Perianal swelling and castration at 9 years old

[Jude19]

Am just looking for advice if anyone has experience of this. I took my dog to the vet this week for a routine ear check. he has lots of environmental allergies and produces a lot of ear wax. Whilst there the vet checked his anal glands as he is regularly scooting, has for years but more so now and I have put this down to his itchiness as anal glands are never very full. However this time the vet noticed slight perianal swelling which he said could get worse and happens often in dogs not castrated ( Mine is 8 yrs old ). He suggested it might be a health benefit to have him castrated as this type of swelling could worsen and become cancerous in the future. I would appreciate and thoughts from people who may have experienced these swellings and castration in later life.

[Finvarra]

Haven?t experienced the swelling, but at his six monthly check when Dylan was around 7 the vet picked up that one testicle was enlarged, and recommended castration as he thought it was a tumour. It turned out to be a benign tumour. The castration made no difference at all to him, he is just the same, hasn't gained weight
One of my previous spaniels had a swollen perianum, and that turned turned out to be aggressive cancer, had an operation but sadly died shortly after.
I personally would err on the side of prevention, as castration isn't a massive procedure compared to the other, but it's your choice of course. Perhaps some others here have some thoughts.
Lots of cuddles and love to your lad 💖🐾

[Jaysmumagain]

Ok so my late Ollie had a swelling on his rump - noticed by his groomer when he was about 11years old the young vet took some fluid and it came back inconclusive....you can imagine our panic!  So we saw the senior vet and she felt around back and under and said with a smile he has an old mans hernia.

He was entire and she said she felt it necessary to combine castration along with the hernia repair to be on the safe side.  So bless him he had the full works.  All went well - seem to remember the baby goes I aquired from Asda and adapted for him to wear to prevent him messing with wound site didn't go down well....but everything was a success.

My sweetheart went on to be over 15 years old. 

Do hope this helps.

[Jude19]

Thank you both for very helpful replies, just what I wanted to hear. I think Fanvarra I will err on the prevention side and so sorry about your sad news. I have since posting this read that if your dog is already castrated any sinister findings can be better dealt with than not. Jaysmumagain, how wonderful you had your baby with you for so long. I think I'll book Jaffa in for the op when we've finished the current ear drops and have his ear wax under control. He's had a build up of wax since a puppy and I've just learned ( after 8 years )that he has longer than most ear canals making it harder to get in to clean them !

[Finvarra]

Love the name Jaffa!
Good idea to keep those ears clean, they can be prone to infection as it's warm and moist down there!
FWIW I think you are making the right decision re the anal thing. Wishing you both all the best.
Lesley