To Snip or Not to Snip

[ginya1975]

I have a male yorkie that is almost six months old. What are the pros and cons for neutering? I'm not planning on using him for breeding. Just a family pet. I've read things going either way.

[Marioana]

I don't see why you wouldn't neuter. If you neuter he would not mark, not have a risk of developing testicular cancer, would not have the urge to run away every time he senses a female in heat...And probably many more reasons why you should neuter that I don't know about...

[bamawife]

I say SNIP, SNIP, SNIP!! It will make him a healthier dog overall. It cuts down on marking, too. I could not imagine not snipping! The surgery is not too extensive and they really bounce back pretty quick! Good luck!

[CouversMom]

I think that the benefits of neutering are far greater than the benefits of not. Do you want him marking all over your house for his entire life? What if he runs away because he smells a female in heat? It's just not worth it to me, so I spay and neuter.

[gracielove]

To begin with, he does not need them. They are for breeding and create hormones in his body that do effect his personality. He will be able to smell a female in heat from miles away and it will make him unhappy or even hyper and frustrated at times. Un-neutered males tend to try to roam at times in order to seek out a female so he may try to sneak out the door at times. Many dogs that are not neutered will lift their leg to "mark" their territory at the most inappropriate times. I have seen more people with problems with their males marking here on YT than I have ever seen in my life.

It is a very quick and painless procedure for the dog. He will not miss them. It is not as invasive a procedure as what a female has to endure.
If you wait until all his male hormones are in place it takes several months before the advantages of having him neutered will be noticed as it will take a while for the hormones to leave the body. Some of the bad traits are so engrained that they may never leave.

I have noticed that more male humans have a problem with having this done to a dog than females do. Some male humans think it is cruel and painful. The dog's sexual response is different than the human's. Dogs are all about scent while a human male is more about sight. As I said the dog will not have any pain except from a few stitches afterward and that will be gone within a couple of days.

[Lovetodream88]

I think as a responsible pet owner its just the right thing to do. Male dogs will also do anything to get to a female in heat if there not fixed and can get hurt or lost in the process. There has also been many yorkies stolen lately and an non fixed male would be worth more money for someone to sell and could possibly sell him into a puppy mill life.

[MamaZiggy]

My Ziggy is over a year old and I have yet to go get him neutered! I too do not plan to breed him. I have waited this long because
- His small size (he is 3lbs right now)
-I have once lost a puppy while being spayed (a german shepherd)
- I had two male german shepherds who were unneutered and lived long, happy healthy lives. (never had any offspring)
- Ziggy does not mark inside our home

My other dog, a rescued shelter lab mix is neutered. So I do believe in it, I just have fears. But I will be neutering Ziggy before the end of this year becasue
- He has an undescended testicle and I dont want that to make him sick
- I want to get him a baby sister early next year
- He has 2 retained puppy teeth

I think its a personal descision, but just weigh the pro's and con's of each. I spoke to my neighbor who had her yorkie neutered at my vet and she had only rave reviews I have my reservations about neutering, but I think it does have it benefits in my situation. I always assess my pets on individual basis (with the help of research and getting advise from others and my vet)

Only you can decide based on your research and your heart

Good luck with your decision

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by MamaZiggy

My Ziggy is over a year old and I have yet to go get him neutered! I too do not plan to breed him. I have waited this long because
- His small size (he is 3lbs right now)
-I have once lost a puppy while being spayed (a german shepherd)
- I had two male german shepherds who were unneutered and lived long, happy healthy lives. (never had any offspring)
- Ziggy does not mark inside our home

My other dog, a rescued shelter lab mix is neutered. So I do believe in it, I just have fears. But I will be neutering Ziggy before the end of this year becasue
- He has an undescended testicle and I dont want that to make him sick
- I want to get him a baby sister early next year
- He has 2 retained puppy teeth

I think its a personal descision, but just weigh the pro's and con's of each. I spoke to my neighbor who had her yorkie neutered at my vet and she had only rave reviews I have my reservations about neutering, but I think it does have it benefits in my situation. I always assess my pets on individual basis (with the help of research and getting advise from others and my vet)

Only you can decide based on your research and your heart

Good luck with your decision

Did your puppy have presurgery blood work?

