What does the procedure entail and what are the risks? Would the sutures/stitches be internal or external? Approx how much does it cost? 

Would appreciate if you could give me some details or direct me to the relevant web site(s).

Cheers and thanks in advance

2.2.  URINE SPRAYING.  The most common complaint is that the dog lifts one hind leg and marks various spots in the apartment and the sofa set or bits of furniture by spraying urine.  The  owner may not mind this behaviour and tries to discipline the dog by beating, scolding or taking it downstairs to exercise more and to spray outside the apartment.  The dog seems to be aware of the owner's punishment and will not spray urine when the owner is around. 

However, the dog still sprays urine at home when the owner is not looking.  Some family members get fed up with the stench of urine which is not smelt by the owner as the nose becomes insensitive to the odour of urine. Visitors generally comment on the strong smell as the urine odour persists over the years. The smell can be overwhelming to visitors.   

Many owners are not aware that NEUTER can usually stop the dog from spraying urine all over the apartment if the operation is performed early. There will be a very small number of cases where the operation does not work. Neuter the dog when he starts spraying urine at home.  If you wait till a few years later, the habit or the compulsive obsessive disorder to mark territory may not be eliminated after NEUTER. 

2.3  HYPERSEXUALITY is an unsocial behaviour of the dog. He jumps and grips the person with both his legs and starts to mate.  Female visitors scream when the dog does this.  The dog may mount on toys or another dog. NEUTER may help. 

DOG NEUTER.  The dog should not eat or drink within 12 hours before anaesthesia as he may vomit during the surgery. NEUTER is done under general gas anaesthesia at the Toa Payoh Vets.  

A scalpel makes a 5-cm incision on the skin, midline behind the penis and above the scrotum. The testicle is pushed up this opening.  The blood vessels and spermatic cords are ligated with absorbable suture and then cut off.  The same procedure is done on the second testicle.  The skin area is sutured with nylon sutures which should be removed in 14 days. Owners may be able to remove them too.

From 2002, Toa Payoh Vets' veterinary surgeon uses sutures which will dissolve by themselves so that owners need not return for stitch removal. 

RISKS.  The three main risks in NEUTER are death from anaesthesia, bleeding and infections after NEUTER. Modern anaesthetic drugs used are very safe. As to bleeding and infections after NEUTER, much depends on the veterinarian in ligating the blood vessels well and using aseptic techniques.  The owner has to ensure that the operation site is kept clean and not licked by the dog.  

3.0  ANAESTHETIC RISKS.  Healthy dogs usually wake up within 5 minutes after the end of the gas anaesthesia and on their feet within 30 minutes. The most common complaint is the licking at the operation site.  This leads to swelling and redness at the operation site as the dog continues to lick at this area. It is easier to advise the owner to stop the dog licking the operation area and causing an infection. The vet may recommend an Elizabeth collar over the head to prevent licking. 

4.0 POST-OPERATION  COMPLICATIONS.
4.1 BLEEDING. In rare cases, the scrotum may fill with blood after NEUTER. The excessive swelling of the scrotum irritates the dog and is painful. You must  contact your veterinarian promptly. 

4.2  LICKING SCROTAL AND OPERATION WOUND NON-STOP.
Always check the surgery area for the first 10 days after NEUTER to ensure that the dog has not infected it by licking or that it is not an open wound if the dog had bitten off the skin stitches. The dog should rest at home and given some exercise for the first 10 days so that the wound will recover fast and the stitches removed if they are nylon stitches.  Always consult your vet promptly when the dog licks its wound till it becomes red or swollen.  

Sometimes, the e-collar is not large enough to prevent scrotal traumatic licking. The next day, the dog has a big swollen scrotum due to incessant licking for over 24 hours. Consult your vet promptly. 

I find that it is best to let the patient rest for at least 24 to 48 hours before going home, so that its body recovers from the stress and pain of surgery and to minimize licking of the wound. However, Singaporeans want to bring back the pet immediately.   

Although NEUTER can be done at short notice, it is best for the dog, if the owner will starve it for 24 hours, make sure it passes urine and stools before surgery and washes its private parts before going to the surgery. It must be healthy and free of skin disease before contemplating surgery.

As there is no financial incentive for owners, the dog licensing fee remaining the same, most Singapore owners don't get the male dog neutered.

Nowadays, younger Singaporean children are better educated and sophisticated and are against any removal of the sexual organs of their best friend and this may deter parents from taking action even when the male dog marks territory by spraying urine everywhere.