[Nancy1999]

Sorry you had such a bad experience the first time, and, I hate to disappoint you, but I've got to tell you I think you are a very good mama! You are trying to learn what best for your particular dog, and that's good! I've got to say, that I'm a little disappointed when receptionists give out medical advice. They know a little something, but sometimes a "little" knowledge is a dangerous thing. Truth is, your sister is right, it's always risky whenever they use anesthesia, and small dogs need to only use certain types of anesthesia, so if anything goes wrong the doctor can help them immediately. So it's important for your doctor to use the anesthesia best for toy breeds.

Eight months is a great time to neuter, most of the adult teeth are in, and the vet can pull baby teeth that haven't come out on their own. The bad thing about waiting much longer then 8 months is that the longer testosterone is in their system, the more likely they are to mark, and once established, marking is hard to eliminate. You have to ask yourself, what causes the most risk, anesthesia, or not neutering? I think the major factor for me in deciding to neuter Joey was the fact that the majority of deaths in male dogs is because of injuries due to car accidents. I know Joey was much more likely to run away before he was neutered. I can now open the front door without panicking. Male dogs can smell a female in heat 10 miles away, and they have a need to find her. If you neuter your boy now, he'll stay the same dog you've always known, instead of changing into an adult male! So neutering is safe, if your doctor is familiar with toy breeds and uses the proper anesthesia. Also, many people recommend getting a blood panel before so that you can rule out other problems that might show up during surgery. Best of luck!