How old is too old to neuter?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Dieselsmom06 · 02-16-2011, 01:05 PM

My 4 year old yorkie is not neutered... I was considering letting him play stud at one point, but decided not to due seeing how many dogs needs to be rescued, and all the abandoned dog commercials..tears my heart

But anyway, my lil boy is my heart and I'm cringing at the thought of neutering him at this age. One because I dont know if at this age it's more painful for him or needs more recovery time, and two I'm so paranoid about leaving him at the vet especially possibly overnight. He still marks in the house, and I know this can still continue even with neutering him, but we have a spayed maltese who he terrorizes everytime they both go to the groomers for some reason. He comes back like a horny old man

and that lasts a day or two each time.

I apologize if this question has been asked before, I couldnt find it.

misslissa · 02-16-2011, 02:29 PM

I am no expert in fact I have no real idea. but, 4 is not that old,Dogs that end up in shelters are neutered and spayed no matter how old they are.

While I'm sure he will not bounce back like a puppy I'm sure he will be fine.
Leaving a beloved pet at the vet all day is never an easy thing but,if you trust your vet it should be fine If you do not trust your vet to leave him all day or even over night then it's time to find a new vet you do trust.

I am not one to talk really Gatsby at 2 is still not neutered He was anemic as a puppy and now he has trouble with anemia so I am terrified of his going through surgery. I am talking to my vet now about laser surgery because he said it would be safer I still don't know much but you might want to mention it to your vet.

Sammy Mommy · 02-16-2011, 03:16 PM

Sammy was 4 years old when he was neutered. He was in the hospital for surgery for an obstruction and the vet asked if I wanted to have him neutered at the same time. So I told her if she thought he could handle the extra surgery to do it. He did just fine. So I don't think there would be a problem for your dog to be neutered. Good luck!!

Ellie May · 02-16-2011, 03:21 PM

Very good choice to not breed.

Four is definitely not too old to neuter. There is no guarantee that the behavior will stop, but it's worth a try. He should not need to stay overnight. Neutering is a very quick procedure (<10 minutes) as long as his testicles have descended.

Yorkiedaze · 02-16-2011, 03:56 PM

I had a couple of old foster boys who were in their teens that I had neutered, so I don't think age is a problem as long as their health isn't an issue.

Dieselsmom06 · 02-21-2011, 03:03 PM

thanks so much, I feel so much better...

02-16-2011, 01:05 PM	#1
Dieselsmom06 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: East Orange Posts: 2	How old is too old to neuter?? My 4 year old yorkie is not neutered... I was considering letting him play stud at one point, but decided not to due seeing how many dogs needs to be rescued, and all the abandoned dog commercials..tears my heart But anyway, my lil boy is my heart and I'm cringing at the thought of neutering him at this age. One because I dont know if at this age it's more painful for him or needs more recovery time, and two I'm so paranoid about leaving him at the vet especially possibly overnight. He still marks in the house, and I know this can still continue even with neutering him, but we have a spayed maltese who he terrorizes everytime they both go to the groomers for some reason. He comes back like a horny old man and that lasts a day or two each time. I apologize if this question has been asked before, I couldnt find it.

02-16-2011, 02:29 PM	#2
misslissa YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: canton ohio us Posts: 1,574	I am no expert in fact I have no real idea. but, 4 is not that old,Dogs that end up in shelters are neutered and spayed no matter how old they are. While I'm sure he will not bounce back like a puppy I'm sure he will be fine. Leaving a beloved pet at the vet all day is never an easy thing but,if you trust your vet it should be fine If you do not trust your vet to leave him all day or even over night then it's time to find a new vet you do trust. I am not one to talk really Gatsby at 2 is still not neutered He was anemic as a puppy and now he has trouble with anemia so I am terrified of his going through surgery. I am talking to my vet now about laser surgery because he said it would be safer I still don't know much but you might want to mention it to your vet. __________________ Don't say I love you unless you mean it, but if you do say it a lot. People forget.

02-16-2011, 03:21 PM	#4
Ellie May And Rylee Finnegan Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 17,928	Very good choice to not breed. Four is definitely not too old to neuter. There is no guarantee that the behavior will stop, but it's worth a try. He should not need to stay overnight. Neutering is a very quick procedure (<10 minutes) as long as his testicles have descended. __________________ Crystal, Ellie May (RIP), Rylee Finnegan, and Gracie Boo🐶

02-16-2011, 03:56 PM	#5
Yorkiedaze My hairy-legged girls Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: lompoc, ca. Posts: 12,228	I had a couple of old foster boys who were in their teens that I had neutered, so I don't think age is a problem as long as their health isn't an issue. __________________ AZRAEL RAZAEL JILLI ANN

02-16-2011, 03:16 PM	#3
Sammy Mommy Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Posts: 3,896	Sammy was 4 years old when he was neutered. He was in the hospital for surgery for an obstruction and the vet asked if I wanted to have him neutered at the same time. So I told her if she thought he could handle the extra surgery to do it. He did just fine. So I don't think there would be a problem for your dog to be neutered. Good luck!!

02-21-2011, 03:03 PM	#6
Dieselsmom06 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: East Orange Posts: 2	thanks so much, I feel so much better...