Can a Neutered Dog Still Mate With a Female?

Sterilization is the cessation of reproductive ability in an animal. It can be either permanent or temporary, depending on the procedures used by a veterinarian. For example, it is possible to use medications which can temporarily render a dog infertile, but they will achieve fertility again one the medications stop being administered.

Permanent sterilization in dogs is known as neutering. It is a much more common procedure in veterinary medicine. Not only do veterinarians recommended it for domestic dogs, but it is a legal requirement in many countries and regions. In male dogs, permanent neutering is carried out by castration. This is the removal of the testicles, the reproductive organs responsible for producing sperm.

When a male dog is castrated, the testicles are removed by cutting the spermatic cord and removing the organs, usually directly from the scrotum. Since the testicles are removed, no more sperm will be produced. However, there may still be some sperm in the dog's reproductive tract for some time after the procedure. This is mostly contained in the vas deferens or sperm duct which is used for sperm transportation.

If a male dog mounts and mates with a female while there is still sperm in the reproductive tract, the sperm will be emitted upon ejaculation. If the neutered male dog locks with the female, it is possible they will impregnate them with this residual sperm.

The time it takes for all of the sperm from a castrated dog to be eliminated will vary depending on the individual. Generally speaking, they will still be fertile for up to 7-10 days after castration. It will be very unlikely that sperm will remain after 15 days. Once all the sperm has been eliminated, the dog will be unable to impregnate a female dog.

Dogs should be castrated before they reach sexual maturity, meaning while they are still a puppy. When this happens, the dog is much less likely to carry out sexual behaviors such as mounting a female. When dogs are neutered later in life, they may still try to mount females as this will be an acquired behavior. The dogs may get stuck while trying to mate, but the female eggs will not be fertilized.

Dogs that have been temporarily neutered by processes such as a vasectomy will still produce male sex hormones. This is because the testicles remain intact. In these cases, they will still want to mount and mate with a female in heat, even if they cannot produce sperm. Vasectomy and similar procedures are rarely carried out in male dogs. The veterinarian will be much more likely to perform castrating due to the benefits of neutering male dogs.

Although there is no change of pregnancy, you may wonder whether it is possible for two male dogs to get stuck together.

As we have explained, neutering in male dogs is usually carried out by castration. This is a procedure by which the testicles are permanently removed from the body and sperm production ceases. The sperm may still remain in the dog's reproductive tract. Both sperm and sex hormones may remain for a short period after the dog is castrated.

Once all the sperm has been eliminated, the male dog will not be able to impregnate a female. This means that dogs without testicles will not be able to mate with a female. An exception is the period of around 7-10 days after castration when sperm will still be available.

Despite the inability to impregnate a female, some male dogs may still want to mount. This leads many to wonder can a neutered dog still lock with a female? While this is possible, it is unlikely. Even if they are castrated after they reach sexual maturity, they will not produce many male sex hormones, something responsible for the engorgement of the penis which results in locking during mating.

To know more about this process, we ask can you get two dogs unstuck after mating?

The best way to prevent a castrated dog from mating with a female is to ensure they are kept physically separated until all the sperm has been eliminated. For this reason, we should keep them apart for a minimum of 10 days, but ideally around 10-20 days. This may not be possible for some dogs, especially if it results in anxiety or frustration. In these cases, you will need to keep them under surveillance to prevent mounting.

There are options such as panties for dogs which are usually used for dogs spotting blood when in heat. These are not very effective since a tenacious male can easily remove them if they wish.

Generally speaking, it is best to avoid all contact with females during this initial period after castration. The dog needs to be separated when out for walks or when they are left alone. During the postoperative period, it is important for the dog to be calm for proper recovery. Sensing females in heat will cause him to become nervous, something which needs to be avoided to best ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

If you have both male and female dogs in the home, it is recommended that they be castrated and spayed, respectively. Not only does this prevent unwanted pregnancies, but it improves the health and well-being of the dogs. A female dog may still hump after being spayed, but she will not get pregnant and will also avoid various serious health problems such as uterine infections or cancers which occur in dogs which remain sexually intact.

Learn more about what to expect after your dog is neutered with our related article. You can also discover other benefits of neutering dogs with the video we share below:

If you want to read similar articles to Can a Neutered Dog Still Mate With a Female?, we recommend you visit our Gestation category.