Neuter or not??

[LoriML]

Thank you for all the info. I'm on the fence right now with a boy the same age. I am definitely leaning towards doing it, but it will most likely be much later than I originally planned. Hopefully he'll refrain from marking all over my house in the mean time (and well forever)

[nanahas3]

We waited with Laddy until he was 3 when we got little Kyra. Until that point he was never around unfixed girls. He never marked, but we had to keep a close eye on him to make sure if he did smell a girl in heat we didn't let him run off. Fortunately we lived in the country on 20 acres at the time and that wasn't much of a problem. I really think it was great for him. Before he was fixed he was a very skinny little guy, no matter what we fed him. Afterwards he is at a perfect weight and looks so much healthier.

[hearttx]

I got Parker neutered at almost 9 months. Did not get x ray to see if growth plate was closed. I was running into a wall cause he was using the pee pad but started marking. Still I wish I had known if the plates was closed. Probably just my imagination but seems like he has grown in the last 5 weeks. I know testosterone is what closes the plate and I did not want him taller. But he could have grown tall anyway. Just kinda bugs me. But I choose to do it and he is still very short. I just did not want to add any leg to him for any LP or any leg problem. He is not a jumper at all. I just keep wondering. How much taller a dog can grow if neutered before the plates close.

[Lawman]

We live in the country and have no neighbors. Ditto uses pee pads and is rarely outside alone because I fear an eagle might spot him and ruin my day. The main reason and really the only reason I would neuter him is in an attempt to avoid him marking..I may just take my chances and wait and see if that begins to happen..Any guesses at what my odds are of not neutering him and him not marking the furniture????????

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Lawman

We live in the country and have no neighbors. Ditto uses pee pads and is rarely outside alone because I fear an eagle might spot him and ruin my day. The main reason and really the only reason I would neuter him is in an attempt to avoid him marking..I may just take my chances and wait and see if that begins to happen..Any guesses at what my odds are of not neutering him and him not marking the furniture????????

Unneutered males mark, and it's almost impossible trying to teach them not to mark, many behaviorists believed you can't train not to mark and in fact, even severe punishments have been tried in the past, will little or no results. It's sometimes possible to teach them not to mark in one spot, but they don't generalize that information for other spots. Another problem is that unneutered males marking smells much much worse than neutered males marking. Neutered males may still mark, especially if neutered after puberty, my two only mark outside though. I have heard of some unneutered males not marking, but I wouldn't depend upon that if I were you. By the way, your pup won't be totally without testosterone if he's neutered, while the testes makes the bulk of testosterone, the adrenal glands make some, and this varies greatly between dogs, but he will have enough for muscle development, but not so much that he's a fighter. A little testosterone is a good thing, a lot . . . can cause major problems.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

With a male, I would want to neuter before marking becomes an established habit, so closer to 8 months maybe, although it depends on the dog. My vet also considered if enough of the adult teeth were in because Yorkies don't lose all their baby teeth on their own, most Yorkies have at least a few that will need to be pulled and this has to be done under anesthesia, so it's best to have it done when neutering. A double row of teeth can cause future dental problems.

For me, one of the main reasons you neuter a male is that the number one cause of death for unneutered males is death due to injuries from car accidents, your unneutered male is much more likely to bolt out the door every time you open it, he can smell a female in heat up to 10 miles a way. Also, remember that males and females are fertile all their lives, and so you always have to be extremely conscientious if you have a unneutered animal.

I'm glad you mentioned this. My very first foster had double teeth. His original owner let the vet neuter him at 4 months! So later all his adult teeth came in and crammed the heck out of his baby teeth, which most never came out on their own. Crooked teeth and lots of places to harbor bacteria. Poor dental health in a small dog can lead to lots of sicknesses.

My reasons for neutering a male are simple. In addition to not worrying about breeding, their pee smells less bad.

[Lawman]

Lots of stuff here I had not considered....Thanks to you all..I appreciate your input and personal experiences..This will better enable me to make an informed decision..

Thanks

[photossed]

The only reason not to neuter your dog is that you want the babies.

Other than that, for health or other concerns, neutering is always recommended.

Especially for male, if neutered, they rarely pee for marking their territory.

Hope my opinion helps!

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by IDPiper

I agree with Ann. I'm not going to have something from my body removed based on a low percentage that I may develop this or that.

Yes when I was referring to taking responsibility I was referring to making sure that your intact male is NEVER allowed near an in heat female. I have an intact female but as of yet has not gone into heat. She will be 2 in July and I will have had her for a year in July. I don't know if she had gone into heat prior to me getting her. I have no other dogs in my house and she absolutely is not allowed outside by herself.

