Neutering Your Pet Dog: Is This Very Essential?
Contrary to any myths you may have heard, your growing puppy will most definitely not be happier left entire. He (or she) will constantly want to roam, feel incredibly stressed, aggressive and frustrated, and be at risk of various illnesses. Furthermore, your dog won’t be any happier if you allow him to breed once or her to have one litter of puppies. What your dog doesn’t know, he (or she) won’t miss.
Straying dogs are vulnerable to infections and serious health problems, which can lead to great unhappiness for everyone concerned. Although neutering costs money, it is a long-term investment and will undoubtedly save you more on vet’s bills later in your dog’s life.
When should my puppy be neutered?
Male dogs become sexually mature between six and 12 months, and females between seven and 12 months. Traditionally, both female and male dogs were neutered at around six months of age but today, with safer anaesthetics and better surgical techniques, many vets advise neutering as early as eight weeks. research has shown no adverse effects of early neutering.
Benefits of Neutering
Males
- Removes the sexual urge and the chances of him wandering off (and perhaps getting hit by a car or injured in a flight).
- May reduce certain types of aggression.
- Reduces the risk of hormone-related diseases.
- Reduces the risk of anal and perineal cancers.
- Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer.
- Significantly reduces the risk of prostate gland problems.
Females
- Prevents unwanted pregnancies.
- Eliminates the mess and problems of her coming into season.
- Eliminates the urge to roam in search of a mate.
- Stops the unwanted attention of other dogs.
- Helps to prevent uterine infections.
- Helps to prevent mammary, uterine and ovarian cancer.
What Neutering Involves
The surgery is carried out under anaesthesia. A male dog will undergo castration, which involves the removal of both testicles. A female will have the ovaries and uterus removed. Most dogs so home quite happily the same day and suffer minimal discomfort, which is easily controlled with medication supplied by the vet.
Personality and Other Changes
Don’t worry, your young dog should not undergo a personality change as a result of neutering. Generally speaking, behavior will improve as he (or she) will be much calmer, more reliable and less moody. In fact, your pet will be much happier altogether, but his (or her) normal personality will stil be very much in evidence.
In some breeds, neutering can change the coat texture slightly and some owners report that their dogs have a noticeable increase in appetite. If this is not addressed, you risk your pet becoming overweight. If you are worried about any health or behavior issues that arise following neutering, ask your vet for advice.
Home Puppy and Dog Training the Bark Busters Way
|
Happy Dog Tip Animal shelters are full of dogs that have been picked up as uncastrated strays. Don’t let this happen to your happy hound. |
November 29th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Look I know we need to stop animals overbreeding but can’t we just give puppies a vesectomy and cut the fallopian tubes on female dogs? Then they all get to have happy dog sex and no puppies - everybody wins and I do not have to feel guilty. I know I would not like some superior being to sneak up on me and cut me knackers off…if any race is overbreeding it is humanity not dogs!
November 29th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Neutering is wrong. We once neutered a 2yr old German shepherd and we killed his soul. He looked sad, bored and lifeless all the time. He didn’t care what was happening around him anymore, even strangers did not arouse his interest. Poor chap, he was called Pippo
November 29th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
While I can understand some animal lover’s concerns over this as stated above, to my experience you’re all speaking out of ignorance.
First off, I have 2 American Pit Bulls. One male, the other female. My female, Zowie, has been fixed since around 6 months old and she’s the most gentle and loving dog in the world. Always rambunctious (sp?) and is so incredibly smart that it’s scary at times. She even knows how to wink back at someone that winks to her (yea, REALLY). They’re both 7 years old now. My male isn’t fixed… I’m wanting to breed him in a couple of months.
As far as my male, Rebel, goes… he’s still a big giant puppy. He has TOO much energy and is always wound up. He has ran off a few times and I’m sure he has some rebel puppies around somewhere, but honestly I feel bad for the poor guy never able to get any.
