Golden Retriever neutering 

Castration is a hot topic these days. Media vehicles and veterinarians, almost without exception, recommend this surgery unreservedly, listing a multitude of advantages. Behind this mass campaign is a poignant rationale: the overpopulation of stray dogs and cats. We must not close our eyes to this reality. Thousands of abandoned, hungry and sick dogs and cats roam the streets, fruits of indiscriminate mating. The vast majority of these animals cannot be adopted and end up on their own, or are euthanized ("sacrificed"). 

However, assuming that you will be a conscientious owner, that you will never abandon your dog and that you will not promote irresponsible mating, the decision to neuter your Golden Retriever or not depends on other factors as well. It is necessary to understand that castration, although very routine, is a definitive surgical procedure, which implies the removal of organs – the male's testicles; the uterus and ovaries of the female. Like everything in life, castration has two sides: the positive and the negative. So, instead of recommending the generic "castre, soon!", we prefer that you weigh the pros and cons and decide whether neutering is the best option for your individual Golden's case. 

Pros of neutering bitches 

 If performed at any age, castration definitely prevents the occurrence of pyometra, a uterine infection that affects a large percentage of bitches. Pyometra usually happens after a few heats and, if not diagnosed in time, can lead to death. 

 If performed after the 1st heat, castration prevents the appearance of mammary tumors by more than 90% (extremely common in female dogs). However, if performed up to 2.5 years of age, it still brings great benefits in terms of reducing the incidence of these tumors. 

 If performed at any age, castration definitely prevents the appearance of uterine and ovarian tumors (uncommon in bitches). 

 Prevents unwanted matings in any of the following cases: 

a-) Do you have male and female at home 

b-) You have dogs without pedigree 

c-) Your dogs are related to each other; 

d-) Your dogs have deviations from the breed standard or genetically inherited disease; 

f-) You do not want or are unable to take care of a pregnant dog and all the puppies until they are all sold or donated. 

g-) Your dog had eclampsia in the last pregnancy (she will probably have it next time) 

 Avoid the presence of male dogs at your gate, as there will no longer be the odor of a female in heat. 

 Absolutely avoids that the athlete dog (practitioner of agility, flyball, etc) or that frequently accompanies the owner in trips, stop performing these activities due to being in heat. 

 Absolutely avoids the discomfort of female heat. If you are bothered by bleeding and changes in the behavior of females in heat, castration is an excellent option for this case. Golden females often have heavy bleeding and long heats, sometimes lasting more than a month. 

 Eliminates hair loss caused by heat and reduces seasonal shedding. 

 Reduces the risk of perianal (close to the anus) fistulas (sores). 

 Prevents pseudocyesis (psychological pregnancy), a condition linked to sex hormones. 

Cons of neutering bitches 

 Increases predisposition to obesity. If you opt for castration, be sure to offer plenty of physical activity and a moderate calorie diet to avoid obesity and its complications. 

 Some female dogs become a little irritable with other dogs. 

 Some bitches become a little less active. 

 In some breeds, castration alters the texture of the coat, favoring the reappearance of the lanugo (puppy hair). 

 If performed before the 1st heat, neutering can predispose to repeated episodes of cystitis (bladder inflammation/urinary infection) and vaginitis. 

 If performed before the 1st heat, castration can change the dog's appearance as an adult, making her a little taller and narrower, without less muscle mass. 

 Castration can leave some bitches with urinary incontinence. This condition is even more common in females spayed very early. 

 Castration surgery performed in a hurry or by an inexperienced surgeon can result in kidney damage. 

 Castration surgery performed with an anesthetic of questionable safety (usually in very cheap surgery) can damage the liver. 

 If performed before one year of age, it increases the risk of osteosarcoma (bone cancer). 

 Increases the risks of hypothyroidism (a dysfunction of the thyroid gland). 

 It is ineffective as a measure to calm a hyperactive bitch. 

 It is not very efficient as a measure to make an aggressive bitch more tame. 

Pros of male castration 

 Completely eliminates the small risk of testicular cancer 

 Reduces the risk of non-cancerous prostate disease 

 Reduces the risk of perianal fistulas (sores) appearing (in the region close to the anus) 

 May reduce the risk of diabetes 

 If done early, it can prevent him from becoming aggressive with other males 

 If done early, it can prevent him from exhibiting undesirable sexual behavior, such as riding on legs, riding on pillows, etc. 

