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Topic: Neutering less than a year old ok?
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ruth27
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posted April 28, 2004 04:55 AM
Would anyone know why my vet suggested I neutered my male pup when he was over a year old? He's 5months now and was planning to have him fixed when he reached 7months. Are there any advantages to neutering your pup earlier than a year old? any advice would be appreciated.
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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lou3
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posted April 28, 2004 05:56 AM
BIG advantages, i have no idea why your vet said not to do it before a year old ![[Confused]](confused.gif) . A dog should be neutered as soon as he is big enough to cope with the anaesthetic to prevent him developing the undesirable "stud" behavior (and smell ewww). Most vets will recommend around 6 - 9 months depending on the dog and stage of development. We had an 8month old pup castrated about 6 months ago and he's fine.
Some people think it stops them growing but this is NOT TRUE. If anything an early castrated dog will be TALLER than an uncastrated dog.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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ruth27
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posted April 29, 2004 04:57 AM
Thanks Lou! I guess I'll be fixing him at 7months then. Here in the Philippines, fixing our dogs aint that popular and as a result of this, theres a huge number of stray dogs wandering around the streets. When I told my brother in law that I was going to fix cocoa, he immediately showed his dismay and said it was inhuman of me to take away his manhood...blah blah blah! I guess his thoughts speak for majority of ignorant pet owners here in Manila. If not for this forum and my interest in reading books and informative stuff about dogs, I too would probably have thought that way too. Just yesterday, I was fortunate enough to meet an animal organization who were neutering/spaying for free! Not that money was ever the issue but if I can get it for free then why not, right? So, i'm totally happy that breeding awareness and pet responsibility is starting here in Manila. Stop with my blabbing....Thanks again Lou! But if anyone would have any insights on why my vet suggested neutering him after a year old, I would really appreciate it. Thanks!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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lou3
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posted April 29, 2004 08:14 AM
It can in a very small minority of cases cause problems with the urinary system. (this is more so in b.itches) as such some vets may prefer to wait until the dog is a little older.
Also i think i mentioned some people think it affects their growth.
It is also a slightly greater anaesthetic risk in very young puppies (but by 7 months this should not be significant) Body weight is key so as long as the pup is well grown for its age it will be fine.
Hope this answers your question better.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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PUP4ME
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posted April 29, 2004 08:41 AM
My dog was neutered right before we adopted him from a rescue about 4 weeks ago. He's about 11 mos. and since we've had him, he has developed an intestinal situation (diarrhea and vomitting). The vet put him on three different pills stating that he had a bacterial growth possibly arising after being neutered. She said his immune system could have could have suffered and therefore could have caused his uncomfortable situation. He had never had one accident in the house in the three weeks since we adopted him so when this situation arose out of the blue we were pretty concerned to say the least. Hopefully we nipped it in the bud and he will will be back to normal in a day or two!
Posts: 8 | From: Maryland | Registered: Apr 2004
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lou3
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posted April 29, 2004 02:41 PM
dogs in large kennels are more prone to picking up infections unfortunately - that wont be anything to do with his age. It would probably have happened no matter how old he was.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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ellierat
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posted April 29, 2004 03:16 PM
Hi Ruth, not only is it ok to neuture before then it is highly recommended in Oz.
If you don't want that lifting of the leg inside your house do it by 6 months, once you see him starting to lift it is too late, as maturity has set in.
I have not heard of too many people haveing probs. with early sterilizations, the only one being that the testicles had not fully discended into the scrotum.
Ask another vets opinion, so long as there was no medical reason for your particular dog, I have never heard of this.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Lab*Hound*Girl
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posted April 29, 2004 06:57 PM
Simple for me to answer, lol... Yes, it's okay to neuter your dog before the age of 1 year.
