Off to the vet next week to get my boy checked out for an adenoma (rubbery black mole type thingy on bottom caused by excessive testosterone I believe).  I am fully expecting her to say that he needs castrating to stop the testosterone - he's 2 years old.    My question is that I don't know what to expect.  How long will he have to stay with the vet - how long to recuperate - will he wear a collar to prevent licking the wound.  Will there be stiches and will they have to be removed or will they dissolve.  My only real concern about the operation is that he is quite a sensitive little thing and most things scare him(despite the testosterone) and I don't know how the op will affect his behaviour.  I know it's difficult to judge but any clues on how it might affect behaviour.

When my boy was done 5 years ago, he was very nervous at the vets because he was a rescue. The vet let me stay with him in the waiting room until the sedative took effect (the vet couldn't believe how long it took - he kept poking his head round the corner until Bramble stopped barking at him :D ). Bramble was a bit groggy that evening when I collected him - but was back to normal the next day. He didn't need a collar - he did lick his stitches a bit, but we had no problem with him - he healed up very quickly and the stitches came out in just a few seconds and that was that :) Obviously some people encounter problems with it, but we had none.

Daisy

If your dog is nervous now - the op may make him a bit more nervous. Bramble tends to run from other dogs if he is not sure about them :)

That's nice to know.  Thanks Daisy.

I got my dog done at 1 1/2 years. He went into the vet fine and left fine and still doesn't mind going back to them he gets excited. He wore a collar but was jumping around crashing into things next day. His nature is still the same aswell good luck.

That's also good to know.  Hope that I can expect the same.  My husband seems to be taking the whole thing rather badly.  I always said that I wouldn't have him (the dog) castrated unless there was a sound medical reason.  I have come to terms with the possibility but my husband isn't happy at all.  Must be a man to man thing.

Good news this time for Oscar.  Just come back from the vet and the black rubbery thing is pigment that is growing normally for his age.  What a relief - his tackle can remain with him  - for the time being.  That's what I call a nice Christmas present.