In regards to Pepe’s statement:
Killed his soul? Perhaps that has something to do with neutering him while he was TWO FREAKING YEARS OLD. Ok sorry to be a little jerk there, but I mean geez why the hell would anyone wait that long to fix an animal? That’s rediculous, and I would blame you for “Killing his soul” and not the actual process of the neuter, as I’ve never heard of fixing a dog that late in life. I’m sure it would do the same to you if we cut your sack off at the age of 20 instead of when you’re a baby.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
So much unnecessary misinformation is bad for this cause. All dogs we ever owned were spayed/neutered for good reasons and it is OK for them. However, doing spay and neuter definitely alters body chemistry both in behavior and function saying that it does not is one unnecessary lie.
Second and more dangerous one is early spay-neuter, pushed by “animal welfare” people. It is trivial biology to find out how hormonal changes impact growth and development, mostly to the determent of the affected animal (including humans). It is a lie to say it does not. Finally many “improvements” mentioned are just conveniences for the lazy owners, not the advantage for the animal.
Do spay/neuter your pets after they reach full maturity if you do not have any highly important reason to breed them in order to prevent some diseases and unintended procreation. Be aware you are seriously affecting their biology doing this, both mentally and physically.
November 29th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Pepe: I think the article makes it evident that the age at which the procedure is performed bears some significance, as it’s done as early as possible, before the onset of sexual maturity. The dog in your case was well past that, and it makes sense that it would ruin the dog’s personality.
I suppose then that if you can’t get it done prior to canine puberty, it shouldn’t be done at all, with the preferred option being neutering prior to adulthood.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I second Shiderly’s opinion here. All my critters have been spayed and neutered but it happened very early on in their lifetimes. They are as crazy and active as any dogs with all their junk intact. In fact, they can get downright aggressive at times. If you wait too long, yeah, that would be a *bad* thing!
November 29th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Wow Denise, I’d take your point more seriously if you weren’t a spammer?
November 29th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
>He has TOO much energy and is always wound up.
If that’s in his nature, then LET HIM have it.
>He has ran off a few times
Maybe that’s what they want to do. Let them fight, let them die fighting if they must. Why IMPRISON an animal on a house by altering its chemistry? Just so you can have a fur ball to pet?
As you guessed, I am against neutering. Let them live *and die* the way mother nature intended them to.
November 29th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I think the “vesectomy/cut the fallopian tubes” is best.
No one has the right to destroy anyone’s reproductive systems.
Besides changing the dog’s body chemistry it is immoral.
Would you do it to your retarded brother? Because that’s what pets are. Family. Not property.
Now if his/her life depended on it. Yeah, because it’s family.
And Dude…. What the fuck is wrong with you cutting your dog’s sack at two years?
That should be illegal.
November 29th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
A lot of people who own dogs have no idea they have feelings, and because they don’t know, they feel perfectly at ease with doing anything at all to them.
“It’s for their own good. They’ll be so much happier.”
Yeah, right. The same type of reasoning, based on a lack of understanding about dog feelings, opens the door to “We’re moving into a new house, and we just can’t keep the dog. He’s free if you want him.” Or, worse “We’re getting new carpet. The dog has to go.”
Basically, they think dogs are mobile entertainment devices, with no desires or feelings — or rights — of their own.
OF COURSE the “research” into early neutering shows no adverse affects. It’s done by the same type of people who did the research showing that cigarettes were totally safe. Those same people could — and once did — prove that human lobotomy is perfectly safe and effective.
Any of you neutering freaks ever really LOOK at a neutered adult dog compared to an intact one? Neutered dogs are often overweight and unhealthy.
As to that prostate cancer argument, the same is true of humans. But how many humans are volunteering to get castrated as a way to prevent it?
As to the “wandering off” argument: Dogs “wander off” because they’re bored. If you give them enough attention, take them on hikes, play with them, they don’t wander off. If you don’t plan to spend time with your dog, the solution is not to send them off for surgery for your convenience. The solution is: don’t get a dog.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:40 am
My intact Male akita has a bitch, and he’s happy! At one time, free puppies were everywhere and it was a problem. Have you noticed what a puppy goes for these days? Everyone hacked up the genatalia of their dogs, now puppies go for good $. At least, it covers the expense of owning a couple of dogs (don’t do it for the cash, do it for the fun and to cover costs).
Do yourself a favor, get your dog a mate. He’ll keep himself occupied, they’ll both be happy.
