To neuter or not to neuter?

[celstu1]

Hi,
I posted in the general section about getting my boy neutered and someone sent me an article about the pros and cons of neutering that they got from someone in the Breeder Section. I thought I'd start a new post here and get some advice.

My Fletcher is 3.5 years old. For some reason that I really cannot explain I never got him neutered. I had his brother neutered when he was 5 months old. Fletcher is my baby and I am afraid to put him under ... even though he has no known medical problems at all, he's 9lbs, so he's not tiny. I just am afraid with him for some reason.

It has been hanging over my head to have Fletcher neutered, however I am now wondering if I should do it or just leave him intact for his lifetime. That article really was an eye opener. I am not breeding him, nor has he ever been bred. He was never AKC registered since I planned to fix him and have him as a pet only.

I have no problem whether I do or not, besides the marking, I am just wondering what is BEST for HIM. I do have an appt for Jan 30th to get him done and I just want to make sure this is the best thing for me to do for him. Here is the article that was sent to me.

What do you all think? I appreciate any advice!
Thanks!

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongT...uterInDogs.pdf

[paulalowe6]

First off Fletcher is so adorable If he's not registered and you don't intend to breed him and he's marking, why not get him fixed? From what I've read on here, they are happier when neutered. Not dealing with all the hormones. Good luck with your decision. Hopefully someone will reply that can give you more reasons why to have him neutered.
Paula

[jencar98]

Even though I'm one of the world's biggest advocates for s/n, in Fletcher's case I might be inclined to leave him as is. Unless, he had to be put under for teeth cleaning, then I might have him neutered. For females though, I would spay a female unless she was a very old yorkie. For senior yorkies I don't know if the benefit outweighs the risks.

Good luck, whatever your decision - I'm sure he will be fine.

[Yorkiekids]

I find it's not good to go against your gut instincts. If he's been good all this time I would leave well enough alone.

[yorkiekist]

My Mom has one of my boys and has never neutered him(nor bred him). He has never had a problem and does not mark in the house. He is about 8 years old now.
I didnt have my first 2 girls spayed because I was chicken and worried about loosing them under anesthesia. Both, at 10 years of age, had to be spayed due to health problems.
Its not an easy decision to make sometimes.

[bjh]

Just based on what I have read in the article I would not have him neutered if he were my dog. If you trust your vet then you might want to discuss it with him. I do think Fletcher would be much happier just the way he is. If he is already marking then I doubt neutering him will change that behavior.

[Brooklynn]

I would have him neutered. I rescued an 8 year old male yorkie that was never neutered and marked in the house where he lived and that's the reason I got him because he was always marking and he is such a sweet guy and when I talked this friend of mine into sending Murphy to me at 8 years old and when I got him I had him neutered "immediately" and the marking stopped (he went outside to potty and was housebroken in no time) and he has been so happy and healthy and he's now 14 years old. I recommend having him neutered. Fletcher will be happy and healthy

Donna Bird
Brookynn's Yorkshire Terriers

[xoxodoglover89]

Originally Posted by Yorkiekids

I find it's not good to go against your gut instincts. If he's been good all this time I would leave well enough alone.

I agree. Go with your gut on this one. Like you said, he's your baby and if you've been worried about losing him when he goes under, then maybe he isn't meant to be neutered. It's completely up to you though.

If you do decide to neuter him, I'm sure everything will turn out ok as well. Good luck with your decision!

[Potter]

When it comes to neutering, trust your instincts. If you talk to a vet, they are always inclined to talk you in to neutering. I think the benefits of s/n is more for female dogs than male dogs. As long as he is happy and you don't mind him marking, I don't see it being a problem. People always say neutering is the best but it is not so true if you look more in to it. I am very responsible with Pao and I NEVER let him contribute to reproduction and I just wanted the best for him in terms of health and that is also why he gets homecooked food. As for hormone frustration, he really doesn't have one. He is very outgoing and happy go lucky guy.

If they are aggressive maybe it will help but there are also dogs who were originally sweet and became agressive after being neutered. You just never know. I am a chicken too and I have been holding off neutering my Pao eventhough I get the talk every single year at the vet. If they could give me something solid to believe in showing benefits neutering the male dogs are more than the risks, sure I will go ahead. I had a dog that were neutered and he did became very very obese even with exercise and less food.

