There is always that one in a thousand chance of losing the patient when a pet or a human has surgery. It is not common to have a life threatening problem during surgery but anyone who goes under is taking a small chance.
I had a small Maltese puppy that was 6 months old when she went into heat. She nearly died due to a uterine infection she contracted during her cycle. It does not happen every time a dog goes into heat but there is a chance. So I guess life in general has it's dangers. As you said we cannot life in fear. To me it is far better to relieve the pet of dealing with hormonal issues throughout it's life time than to make it suffer with an issue so easily taken care of.

Snip! :)
 

Overall it's your choice to snip or not but even though Jaxson is only 3months old we've already(I've already) decided that we were going to get him neutered when he's old enough! My husband is pretty much set against it but I think it's a guy thing to him & he doesn't get that it's different! He feels he's protecting Jaxsons "man hood" but he'll come around in the coming months after I get the health benefits of it. :) Good luck on whatever you choose to do! :animal-pa

I personally don't like "balls" hanging in my face. I think it's gross. I always say snip, snip, snip!

:yelrotflm

This is also why I prefer a neutered dog! LOL...

Ball in your face???? Don't know the feeling... But I fix my dogs

Each owner needs to intelligently discuss with their vet the pros and cons, specific to their dog/breed to make the best health decision for their pet. Inteliigently means you have done your homework and research.

For example in Golden Retreivers one of the leading causes of death is cancer - actually a specific cancer, hemangiosarcoma. The risk of this cancer goes up significantly with early spay; ie less than one year old, and still the risk is elevated with spayed females.

I believe that Britster has linked an article, that actually references the studies, which support the writer's opinion/elucidation on spaying and neutering.

I will come from the basis not of POPULATION control, but from the basis of overall and long term health of the dog. My understanding of research thus far is, it pretty clearly points for "most" male dogs, there is no overweening health benefit to neuter. The situation for female dogs is unclear, and much more difficult for most breeds to show an overwhelming positive one way or the other.

There is of course an option, one is vasectomy, and the other is tubal ligation. One day perhaps if we the "owners" demand some options that allow the hormones to provide their protective benefits, and also have the "option" of preventing unplanned matings, we may actually have some easier choices.


Behavioural issues; the "norm" of belief is that neutering will for a male dog; eliminate marking, eliminate aggression. The research actually shows not predominately so, in either aspect.

Owners the fact of population control for your dog is quite simply; In Your Hands. It is your adamant responsiblity if you own an un-neutered pet, to not allow any chance of breeding.

As a breeder who does not want any of her pups bred, it would be easy for me to write here and say oh sure go ahead, clearly neutering is ALWAYS the best choice health wise. Unfortunately the research does not back me up. Paramount to me is the future health of my dogs.

LOL! I agree...Not that they were in my face but, I think a neutered dog looks better...who wants to see those things swinging around! :D I just had my little man done 3 weeks ago...,He had no problems at all...matter of fact I had to separate him from his sisters when I brought him home...he wanted to run and play. I agree with spay and neutering unless they are going to be used for breeding.

Yep, I totally agree with you. I think if an owner has done research and get a good vet, its a great thing to do for your pet. Especially for those of us who don't breed and yet the pet still has those hormones. It is a good thing to relieve them of these:thumbup:

Lol, I actually dont have a problem with it. In fact I have always had male dogs (apart for the female puppy who passed) so I think I prefer the balls than the mood swings! I have to deal with my own, and my ma's and my sisters! I'm surrounded by females:rolleyes::p

I agree with everyone

I don't know who is doing the current research on the behavior of unneutered dogs but it is my experience of a number of decades that unneutered dogs have issues. They tend to be territorial and restless. They do on many occasions mark. It is their natural instinct as a whole male dog to be territorial and to mark every where they go. Some, not all, can become aggressive and protective of their area. It can become an issue for a family that wants a calm friendly pet. If there is a female that has not been spayed anywhere within several miles the male will smell it and be effected by that odor. I don't think it takes a research scientist to realize what a whole male is going to want to do when it smells a female in season. Be a good neighbor and spay and neuter your pets.

I have seen way too many trends in scientific research change from decade to decade. What was good by one set of standards changes with the next group of people who get together to crunch their numbers. Use some common sense and do what is best for your family and your pets.

Lots of good information here. I think we have decided to get him fixed. We are going to talk to his vet at his next appointment in a couple of months. He is 6 months old. The factor that cinched it for us is our neighbor has a female pitbull that is not fixed, and runs loose. Even though we are very watchfull of our Dexter, this could cause a major issue. So if the vet says we are safe, I think we will move forward.

I've heard that male yorkie's really love to mark everywhere, and the surgery process for the male is a lot easier then the female dog, I always had females, but if I had a male most certainly would have him fixed. No doubt in my mind. I just had my female spayed, and wish I did it sooner. She had a dental cleaning too, and the vet told me her uterus was enlarged and had mucus in it, it was the start of a nasty infection that female dogs can get when not spayed, thankfully she is all done and will not get ill. I have a 3 yr old shs who will be spayed soon, always have the vet do prebloodwork before the surgery, this will give you peace of mind, it helped me feel better that her bloodwork was normal.

Oh, wow! That sounds like something that could be an awful situation with the pit bull. You have to wonder about people some times.:(