difficult decision,...ideas? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

neil_ali · 01-31-2008, 12:05 PM

hey, today we took chip to the vets to get his 2nd injection, and the vet was talking about geting him castrated. there are pro's and cons to this, and i dont know whether or not we should do it, do any of you have any advice, we only have chip, and arent going to be getting any other dogs, but i dont know whether or not to get him done for the sake of other owners. any help would be a big hand. cheers

i know that this is in the other forum, but i thought i would see if there was anyone who checked this but not the other...any ideas PLEASE!

ARCHIE · 01-31-2008, 12:12 PM

IMO if your not going to use him to breed I would not hesitate to have
him nutered. It's much cleaner and healther for your pet. It does prevent
some cancer's in the future also. Plus there is no risk of him getting to
a female in heat and bringing unwanted puppies into this world.
I would never own a male dog without getting him nutered.
Of course everyone has their own thoughts on the subject but it
just makes sence to do this.

Lorrie · 02-01-2008, 05:25 AM

I've been gone for a lifetime and just started visiting/lurking YT again but I thought I'd step up to a post, just to support the Euros you understand.

Some pros and cons from:
Drs Foster and Smith - well regarded in the US, I believe.
Glad to see they use the term "castrated" - saw your other post

http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=911
and
The Dogs' Trust - large UK rescue centre
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/informat...ons/neutering/

In general, it looks like neutering of both sexes is the way to go unless you intend breeding... doh, goes without saying, of course

. Having said that I must say I had the devil of a job to persuade my vet to castrate my puppy. She was very reticent about it and asked lots of questions. In the end I had to claim it was part of the purchase contract (even though such contracts are not nearly as common here as in other countries - why is that?). We had the works: microchip, castration, one retained puppy tooth pulled and a bit of teeth cleaning. My 4 month old Maltese came through with flying colours: he was a bit moody the afternoon I brought him home but more than ready for his food and a gentle playtime by the evening. Next morning it was as if nothing had happened. He didn't pay any attention to the stitches but I had to be careful he didn't get too active in case he messed them up.

Good luck in your decision.

Meggie · 02-01-2008, 06:22 AM

I suppose it depends really.
I've kept both entire & neutered males, but the decision for me was based on the circumstances at the time.

My entire dogs were show dogs, you can't show a castrated dog in this country under Kennel Club rules, except in very special circumstances for medical reasons. And because they did well at shows they were in demand as stud dogs, & I used them to mate some of my bitches. They weren't yorkies but a couple of bigger breeds & they didn't have the run of the house as we had specially built, fully equiped kennels.

Now I just have one male, a Yorkie, & he is castrated.
I knew that I wasn't going to show him, he's just my shadow. He lives in the house. I also have bitches living in the house, some of whom being of a breed at the top of the Kennel Club's "At risk" native rare breeds, as well as being show dogs, I have no intention of having spayed.
It would have been an absolute nightmare having my little dog living with them "entire" ....he humps them enough when they're in season as it is!

There is definately a difference between castrated & entire male dogs.
My little one had begun to lift his leg, sometimes indoors, before I had him neutered at 8 months. That stopped entirely afterwards. He's also far more affectionate & interested in me than my entire ones were.
Don't misunderstand, they were very loving & obedient, but if they got any wind of a bitch in season they were always on the look out for the main chance.
I once watched as one, small terrier, scaled a 6 foot chain link fence to reach one of my bitches in season!
And even though our place is like Fort Knox with the walls & fencing, another one was worse than Hudini as an escape artist if he thought there was any chance of a willing bitch in the village.

They could also howl like the best male voice choir

So if he's to live in the house & you've no intention of showing him, you might have an easier life with him if you have the op.

As to health benefits, I know the theory, but have to say that in all the years I've owned them I've had not one case of male cancer or other specific male related problems, & some of them lived to be 18+ years, one was 2 weeks away from his 20th birthday.

