If you have a male puppy, then it is only a matter of time before you will need to have him neutered. This may have you feeling a little apprehensive as a pet owner, and understandably so, as neutering is surgery. However, the more you know about having a dog neutered, the more comfortable you are likely to feel. Here are a few questions that owners of young male puppies often have about neutering.

How is the procedure performed?

Neutering is actually a pretty simple surgical procedure — a fact that should leave you feeling assured and comforted. The vet will make a small incision in the dog's scrotum. They will then remove the testicles through that incision and tie off the vas deferens. Since no incisions need to be made in the abdomen, neutering is pretty low-risk and easy for your puppy to recover from.

How long will your puppy need to stay at the vet's office?

Since neutering is such a minor procedure, most puppies can return home the same day they are neutered. Your vet may, for example, want the puppy dropped off at 9 am and then picked up at 5 pm after a brief period of observation. 

How can you manage your puppy's pain after neutering?

As mentioned above, neutering does not cause a terrible amount of pain since there are no abdominal incisions, but your vet will likely prescribe a pain medication to ease the pain that your puppy does have. You will need to give your puppy this medication orally for a couple of days. You can also keep your puppy's pain under control by making sure he does not jump onto anything or climb any stairs for about a week. If your puppy is welcome on furniture with you, pick him up and set him on the couch, rather than expecting him to jump. Make sure his food bowls are easily accessible, and block off any stairs when you're not able to directly supervise your puppy.

What are the benefits of neutering?

Why put your puppy though this procedure? For one thing, neutering will keep a male dog from straying once they are older. It also helps curb aggression. And perhaps most importantly, it will keep your dog from breeding with females, resulting in unwanted litters of puppies. Neutering also prevents testicular cancer, which is quite common in male dogs.

If you have any further questions about neutering, reach out to your veterinarian. 

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