So, if you had BRCA testing for a mutated gene and it increased your chances of developing breast cancer in your lifetime by 20%, you would still keep your breasts?
What percentage would you need to be at to have surgery?

[IDPiper]

Originally Posted by McheleM

So, if you had BRCA testing for a mutated gene and it increased your chances of developing breast cancer in your lifetime by 20%, you would still keep your breasts?
What percentage would you need to be at to have surgery?

Yes, I can honestly say I would and I'm not really sure at what point I would choose to have surgery. That would be a conversation between me, my hubby, and my doctor. I guess I just have a different view on things but that doesn't make my view wrong, it's just what works for me. Just like said, do the research and then do what is best for you.

[gracielove]

The basic thing to remember about a male dog is that their sexual urges stem not from what they see but what they smell. A female dog in heat lets off a scent that a whole male can smell miles away. That scent can cause the male to become nervous and have behavioral changes. My personal opinion is that it is in the male dog's best interest to spare him the frustration of living as a sexually mature male that cannot do what nature intended. When neutered hormonal and sexual tension is gone and he can concentrate more fully on being your pet.

Many years back animal shelters started doing spay/neuter surgeries on very young puppies and kittens in order to help prevent more unwanted litters but now some studies have shown that waiting until the youngster has finished the major part of it's growth before doing the surgery.

Obviously if you have a very eager early starter that is starting to mark around your house you may want to talk to your vet about the possibility of having the surgery done sooner.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by McheleM

So, if you had BRCA testing for a mutated gene and it increased your chances of developing breast cancer in your lifetime by 20%, you would still keep your breasts?
What percentage would you need to be at to have surgery?

Tough questions, and makes me re-think the cancer risk as one of my reasons for neutering my dogs (although it was never first on my list of reasons).

My mom died from breast cancer at age 42, so I am technically in the high risk category. However, there were many factors that affected her that do not apply to me. I choose not to have the BRCA testing and I would not have elective surgery based on the results. Uterine cancer risk, maybe, but not breast.

I am also a high risk for thyroid cancer, but I chose to keep my thyroid and used a high risk drug to regulate hyperthyroidism.

[McheleM]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Tough questions, and makes me re-think the cancer risk as one of my reasons for neutering my dogs (although it was never first on my list of reasons).

My mom died from breast cancer at age 42, so I am technically in the high risk category. However, there were many factors that affected her that do not apply to me. I choose not to have the BRCA testing and I would not have elective surgery based on the results. Uterine cancer risk, maybe, but not breast.

I am also a high risk for thyroid cancer, but I chose to keep my thyroid and used a high risk drug to regulate hyperthyroidism.

Harmful BRCA1 mutations may increase a woman’s risk of developing fallopian tube cancer and peritoneal cancer. Men with BRCA2 mutations, and to a lesser extent BRCA1 mutations, are also at increased risk of breast cancer. Men with harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men and women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This is in addition to the increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women.

Regular screening and early detection is key, and yes it's a personal decision, but to me, knowledge is power. We chose to know, so that my children and even my grandchildren can have the same knowledge and make informed decisions.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by McheleM

Harmful BRCA1 mutations may increase a woman’s risk of developing fallopian tube cancer and peritoneal cancer. Men with BRCA2 mutations, and to a lesser extent BRCA1 mutations, are also at increased risk of breast cancer. Men with harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of prostate cancer. Men and women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations may be at increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This is in addition to the increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women.

Regular screening and early detection is key, and yes it's a personal decision, but to me, knowledge is power. We chose to know, so that my children and even my grandchildren can have the same knowledge and make informed decisions.

Regular screening and early detection, and everyone should make an informed decision on BRCA testing.

[matese]

the best person to ask "at what age the pup should be neutered" is your vet. You have gotten excellent info. from all posters. I have always had females, now adopted a 2 y/o male that was neutered before I got him, I don't know at what age it was done. What I do know is, I have many friends that had male dogs, all were neutered.... Neutering reduces aggressive behavior especially when its in the company of other male dogs.... Neutering prevents testicular cancer. why take a chance that he may or may not get cancer, I am a preventive maintenance person, to many dogs get this cancer when they are older, then get neutered, this changes their personality, this is what I have been told from family members.... I agree with Nancy 1999, neuter before marking becomes established.....not to mention unneutered dogs can smell a female in heat for miles, you don't want your baby bolting out of the door every time you open it. Squash the thought "oh he's a small lil thing, I can prevent his bolting" WRONG, when someone comes to my door, you would think I was fighting with a 65 lb pit bull to keep him inside the house lol, yorkies are feisty lil fur babies. I am all for spaying & neutering for HEALTH reasons. Consult your vet as to the proper age. You have most of the pros & cons, and I am sure they are many more then what has been posted here. good luck in making the right decision.