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posts: 12 | Registered: Apr 2004
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ruth27
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posted April 30, 2004 04:17 AM
Thanks so much for all your responses! Really big help! Just one more minor question about the lifting of one leg....would they still do that even if there are no females in my flat and they really have no other access to females nearby. I always thought they marked their territory when they sensed there were females around but given that there arent, will that still apply? Aside from my shih tzu who I will be fixing, I also have a male pug which I dont plan to fix given that he's got great genes. So will it follow that when he turns 6months as you had mentioned, he will start marking his teritory all over my unit even if theres no female scent nearby to even introduce him the act of sex? Sorry to be so blunt abt that ![[Wink]](wink.gif) I know this second question might strike most if not all of you as common sense but I've gotta ask Thanks!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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lou3
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posted April 30, 2004 03:11 PM
dogs mark instinctively - its actually much more likely to happen if they live with another male than a female.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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sander
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posted April 30, 2004 04:32 PM
It is becoming common practive to neuter and spay puppy and kittens as early as 8-10 weeks of age. I can't understand why your vet has suggested over a year. Perhaps you should ask.
Sander
Posts: 9 | From: canada | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 02, 2004 03:46 PM
Ruth, as Lou said, yes he will lift his leg, it is instinctive, normally around puberty in your dog, he will start to do this, even without any female, if you have another male, even if he is castrated, your uncastrated male will look upon him as competition. The only way you could possibly prevent it is if he is completely housetrained beforehand, and you watch him carefully and correct the behaviour. But if you smell urine in your house, you have 1 guess at who is doing it.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Barbara Smith
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posted May 02, 2004 05:23 PM
You can have your dog neutered by the age of 6 mo. without having problems. Sometimes certain vets don't do something exactly right and that can cause a problem. This may be the case in your dog. I live in Va. and absolutely the vets do not reccomend, nor will they neuter or spade before the age of 6 mo.
I would suggest that you see another vet. Sounds as though your's does not know what he is talking about unless you misunderstood!
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Barbara Smith
Posts: 127 | From: Norf.,Va | Registered: Apr 2004
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ruth27
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posted May 03, 2004 06:20 PM
i asked my vet yesterday why she had suggested I neuter cocoa after a yr old and she said its because his early testosterone levels play a huge part in his development. After one year then all his testosterone levels are considered excess and arent needed anymore. I dont know if i makes sense but when she discussed it with me, it sure kinda did So i guess I'll just be a good patient and heed her word.
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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ruth27
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posted May 03, 2004 06:21 PM
Thanks by the way for all your insights! Really appreciated it!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 03, 2004 08:24 PM
Ruth, the hormone levels your vet is talking about I have never heard of it enhancing the growth of your dog. Many studies indicate that a neutered dog might grow taller but these hormones will negatively impact his dominance/aggression factor.
My vet recommends neutering females around 6 months because it is an invasive surgery but male pups can be neutered earlier.
It is your choice but you should weight the advantages/disadvantages of having a mature, reproductive male in your household.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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lou3
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posted May 04, 2004 12:59 PM
yeah your vet is slightly wrong on that one, testosterone is only involved in the development of the reproductive system - which is what you want to prevent by neutering.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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ellierat
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posted May 04, 2004 03:27 PM
Yes that is absolute CR_P excuse the language, go to another vets. 6 months of age the norm.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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yhtac
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posted May 05, 2004 06:01 PM
This is something you need to talk to your vet about after all he/her is your dogs doctor and if you trust him/her you should listen to him/her and he should want what is best for your dog ,There maybe a reason why he wants you to wait.And if you don't trust him/her find a new vet.
Posts: 13 | From: michigan | Registered: May 2004
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ruth27
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posted May 06, 2004 03:04 AM
Thanks guys! To be honest, I'm still so confused with what I should do. I know you guys make sense and I do believe you guys know what youre talking about but I'm quite reluctant in offending my vet by not following her. I know this may sound rubbish but we dont have alot of good vets here and she is one of the best so Im quite reluctant to offend her in any way. Oh well, I will give this some thought and will tell you what Ive decided in a week. Thanks so so much guys!!!!
Posts: 126 | From: Manila,Philippines | Registered: Jan 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 06, 2004 06:31 AM
Simply tell her the truth. That your puppy is maturing and developing traits which you don't want (i.e. marking) and can she please do the neutering sooner.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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