 If done early, it can prevent the demarcation of territory with urine. 

 If done early, it can prevent escapes motivated by the desire to mate. 

 If done early, it prevents working dogs from being distracted by odors and other stimuli produced by bitches in heat. 

 May reduce the shedding volume of seasonal shedding. 

 Prevents unwanted matings in any of the following cases: 

a-) Do you have male and female at home 

b-) You have dogs without pedigree 

c-) Your dogs are related to each other; 

d-) Your dogs have deviations from the breed standard or genetically inherited disease; 

f-) You do not want or are unable to take care of a pregnant dog and all the puppies until they are all sold or donated. 

Cons of male castration 

 If done before one year of age, it increases the risk of developing osteosarcoma (bone cancer). 

 Increases the risk of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) 

 Increases the risk of obesity 

 If performed before physical maturity is completed, castration can change the adult appearance, leaving the male looking less masculine and a little taller and narrower compared to uncastrated males of the same breed and age. 

 Castration surgery performed with an anesthetic of questionable safety (usually in very cheap surgery) can damage the liver. 

 It is questionable as a measure to calm a hyperactive dog. 

 It is questionable as a measure to tame an aggressive dog. 

Important final remarks 

As you may have noticed, the new data from the scientific literature are indicating that castration is preferably performed after the bitch's first heat (up to 2.5 years of age), and in males, after complete physical development (around 1.5 years to 2 years for large dogs). These guidelines seek to minimize the negative impacts of the lack of sex hormones on the animal's general health, as well as its physical appearance. 

However, if you are looking for behavioral benefits, such as preventing your dog from riding on legs, or straying from other males, or preventing your working or sporting female from losing days of activity due to heat, early castration (before puberty, for around 6 months), is more suitable. Dogs that are neutered before puberty often show asexual behavior that appeals to many owner profiles, even though they are predisposed to greater health risks. 

Don't trivialize surgery. Regardless of the dog's age, look for a good veterinarian, with experience in surgery, to perform the castration. Despite being a routine procedure, castration – especially for females – requires knowledge and technique. 

A well-done castration surgery certainly costs more than one performed in joint efforts. But it's worth it: the vet will certainly order pre-surgical exams (blood count, electrocardiogram), will perform the surgery calmly, attentive to changes in other organs, will use a safer anesthetic and will guide you on the post-surgical period. 

And finally, you can also choose to keep your dog or bitch "whole", that is, without having them undergo neutering surgery. In the case of female dogs, much more than males, it is important to always be aware of changes such as the presence of lumps in the breasts, purulent vaginal discharge - or any discharge outside the heat period - apathy, etc. If you suspect something, you already know: take the dog to the vet. 

If you intend to mate your Golden, try to follow the guidelines below: 

 Do not mate your male before one year of age. The ideal is to do it after he completes the physical development (2 years). Mating too soon can cause the penile bone to fracture (yes, there is a bone inside a dogs penis). And you can only do the definitive exam for the detection of hip dysplasia from the age of two. 

 Do not mate your female before her third heat. The ideal is to mate after her two years of age, when she is more mature physically and psychologically. And you can only do the definitive exam for the detection of hip dysplasia from the age of two. 

 Do not mate your male or female Golden if he, at 2 years of age, is considered dysplastic (grade D or E of hip dysplasia). This radiological examination should be performed and analyzed by veterinarians with experience in radiology and orthopedics. 

 Do not mate your male or female Golden with dogs without pedigree issued by the Brazilian Confederation of Cinophilia. The pedigree is a document that certifies the origin and genealogy of the purebred dog. 

 Look for the breeder who sold you your male or female so that he or she can guide you on mating, which male or female to choose for the cross, how to proceed, how to take care of the pregnant woman, how to take care of the puppies, register them and etc. . This is very important to ensure that the mating results in a litter that contributes to this breed we love so much. 

References: 

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html 

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHealthEffectsOfSpayNeuterInDogs.pdf  

Source:  http://www.cachorroverde.com.br/castracao.php  (veterinarian: Sylvia Angelico)