01-31-2008, 12:05 PM	#1
neil_ali Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lowestoft UK Posts: 68	difficult decision,...ideas? hey, today we took chip to the vets to get his 2nd injection, and the vet was talking about geting him castrated. there are pro's and cons to this, and i dont know whether or not we should do it, do any of you have any advice, we only have chip, and arent going to be getting any other dogs, but i dont know whether or not to get him done for the sake of other owners. any help would be a big hand. cheers i know that this is in the other forum, but i thought i would see if there was anyone who checked this but not the other...any ideas PLEASE! __________________ Neil Ali and Chip

01-31-2008, 12:12 PM	#2
ARCHIE Owned by "Buddy" Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 9,723	IMO if your not going to use him to breed I would not hesitate to have him nutered. It's much cleaner and healther for your pet. It does prevent some cancer's in the future also. Plus there is no risk of him getting to a female in heat and bringing unwanted puppies into this world. I would never own a male dog without getting him nutered. Of course everyone has their own thoughts on the subject but it just makes sence to do this. __________________ Carol Buddy ~MEMBER OF THE S.R.C. AND TEAPOT CLUB~

02-01-2008, 05:25 AM	#3
Lorrie No Longer a Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 94	I've been gone for a lifetime and just started visiting/lurking YT again but I thought I'd step up to a post, just to support the Euros you understand. Some pros and cons from: Drs Foster and Smith - well regarded in the US, I believe. Glad to see they use the term "castrated" - saw your other post http://www.peteducation.com/article....&articleid=911 and The Dogs' Trust - large UK rescue centre http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/informat...ons/neutering/ In general, it looks like neutering of both sexes is the way to go unless you intend breeding... doh, goes without saying, of course . Having said that I must say I had the devil of a job to persuade my vet to castrate my puppy. She was very reticent about it and asked lots of questions. In the end I had to claim it was part of the purchase contract (even though such contracts are not nearly as common here as in other countries - why is that?). We had the works: microchip, castration, one retained puppy tooth pulled and a bit of teeth cleaning. My 4 month old Maltese came through with flying colours: he was a bit moody the afternoon I brought him home but more than ready for his food and a gentle playtime by the evening. Next morning it was as if nothing had happened. He didn't pay any attention to the stitches but I had to be careful he didn't get too active in case he messed them up. Good luck in your decision. Last edited by Lorrie; 02-01-2008 at 05:26 AM.

02-01-2008, 06:22 AM	#4
Meggie YT Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lancashire, England Posts: 410	I suppose it depends really. I've kept both entire & neutered males, but the decision for me was based on the circumstances at the time. My entire dogs were show dogs, you can't show a castrated dog in this country under Kennel Club rules, except in very special circumstances for medical reasons. And because they did well at shows they were in demand as stud dogs, & I used them to mate some of my bitches. They weren't yorkies but a couple of bigger breeds & they didn't have the run of the house as we had specially built, fully equiped kennels. Now I just have one male, a Yorkie, & he is castrated. I knew that I wasn't going to show him, he's just my shadow. He lives in the house. I also have bitches living in the house, some of whom being of a breed at the top of the Kennel Club's "At risk" native rare breeds, as well as being show dogs, I have no intention of having spayed. It would have been an absolute nightmare having my little dog living with them "entire" ....he humps them enough when they're in season as it is! There is definately a difference between castrated & entire male dogs. My little one had begun to lift his leg, sometimes indoors, before I had him neutered at 8 months. That stopped entirely afterwards. He's also far more affectionate & interested in me than my entire ones were. Don't misunderstand, they were very loving & obedient, but if they got any wind of a bitch in season they were always on the look out for the main chance. I once watched as one, small terrier, scaled a 6 foot chain link fence to reach one of my bitches in season! And even though our place is like Fort Knox with the walls & fencing, another one was worse than Hudini as an escape artist if he thought there was any chance of a willing bitch in the village. They could also howl like the best male voice choir So if he's to live in the house & you've no intention of showing him, you might have an easier life with him if you have the op. As to health benefits, I know the theory, but have to say that in all the years I've owned them I've had not one case of male cancer or other specific male related problems, & some of them lived to be 18+ years, one was 2 weeks away from his 20th birthday.