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Castration Risks and Benefits: Dogs
Recent research suggests that the health risks of castration may outweigh the benefits for
most male dogs, although there may be individual exceptions to this. The advice below may
change in the light of future research.

Castration likely to be beneficial in:
Dogs showing masculine behaviours likely to be related to testosterone:
o Escaping to find bitches and showing excessive interest in bitches including
mounting

o Indoor urine marking

o Confident aggression to other male dogs only (particularly entire males)

o Excessive mounting of bedding, people, other items
NB castration should reduce the severity of these problems but may not completely
eliminate them; behaviour modification may also be needed. Castration sooner rather than
later should reduce the effect learning may have in maintaining behaviours longer term.
Dogs that live with or near entire bitches and become very frustrated when
they are in season or if there is a risk of unwanted mating.


Castration may be beneficial in:
Aggression between two entire male dogs that live together: if two entire
male dogs are competing for resources, and do not tend to defer to each other to
diffuse conflict, castrating the slightly less confident dog may help reduce the tension
between the dogs but ONLY if done alongside BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION (advise
behaviour consult before castration).

Dogs showing aggression that does not seem to be motivated by fear, but
ONLY if done alongside BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION to address the reason why the
dog is showing aggression (advise behaviour consult before castration).
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Castration unlikely to be beneficial in dogs showing:
Unruly, over-excitable adolescent behaviour: this will respond better to
reward-based training and appropriate mental and physical stimulation.

Inappropriate predatory, hunting or herding behaviours e.g. chasing
inappropriate targets, digging etc.

Castration may be detrimental in:
Dogs that are generally fearful/ unconfident or specifically fearful of
unfamiliar people, places and being handled:
o These dogs should be left entire if showing no testosterone-related behaviour
problems.

o If these dogs are showing testosterone-elated behaviour problems, behaviour
modification should be implemented first to reduce fear, before considering
castration.

Large breeds of dog, especially those prone to joint problems and
osteosarcoma (e.g. Rottweiler), and active/ performance dogs such as those
engaging in agility, flyball, canicross etc.
o These dogs should be left entire if showing no testosterone-related behaviour
problems

o If castration is necessary, ideally wait until after the dog is skeletally mature (all
growth plates have fully fused).

Dogs with history of vaccine reactions, or auto-immune disease, including
hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Addisons disease (or known history in
close relations): castration can aggravate these problems

Dogs with chronic skin diseases e.g. atopy, ear infections, anal gland
infections: castration can aggravate these problems and may also increase the risk of
dog becoming attractive to other male dogs due to pheromone alteration.

Deslorelin (suprelorin) is currently the best reversible indicator of the effect of
castration and can be used to assess the potential behavioural effects of surgical
castration from 4-6 weeks post-implantation. NB Testosterone initially increases
for 2 weeks after implantation and then falls to post-castration levels after 4-6
weeks.
Caroline Warnes BVSc MSc MRCVS CCAB. April 2013.