Can neutering help my unneutered dog's hormone-related anal tumor?

Question

We recently discovered a mass just to left of Troy's anus, it does bleed occasionally but he typically passes stool with no issue. He hasn't been neutered. Vet says the tumor is inoperable because it would leave him incontinent. They suggest having him neutered to see if issue is hormone related. I worry about his ability recover from surgery and I don't want to put him through anything unnecessary. Can neutering really help this? Wouldn't hormones have showed up in bloodwork? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 12 years and 6 months old | 70 lbs

Andrea M. Brodie, DVM · Accepted Answer

Many of these anal tumors are fed by sexual hormones such as testosterone. They are dependent on the hormones the body produces naturally (testosterone is naturally produced in the testicles) which makes such tumors grow. If you remove the hormone producing testicles (neutering) the hormone-dependent tumor gets starved and its growth will at least slow down. So castration is definitely advised. Anesthesia nowadays is quite safe and castration is not such a severe surgery. It may give your dog a longer life at a good quality of life.

Can neutering help my unneutered dog's hormone-related anal tumor?

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