unwanted puppies born every year as a result of owners not castrating their pets. This leads to dogs getting into the wrong hands of owners who ill-treat them and puts enormous pressure on rescue centres.

Don't feel bad hopefully this will hopefully allow Dodger to make more doggie frriends!!!

[campbellking]

Vics, if it stops fighting, I'm all for it. When we moved into our house, the previous owners left their tom cat behind.He was always fighting, and being pretty useless at it would get abscesses from the bites which would need treatment etc. The dastardly deed was done, and now he is much happier. He does, however, miss the hours he used to spend washing his balls!

[shaneystar2]

Don't feel guitly..what he hasn't had he won't miss.And if it stops any fighting that's O.K.too and will give you peace of mind. We had Shane
done because he was sex mad and would howl and throw himself at the door if he got so much as a scent of female.Woudn't eat either.Then he would run off on a scent and so on and not come back when called.He was ..in other words..a nightmare! He was about two when he was done and is now ten.A calmer nicer dog you couldn't wish for,sociable with other dogs.
My menfolk were not too happy with me at the time but they didn't have the day to day responsibility of coping with his naughty behaviour.
So don't worry .He will be fine.

[JoCannon]

I had my male cat done a week ago, since then he sat behind the sofa staring at the wall, it was heartbreaking (he did look a bit silly too). Yesterday afternoon however he came out from behind the sofa curled up next to me, he seems really soppy now and already more affectionate.

You did the right thing, Doger will be fine in a few days.

[wooo12]

I was in exactly the same situation as you. I had my dog castrated and felt so bad and is if i had taken the easy way out. Think of it as you did what you felt was best for you and your dog.

take care

[orange-gnome]

It will prevent him from getting prostate and testicular cancer in later life and that is worth it on its own!!
I castrated my dog myself and felt really guilty but they soon forget about it, you did a good thing!

[Vics]

Thank you all so much for responding so quickly and sensitively. I still actually feel awful about it - which is unlike me - usually I take a more practical approach. I think as you say Wooo12 because I feel as though I have just taken the easy/most common way out without really really thinking about it in relation to my specific dog. Orange Gnome - I had visions of you just get the chopping board and knife out on the kitchen unit at home - I assume you are a vet or VN - please tell me yes!!??

One other thing that puzzles me - Is how do we (humans) know that they (dogs) will forget about it. How do we know what they are feeling!!??

Once again - thank you ALL for the support - Dodger is still whimpering and hating the collar - so i am finding this a bit heartbreaking at the moment.- We will try to stick it out though. Vics X

[Solarjunkie]

You might not need the collar while he is actually in your sight, we did not use one at all with our dog. He was 95% recovered by the next morning by the way, so don't expect too much of the subdued hound!

Hope you both feel much better in the morning.