Well the answer is...YES. We had an old farmer friend that castrated 7 male coonhounds for us. ALL turned out fine. All are castrated. Of course our vet wasn't pleased but we couldn't afford $120 EACH to have them neutered. We bought penicillan(sp?) from a feed store JUST incase they needed it. But none did.
ETA: Dogs didn't seem painful and still hunted just fine during the process.
Thank you so much Ravencreek! You all had me very scared. My sweet farmer hubby went ahead today and put a ring on my little Chug, Bandit. He seems fine, other than a lot of soreness from other bruises he received from fighting with our lab for dominance on the farm.
That is the reason we decided to "fix" him...he had all his parts and the lab didn't. Being "all male", Bandit thought he should be in charge...and the lab didn't agree. We are hoping this will settle the "pecking" order so that neither will have to find a new home.
Bandit came here as a very sick, flea ridden puppy, a year ago, and I really don't want to have to send him away.
We figured if a calf can/has to deal with the process then the dogs could too. They aren't exactly pets but workers/livestock here on our farm. We have had him band lots of different animals with calf bands. Dogs, calves, sheep, goat, horses, and pigs.
You're also potentially looking at animal cruelty charges for mutilation:
A local humane officer is investigating the case of a border collie that arrived as a stray at the Adams County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently with a bright green rubberband tied around its testicles.
Officer Brandi Luther said the apparent at-home neuter attempt caused a severe infection and "excruciating pain."
"It's completely inhumane," Luther said of the banding practice.
The 4-year-old dog, called "Oakley," is recovering at the facility after two emergency surgeries were performed to treat the infection.
"Banding" is a common neutering practice for young livestock, but Luther said she doesn't recommend it for even those animals.
And the practice is extremely painful on dogs - particularly older ones - because of their different anatomy, she said.
Luther said she is investigating who placed the rubberband on the dog.
The dog's tags traced back to an owner who is in jail, but Luther said she expects someone else was supposed to be caring for it.
Whoever tied the rubberband can be charged with failure to seek proper medical treatment for an animal in their care, she said.
Luther said this is the first time she's investigated this type of case, but she said the SPCA takes in animals "all the time" that have been treated inhumanely.
She said she wants people to know that at-home neuter practices are unacceptable for dogs.
In some cases, at-home medical care for pets is OK. But if there is infection or the problem worsens, pet owners are responsible for seeking professional veterinary care for their animals, Luther said.
"A lot of times owners don't realize when it gets out of hand," she said.
Some owners skirt that responsibility by abandoning the animal, Luther said.
"Instead of taking on their duty ... they dump it or abandon it to us," she said.
Oakley's surgeries cost about $800, and the SPCA is asking for donations to help cover costs.
If you cannot afford proper veterinary care for the animal, the right thing to do is either rehome it or seek out subsidized care.
the person asked if it could be done not moral beliefs.
the simple answer is yes it can be done I know o lots of folks who have done thier male dogs this way! I will pm you with a little more info because I dont want to get flamed!