[DvlshAngel985]

The only thing I'd suggest is be careful when you get the ol snip-a-roo done. Yes, it's true that he will not need, or miss his jelly beans once they're gone, but they do need the hormones for development. I know the popular age to have them neutered is 6 months, but I would wait and make sure his growth plates are closed before having the pup neutered. Another benefit to waiting until 8-12 months old to have them neutered is that you can have them neutered, extra teeth extracted, and microchipped all at the same time. You only risk putting them under once.

[MommytoMiles]

Originally Posted by Marioana

I don't see why you wouldn't neuter. If you neuter he would not mark, not have a risk of developing testicular cancer, would not have the urge to run away every time he senses a female in heat...And probably many more reasons why you should neuter that I don't know about...

+++++1

[MommytoMiles]

Originally Posted by gracielove

To begin with, he does not need them. They are for breeding and create hormones in his body that do effect his personality. He will be able to smell a female in heat from miles away and it will make him unhappy or even hyper and frustrated at times. Un-neutered males tend to try to roam at times in order to seek out a female so he may try to sneak out the door at times. Many dogs that are not neutered will lift their leg to "mark" their territory at the most inappropriate times. I have seen more people with problems with their males marking here on YT than I have ever seen in my life.

It is a very quick and painless procedure for the dog. He will not miss them. It is not as invasive a procedure as what a female has to endure.
If you wait until all his male hormones are in place it takes several months before the advantages of having him neutered will be noticed as it will take a while for the hormones to leave the body. Some of the bad traits are so engrained that they may never leave.

I have noticed that more male humans have a problem with having this done to a dog than females do. Some male humans think it is cruel and painful. The dog's sexual response is different than the human's. Dogs are all about scent while a human male is more about sight. As I said the dog will not have any pain except from a few stitches afterward and that will be gone within a couple of days.

Yes, yuu are so right about men not wanting to neuter their dogs. It's nauseating. Please read this very funny link from Cesar's Way on the subject - Spay and Neuter Myths | Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan

[Britster]

There's pros and cons. I think for the general public, neutering is the way to go. But just because you have an unaltered dog does not make someone an irresponsible pet owner either. A lot of people live and handle unaltered dogs perfectly fine, and I think too many vets try to push, well... not even really push, it's just become standard... for neuters/spays much too early. I'd wait until at least 8 months. I wouldn't ever own an unaltered male though personally....

http://www.caninesports.com/SpayNeuter.html

[Jacksmom052709]

As Bob Barker used to say at the end of every one of his Price Is Right shows, "Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered." And it's not just for that, but the other reasons others have listed. We had Jack neutered at around 5 1/2 months because he was starting to mark in the house, otherwise I would have waited until he was a tad bit older - he was very small at the time and I was worried but he also had some retained teeth pulled. He did great! The only thing, they didn't have a collar small enough for him, so they fashioned one out of a paper plate and tape! Poor little guy looked pretty silly.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by MommytoMiles

Yes, yuu are so right about men not wanting to neuter their dogs. It's nauseating. Please read this very funny link from Cesar's Way on the subject - Spay and Neuter Myths | Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan

Oh, that is a great article.
OP, please read this article on spay/neuter. Great info.

[MamaZiggy]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

Did your puppy have presurgery blood work?

yes, the puppy was checked over thoroughly and had blood work done. It was very sad and was the reason I didn't have the boys neutered (we got all three from the same breeder, girl first, then got the brothers after she passed).

But living a life based on fear is never a good thing. So after they passed away, I decided to not go for a breeder but rather rescue from a shelter, and ofcourse would then be forced to go through the neuter process again. Everything turned out well. Toby is 6 years old now, happy and healthy.

I think spay/neuter has a lot of benefits and its a great thing to do. But I do understand people who have fears or doubts and might not want to do it, I think thats normal as it is an "optional" operation. However, with my current situation with Ziggy, I will do it, and with my girl to come.