And you get dog porn when he’s in the mood
He doesn’t need to wander, because he gets it at home.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:47 am
I have had many dogs, spayed, neutered, and intact. I’ve had shelter/rescues and show dogs. I have had spazzy dogs that are full of energy and they were neutered and spayed and I’ve had calm dogs that are both intact and fixed. The age of a dog USUALLY has no impact on you getting the dog fixed. Please remember I said usually, there are always exceptions, no matter what the case.
There are many reasons why people should get their pets fixed. Most of these have already been stated. But…
If you do keep your dog unaltered it is imperative to keep him or her on leash when you are out (excepting dog parks) and in a yard were they really cannot get out. Males will roam for miles after the scent of a female in heat. Females will also try to escape if they think that there is a male out there that will want to mate.
There is no excuse for mutt puppies. A good personality is not a good excuse for mating your dog even if it is to a dog of the same breed. The only reason for there to be a breeding is to further the breed itself. (making the breed better)
There are so many unwanted dogs that get put down every month and its not just older dogs. Puppies get put down every day because there isn’t enough room to keep them all in the shelters.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:55 am
This article is completely one-sided - it doesn’t list any negative effects of neutering dogs (which, of course, there).
A good article would present facts and allow the reader to decide what to do. This is not a good article.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:55 am
“Removes the sexual urge and the chances of him wandering off (and perhaps getting hit by a car or injured in a flight).”
Thereby removing the reason for the animal being alive in the first place.
You are barbaric scum, I hope someone neuters you so you can’t pass on your own children.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
“Denise Says:
November 29th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I will never neuter my dog. She is fine the way she is, why change her to reduce the “mess” she leaves? It’s sad.”
This shows ignorance as a human being, not just a pet owner. First of all, you don’t ‘neuter’ a female dog, you get them spayed. You make me sick, she is not fine the way she is. The reason there are so many helpless pets in shelters is because of this type of mentality. What is sad is that your dog will go through heat over and over which is mentally stressful for the dog because they feel that they need to mate. This causes all kinds of personality defects and is physically painful for the dog. Please educate yourself and stop contributing to animal suffering.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Oh and by the way, before anyone assumes I have no experiance with this. I have helped raise and foster over 3000 cats and dogs in the last 5-6 years. We have a second house dedicated to helping to rehabilitate abused animals. I am not obsessed, nor am I for outrageous animal rights.
However, anyone who claims there is not a population problem with dogs and cats obviously has never worked or volunteered for a shelter. The number of animals you see who are adoptable are tiny compared to the amount stored behind closed doors. There is a huge problem and hundreds of dogs and cats get put to sleep on a daily basis. If you really cared about the animals you would prevent breeding so that they CAN live a wonderful fulfilling life. Sadly this doesn’t happen for the majority of animals as they sit in cages for months and get put to sleep for the smallest reasons. At our local humane society population is out of control and thus they have to put them to sleep if they sneeze a single time. This is one of the highest rated Humane Societies in the country.
December 2nd, 2007 at 11:23 am
Brent, there’s definitely a population problem with dogs and cats.
You’re mistaking the best approach to dealing with that larger-scale GENERAL problem with the approach each and every owner should take in relation to their own SPECIFIC pet.
They’re not the same thing. As a pet owner, I choose to treat my dog as MY FRIEND, and not as some random example of a larger general population.
But then again, I think most people with pets have no idea what they have, and probably shouldn’t even have them.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:40 am
does anyone have an answer on whether I should adopt a male golden retriever dog that is not neutered? I have a 5, 8 year old kids..I am afraid of male agression.
Also, what will happen if I neuter him at this point? If he already humps, or has marking problems, how am I to know, and will neuter at this point reverse the problem?
January 14th, 2008 at 12:43 am
I love your site. I found your blog via Google while searching for dog park and your post regarding ; How To Have A Happy Dog looks very interesting to me. It really looks very nice. The articles provided are long enough to provide great content but not so long as to be totally engrossing, if you know what I mean.
January 20th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I cut my dog’s nuts off and behaved better. A beautiful American staffie that he is and NEEDED to get them off. What we should start doing is going around and cutting the nuts of people who don’t cut their dogs. It would be a start on the RIGHT foot.