CHAPTER III. 
CASTRATION AND SPAYING. 
I, Castration. 
1. The best time to castrate a dog is when he is young, 
although it may be done at any age. 
2. The operation should be performed as follows: Roll 
the dog in a blanket, turning his front legs back and his 
hind legs forward so as to catch them in the blanket, and 
have him held on his back with his hind end stuck out of the 
blanket enough to get at the bag. Take hold of the testicle 
with your left hand, and with a sharp knife in your right, let 
out the testicle by making a cut in the bag large enough to 
let it out. Separate the covering which is attached to the 
back part of the testicle with your knife ; as soon as this is 
cut draw the testicle well up, and if a young dog cut the 
cord off with a scissors, which will stop the bleeding, but if 
an old dog, tie the cord tight with a piece of strong string, 
leaving the ends long enough so that they hang out of the 
bag. Cut the testicle off about one-half an inch below where 
it is tied. Operate on the other testicle in the same way, fill 
the holes with salty butter and let him go. 
II. Spaying. 
The operation of spaying consists of removing the ovaries 
from the bitch to prevent her coming in heat and becoming 
with pup. 
1. The best time to operate is at the age of from six to 
nine months, just before she comes in heat the first time. It 
may, however, be done at any time. We have even per- 
formed the operation upon a pregnant bitch without injury. 
When performed during pregnancy she is liable to lose her 
pups. In any case it is better that she be thin. 
2. Prepare her for the operation by feeding only milk 
for twenty-four hours before commencing. 
3. The instruments required are a sharp knife, a sewing 
needle and string (such as is ordinarily used for wounds), a 
probe (made of a piece of wire about eight inches long, 
rounded on one end to prevent injury when passed into the 
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