To neuter or not to neuter

[Hosehead]

… we're looking at getting our pup spayed next week.

And Why? Ok you're not going to breed her, you're not idiotic enough to wander around letting it get humped when she's in heat (when that time comes) Is it because of the hassles?

 

[ChilliGirl]

Vet's do not castrate dogs...

They cut the ball bags open. Pop the knuts out, tie it off, and snip. Then the bags are stitched up. = neuter.

Castrate = remove knuts and ball bags completely...

 

[bwana]

And Why? Ok you're not going to breed her, you're not idiotic enough to wander around letting it get humped when she's in heat (when that time comes) Is it because of the hassles?

No, I have no intention of breeding her nor do I want any unplanned accidents. I spend enough time during the year taking photographs for the local shelter to know that I don't want to compound that problem. Spaying doesn't make dogs fat, poor diet and lack of exercise does that all on it's own.

 

[MickZA]

Spaying doesn't make dogs fat, poor diet and lack of exercise does that all on it's own.

... plus over-feeding - pet food manufacturers feeding guides seem to assume we all own dogs that are in perpetual training for the Comrades. There's plenty of advice available on assessing your dogs BMI to maintain a healthy weight.

Our two are fed a weight regulated meal each twice a day and if they don't finish a meal in one sitting it gets picked up, needless to say there's also occasional treats

 

[rubytox]

Vet's do not castrate dogs...

They cut the ball bags open. Pop the knuts out, tie it off, and snip. Then the bags are stitched up. = neuter.

Castrate = remove knuts and ball bags completely...

I have read articles saying that they cut the balls off and if you want to have a male dog still looking normal and intact, they can do implants (similar to breast implant).

Ahh well, I guess it was an old article. I have only discussed the issue of neutering with my vet ... not the procedure, so thanks for the info.

 

[Hosehead]

I have yet to see a female spayed dog two years post op that is not fat.

 

[Roxi_B4b3]

It's best to have your male puppy neutered before 'puberty', then they never learn the bad behaviour associated with the hormones. We had a staffy whom we only neutered at an older age. Even after the proc, he kept marking his territory and ketp that alpha-dog mentality. We now have 2 males, both were neutered between 4 and 6 months of age, and they are really super. None of the behaviour problems we had with the staffy. The one male can do with a bit of weight loss, but that's only because he doesn't get as much exercise as he should. Also remember, if you leave your dog in tact, he has a big chance of getting testicular cancer

 

[rubytox]

I have decided to wait until he is at least 2 years old. He's not a problem, not aggressive and not marking inside the house. He's submissive and our yard is secure. However, no more free running on the beach. We have an enclosed park where he can run his heart out.
Thanks everyone.

 

[Celine]

we had all our dogs neutered and spayed at 6 months. wasn't going to breed any of them so what was the point in putting up with all the hassle of this. none of our dogs are over weight at all. jack russell and jack russell cross both are 13 and 12 and never have had a problem with their weight at all. the pitbull is now 3 and he is also not over weight. the only thing with the pitbull is he thinks he's a female when he pee's, he has never lifted his leg hahahaha. perhaps this was the advantage of having him done when he was young.

 

[rubytox]

we had all our dogs neutered and spayed at 6 months. wasn't going to breed any of them so what was the point in putting up with all the hassle of this. none of our dogs are over weight at all. jack russell and jack russell cross both are 13 and 12 and never have had a problem with their weight at all. the pitbull is now 3 and he is also not over weight. the only thing with the pitbull is he thinks he's a female when he pee's, he has never lifted his leg hahahaha. perhaps this was the advantage of having him done when he was young.

My female dog lifts her leg when she pee's. According to some experts, dominant females lift their legs.
Actually dog behaviour fascinates me. Some dogs fall straight on their backs when my female dog approaches.
She's not really aggressive but she seems to think it is her job to discipline smaller dogs.

 

[The_Unnamed]

I have yet to see a female spayed dog two years post op that is not fat.

Then you clearly don't get out much.

All of our dogs have been neutered or spayed at a young age. (Roughly 4 generations of dogs, all different breeds)
And only one had problems when she got older where she didn't have full control of her bladder. All the others have been 100% healthy and not anywhere near fat.
Our current dogs (2 boerboels, 1 ridgeback and 2 pugs) are fit as a fiddle .

 

[rubytox]

Then you clearly don't get out much.

All of our dogs have been neutered or spayed at a young age. (Roughly 4 generations of dogs, all different breeds)
And only one had problems when she got older where she didn't have full control of her bladder. All the others have been 100% healthy and not anywhere near fat.
Our current dogs (2 boerboels, 1 ridgeback and 2 pugs) are fit as a fiddle .

What do you feed your dogs?

 

[STS]

my family had our neutered hoping it would end his constant humpageand marking of things in the house, turns out he was too old and he just ended up getting fat, he still humps things and marks everything because it was behaviour to him already.

 

[ichigo]

Our male GSD isn't neutered and hes 10 yrs old with no problems and he stays in our back yard behind a dividing fence so no chance of getting onto the road and we got 2 spayed GSD females who get along fine.

The spayed females get fat easily if not fed the correct amount but the male always stays slim so I wouldn't neuter him if he doesnt have a chance to get to the road or around other unspayed females.

 

[rubytox]

There's an easy way to stop a dog from pee'ing on your plants and furniture. Try get Footsak from your Vet store.
Also, when training a puppy, it pays to be VERY vigilant. They tend to go back and pee in the same spots ALWAYS. Worst is when you wash that spot with an amoniak based product, to the animal it smells like pee ... so they keep going back to that spot.

Another lesson I learned the hard way: do not wash the floors with jik or any amoniak based products. Animal urine contains amoniak. When my cats catch a wiff, the cat pee smell follows soon after.

My female dog was spayed last year at age 2 and within 2 months, she was overweight. My dogs eat raw food ... feels terrible when she gets only half of the roll when the puppy gets a whole one. I have one of those Hills containers in the kitchen. My female dog sleeps next to that container. Often times she just stands there staring at the lid. Poor dog ...

 

[MongooseMan]

I spend enough time during the year taking photographs for the local shelter to know that I don't want to compound that problem.

This

 

[Nicci]

The vet told me to make a decision on having Lola (Now 4 months) spayed, before she goes on heat, because once they go on heat, the cancer hormones kicks in.

 

[Kornhub]

The vet told me to make a decision on having Lola (Now 4 months) spayed, before she goes on heat, because once they go on heat, the cancer hormones kicks in.

Also blood on the couch etc

 

[Safferbeauty]

I would say neuter him. It is better. You never know he could escape and try and mate with a female...... We have had all our pets neutered or spayed. We had our husky neutered. In a lot of pets, if you have them done, it usually calms then down...

 

[The_Unnamed]

What do you feed your dogs?

Biscuits for supper and i think either oats or tinned meat for breakfast. (The SO feeds them in the mornings after i have left for work )