neutering cocker spaniel

Question
we have a perfectly healthy 6 year old cocker spaniel - boy - on a recent regular health check a vet commented that she was surprised he still had his testicles and suggested we considered castration as he might be liable to prostrate problems/cancer later in life.  your advice please in view of his age. thank you.

Answer
She's right about the prostate problem potential. Neutering does prevent most prostratic disease and testicular cancer.  It does not decrease the likelihood of canine prostate cancer. And unlike spaying a female, this is relatively quick & easy surgery.  I also wouldn't worry about his age since he's perfectly healthy and six is not "elderly".  My own first boy was neutered at age 6 and was bouncing around the park that evening.

I would, however, be asking your vet what type of anesthesia will be used? (The answer should be isolflurane or sevoflurane)  Do they have equipment to measure blood pressure?  A pulse oximeter?  Are patients intubated to assist breathing if necessary?  Who is monitoring during surgery?

All clinics are not equal and personally I've decided that ANY surgery, no matter how minor, will be performed by a surgeon - not a family vet.  And in a full hospital setting.

If I were you I'd do some reading on the pros & cons of neutering and make sure you're totally comfortable with this decision.  Prostate problems are "common" in un-neutered males and can lead to infection, cysts - even a dangerous abscess.  Enlarged prostate can mean difficulty in defecation.  So you are preventing a lot of possible health problems.

Bottom line:  I wouldn't hesitate to do it IF I were totally comfortable with the clinic's equipment, anesthesia, monitoring during surgery.  If it's an AAHA accredited hospital, your chances are good this will be the case.

Best of luck,
Delores