Mine doesn't even mark in the house, doesn't hump and plays well even with other un-neutered males and he actually enjoys playing with them a lot. The only dogs he doesn't like are jumpy puppies.

[bjh]

I think a lot of people get a male dog that is not housebroke confused with a male who is marking. Males that mark go around constantly hiking their legs on things, often when they don't even have have any pee left in them. A male dog that is not housebroke will hike his leg on something just when he has to pee. Male dogs that are marking tend to do that behavior more when there are females in the house that are in heat. My dogs are potty pad trained but the males do like to hike there legs so to make it easier for them I take a laundry detergent jug filled with water and sit it in the middle of the potty pad and the males pee on that, kind of like a fire hydrant.

Sadly, besides neutering, there are many things we do to our dogs that can effect their health and well being. Rabies shots can cause many side effects that people are not aware of:
What You Should Know About the Rabies Vaccine for Dogs

Flea treatments and heart worm medications also can do harm to our babies. Life is full of difficult choices and sometimes it does get confusing as to what is the best thing to do. Some dogs will do well and some will not. When you combine together all the things we are subjecting our pets too it is no wonder that many of them have serious health and behavioral issues.

[Nancy1999]

I vote for neuter, especially if you live in an area with many busy streets. Unneutered dogs, do run away more often, and are much more likely to get hit by a car.

[YoRkiE Te aMo]

Originally Posted by bjh

i think a lot of people get a male dog that is not housebroke confused with a male who is marking. Males that mark go around constantly hiking their legs on things, often when they don't even have have any pee left in them. A male dog that is not housebroke will hike his leg on something just when he has to pee. Male dogs that are marking tend to do that behavior more when there are females in the house that are in heat. My dogs are potty pad trained but the males do like to hike there legs so to make it easier for them i take a laundry detergent jug filled with water and sit it in the middle of the potty pad and the males pee on that, kind of like a fire hydrant.

Sadly, besides neutering, there are many things we do to our dogs that can effect their health and well being. Rabies shots can cause many side effects that people are not aware of:
what you should know about the rabies vaccine for dogs

flea treatments and heart worm medications also can do harm to our babies. Life is full of difficult choices and sometimes it does get confusing as to what is the best thing to do. Some dogs will do well and some will not. When you combine together all the things we are subjecting our pets too it is no wonder that many of them have serious health and behavioral issues.

i agree..
We are loving our little ones to death ...
With all of the chemicals and treatments, thinking we are benifiting them...but then down the road we see the consequences of it all!

[chachi]

My Male became better behaved after neutering

[Brooklynn]

My Murphy was "Marking" not just hiking to go to the bathroom because he was raised with bitches in season because his previous owner raised and showed bigger dogs. If an 8 year old can stop marking after a neuter so can others. I'm an advocate of neutering to better his health. Why keep the hormones running when you can probably make him a happier/healthier dog without the hormones. I know alot disagree with why change now but in the long run I still and will always believe if you are not using them for breeding spay/neuter!

Donna Bird
Brookynn's Yorkshire Terriers

[celstu1]

Hi all,
Thanks so much for your responses! I am so up in the air about this. My fletcher does mark, he'll lift a leg on anything even if nothing comes out. I need to break that habit IF I don't get him fixed. The thing is Fletcher has such a sweet outgoing personality. He even watches tv!! Its so cute! I am so afraid that getting him fixed will make his personality different. I have 2 boys and my Dexter is fixed. Dexter is a doll and very very cuddly... needy most would say. He became like that after his neuter, before it he was independant and fearless. I don't want my fletcher like that too. Dexter is also dog aggressive. He gets along great with Fletcher but they were litermates so they have always been together, but he is either afraid of or trying to attack any other dog.

When I talk to Fletcher his eyes speak 1,000 words.. he stares at me with all the love in the world radiating from them. Its precious. My Dexter barely stares at me, when he does, its like his eyes are empty. I know he loves his mama but his eyes just don't speak like Fletchers do. Not to mention, Dexter is a 5.5lb peanut... people LOVE him. Everywhere I go he gets all the attention. He is cuddly and tiny. But Fletch, he is a bundle of energy, ears always up, always curious and alert. I would miss his personality so much if it changed. **SIGH** maybe Im dramatizing this more than it should be... but I'm just afraid. thanks for all your help!