Do they take the testicles when neutering a dog

Neuter Surgery   (Castration)

A neuter surgery is technically called castration and is performed on male dogs and cats.  During a neuter surgery, the surgeon removes both testicles.  
Below are representations of cat and dog anatomy- there are some minor differences when it comes to performing this procedure on these species. 

Canine Anatomy: this drawing depicts a dog laying on his back. Notice that in dogs, the penis points forward and the penis / testicles are found more toward the belly than the anus (as in the cat).

Feline Anatomy: This drawing depicts a cat laying on his back with rear feet pointing upward. Notice that in cats, the scrotum containing the testicles is located close to the anus. The penis is angled backward and is located very close to the testicles.

In preparation for surgery, your veterinarian should recommend pre-anesthetic blood testing.  Blood testing helps to screen for internal signs of disease or organ dysfunction that may not have noticeable external symptoms.  Your veterinarian should also administer appropriate pain relievers.   

After anesthesia is administered, the pet is laid on the surgery table with the belly facing upward.  The surgery area is shaved of hair and prepared with antiseptic.

In cats, a incision is made through the skin of the scrotum directly over each testicle.  The testicle is manually pulled from the scrotum and cut free. The remaining testicular cord is tied in a knot to prevent bleeding.  The incisions in the scrotum are generally left open and will seal naturally in a few days.

In dogs, a single skin incision is made just in front of the scrotum and each testicle is removed individually through that incision (pictured to the left).  The cord of each testicle is ligated using suture to prevent bleeding and then the skin is sutured closed.  Typically, the sutures are made of a dissolvable material and are placed within the skin so that they do not need to be removed later. The scrotum is not removed during a neuter surgery. 

Your veterinarian should instruct you on how to take care of your pet after surgery.  It is vital that you restrict your pet's activity level for 2 weeks after surgery so that your dog doesn't tear its stitches out.  Your pet will not know to restrict himself, so please keep your dog on a leash and do not allow any unsupervised time outdoors.  Some rambunctious dogs benefit from the use of tranquilizers during this time to prevent over-activity.  While pets do not often show pain in the same way that we do, they will heal faster and more comfortably with pain relief.  You should monitor your pet's incision for redness or discharge and report any concerns to your veterinarian.  Do NOT allow your pet to lick his incision!  You may need an Elizabethan collar ("cone") if your pet tries to lick.

Please take note of the bulbourethral glands identified in the canine anatomical drawing near the top of this page.  These glands are located along the shaft of the penis in dogs.  These glands will sometimes swell when your pet is excited and may be confused with testicles to the untrained eye.  In the picture to the right, the black arrows point at an example of swollen bulbourethral glands.  These are normal and should not be confused with post-operative swelling.

Arrows show swollen bulbourethral glands

Why you should consider neutering your dog:

• Spayed/neutered dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.

• Millions of healthy, temperamentally sound dogs and cats die in animal shelters every year simply because there are not enough responsible homes for all of them. Many more who are not taken to animal shelters are heartlessly abandoned to try to fend for themselves and they, too, end up not surviving.  Neutering your pet helps prevent pet overpopulation.  To put this in prospective, after seven years, one breeding pair and their offspring will produce 80,000 dogs. 

• Neutering reduces or eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease. 

• Spaying/neutering reduces a dog or cat’s desire to roam – thereby reducing the risk that he or she will be hit by a car, injured in a fight, exposed to disease or perhaps come into contact with a human being who may seek to harm them.

• Spaying/neutering reduces fighting and aggression. 
• Neutering prevents urine marking for indoor pets. 

Common MYTHS about neutering:

• "Neutering will make my dog fat".  Neutering does slow a pet's metabolism, but whether he becomes fat is up to you!  Being overweight has more to do with lack of exercise and over eating than being neutered. 
• "Neutering will make my pet a bad hunter or poor guard dog".  Neutering does not change your dog's innate instinct or personality.  Neutering your pet will not change his love for you.