Should I Have My Labrador Castrated?

Having your  male Labrador castrated is a common choice. Many veterinarians recommend you have this procedure carried out on your pet at a young age. As a general rule, I prefer not to castrate my own male dogs. I’ll explain a bit about that below.

• How will castration change my dog?
• What are the risks and benefits of castration?

There are benefits and downsides to neutering both male and female dogs, some of which are not often discussed. But I think it’s important to take the time to look at the pros and cons before carrying out an irreversible surgical procedure.

I’ll be looking at the potential effects of castration on the long term health of your labrador and on your ability to manage and train your dog.

Easier to manage?

The truth is that castrating may change your dog in ways you do not expect,  and may not change him at all in ways that you do expect.

People often tell me that they hope and expect that their male dog will more biddable and relaxed after castration.

And they may be disappointed. Many of the changes that sometimes occur after castration, only occur with about half of all castrated dogs.

The success rate of castration in  curing a whole range of perceived problems is not very impressive. Here are some of the things that might happen if you have your male dog castrated

Appearance

If you have your dog castrated before he is mature,  he is unlikely to develop in quite the same way as an uncastrated male.  He may in fact look a little ‘feminine’.

He may also grow a little taller than he would have if you had left him intact. This is because the testosterone that is produced in the unaltered male dog, plays a role in telling your dog’s bones when to stop growing.

And while it doesn’t really matter if your dog grows taller than he otherwise would, the changes that castration makes to bone growth is now known to increase the risk of joint problems. I’ll talk about that in the health section below.

Stopping to pee

One thing boy dogs, including mine, love to do, is anounce their presence by peeing on things. Constant stopping to mark with urine during walks, may be reduced by castration and probably is  in about half of castrated dogs, but there are no guarantees. You can also train a male dog not to do this until they are let off the leash.

Occasionally you hear of an entire male dog that likes to urine mark indoors! In many years of keeping and breeding dogs, this is not a problem I have experienced with my male dogs, but it’s something to consider.

Unruly behavior

I have to tell you that bouncy, lively, and generally boisterous behavior is most unlikely to be reduced as a result of castration. 

Labradors may become calmer as they mature,  but don’t assume this is down to castration.

Boisterous adolescence is normal in male and female Labs and can be challenging. But neutering is not an effective solution.

Roaming

Roaming is one behavior that is significantly improved after castration, because roaming tends to be powered by the testosterone fuelled drive to procreate.

And because roaming is associated with accidents, neutered dogs are less likely to be injured than entire males.

However, this increased risk of accidents is entirely preventable by secure fencing.  I appreciate that if your yard is the size of a baseball pitch that could work out expensive,  in this case a smaller enclosure for your dog might be a solution.

Unwanted pregnancy

Male dogs that are allowed to roam are more likely to father unplanned puppies than males dogs that are kept under supervision. And this simple fact lies at the heart of most of the recommendations I see for mass neutering of all dogs.

Both unwanted pregnancy and accidental injury are associated with uncastrated males, but the statistics are misleading here. It is the lack of supervision, not the presence of testicles that lies at the heart of both these problems.

Dangerous behavior

Some people have their dogs castrated because of concerns about aggression. Aggression can be complicated. Aggression towards people that is based on ‘fear’  is unlikely to be relieved at all by castration.  If your dog has this problem you need to seek help  from an experienced behaviorist.  Your veterinarian should be able to recommend one.

Aggression towards other dogs may be relieved by castration in some cases,  but not all.  If your dog is aggressive, again seek advice from a reputable behaviorist before lopping off his balls!

Health risks and benefits

Vets are often quick to point out the health benefits of castration. These include removing the risk of testicular cancer.  A risk which is actually fairly small in dogs.  And the reduction in prostate problems (not cancers) in older dogs. It surprises me that discussion of the health risks of neutering are often not discussed at all.

For the sake of balance,  it is worth taking some time to consider the potential health problems that have now been associated with this procedure.

Early castration increases the risk of a whole range of cancers in male dogs,  including bone cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer (four times the risk!),  of obesity,  hypothyroidism and dementia amongst other things.  A recent study also showed an association between epilepsy and castration.  Though this relationship is not necessarily a ‘causal’  one,  it is food for thought.

Several studies have shown that there is a significantly increased risk of joint disease in dogs that have been castrated. This can be a very big deal, especially when you consider the high cost of corrective surgery for cruciate ligament repair and hip dysplasia in dogs. This is the main reason that I choose not to neuter my dogs. And if like me, you are interested in engaging in any kind of sport with your dog, then I strongly recommend you look closely at this research and at the risks to your dog before booking that operation.

A 2013 study looked at the outcome of neutering on 40,000 dogs.  You can read about it here.   The findings are interesting and may find it helpful in deciding whether or not to go ahead with neutering.

Your own circumstances

Obviously castrating a dog will render him infertile (though not immediately)  which may be very important to you if you own or are intending to own an entire female dogs as well.  If you have a male dog and a female dog,  neutering the boy is probably the least invasive option.

If your dog is an only dog,  and your property is secure,  it is not a straightforward decision.

Making a decision.

As you can see, castrating your  dog is not necessarily the best thing for him, it depends very much on what you are trying to achieve. Talk to your vet,  get a second opinion if you are still not sure, take some time to do your research and you  will be able to  make the right decision for your dog.

How about you?  Have you noticed benefits or disadvantages to castrating your dog?  Share your thoughts in the comments box below

Further reading

• Long-Term Health Risks and Benefits Associated with Spay / Neuter in Dogs
• Long-Term Health Effects of Neutering Dogs: Comparison of Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers
• Assisting Decision-Making on Age of Neutering for Mixed Breed Dogs of Five Weight Categories: Associated Joint Disorders and Cancers
• A Review of the Impact of Neuter Status on Expression of Inherited Conditions in Dogs