Is Neutering Necessary?
 

Just wanted to ask around because today I was told by the vet it needed to be done as a preventative measure, not just to keep him from reproducing. I was planning on not neutering but if it's a concern in yorkies then that's different. Also has anyone had trouble with not losing baby teeth? They said they could remove them and neuter him while they did that, but he's just over 6 months and still losing teeth. Right now I'm going to wait a few weeks and see if they fall out and go from there. I'm slightly worried they are just trying to get more money. Thoughts?

I'd say do it but it's not necessary like yea there's cancer and such that CAN or not occur like many diseases for your dog and it'll prevent accidental breeding, some of the aggression males tend to have, less marking (my boy started right before neutering at 8 months) and so much more. My boy also had no choice since his balls never dropped they were inside him so he HAD to. It is 100% up to you though

Thanks guys, just wanted to make sure. I know it sounds a little silly but I'm just paranoid. And I don't want my baby to go through surgery. Yup I'm a worry wart lol.

Oh, hey!!! I totally get that--absolutely. Common consensus is that it's much easier on them to have surgery while they're young...Not that that helps...I am totally unnerved by anything out of the ordinary when it comes to Piper, really! I usually pray non-stop and pace like the dickens!!!

He'll bounce back and be hisself in a few weeks to a month tops (my babe found a way to pick the stitches so it took him a while) make sure he's coned and if you feel bad by diapers put them on backwards and cut a pee pee and tail hole on it!

Neutering a male is not Necessary health wise. It is how ever the position most vets endorse. As more and more research studies come in there is less evidence of physical health benefits for the males in particular. Vets I do not think want more money but do endorse neutering for one reason ---- the male dogs can't reproduce.

Now here is why I think you should seriously considering neutering once he is old enough 8mths old at least You will not be able as the owner to contribute to accidental breedings and the important point here as opposed to other breeds there are no extant studies on Yorkies or toy breeds that show some serious health concerns with neutering a matured male. There are studies how-ever that show some very serious concerns with neutering or spaying in Rottweilers, Goldens, Viszlas GSD,etc.

Neutering will not necessarily stop marking or correct aggression or correct roaming behaviours - for these are behaviours that can only be controlled with proper training.

I read that in Norway it is required to have a specific medical need approved by a veterinarian to spay or neuter your dog. I thought that was interesting and would love to read more about it. There are higher risks of certain cancers of course but that is because you can't get body part cancers without certain body parts I would assume? It sounds like they have a much higher instance of dog to dog injuries though- agin, just a random internet article I read, who knows what is true on the internet anymore.

It depends on size for me, if he's teeny I would maybe pass, with my large dogs, I'm not a fan because of the risks.... deadly, mostly untreatable and hard to catch cancers. With small dogs it's less of a concern because they don't grow at the same rate.

As a non-yorkie person, I say do it. If nothing else, it will make him less tempting for unscrupulous people who might steal him to breed and will eliminate the roaming instinct looking for a female.

This might be the article you are referring to.

Norwegians believe spaying or neutering a dog is cruel | Jennifer Margulis It says she is a Phd.

Spaying and Neutering | Angry Vet

Health Benefits and Risks of Spaying and Neutering Dogs | petMD And another vets take on the question.

Teddy is 16 months old and he's not neutered. He doesn't mark, doesn't hump, and doesn't have aggression toward other intact males. (I got lucky?) I have thought about neutering him when he's 2 as I worry about surgeries too.

I do performance sports with my dogs and have taken opportunities to do workshops and training for the canine athlete. Overwhelmingly the participants have intact animals. This theory that an intact dog is more aggressive is not borne out by many studies that have looked at it. In fact and not surprisingly the dog to dog aggression we have experienced usually (but not always) comes from neutered or spayed dogs. I also think aggression is more breed specific than their s or n status.

I don;t think you got lucky I just think this is normal, My males intact do not mark in the house even when my female is in heat. Although it is not pleasant when my female goes into heat. And requires a huge amount of time and supervision to avoid unplanned matings. I would NOT recommend this for the average pet owner. That being keeping intact both male and female dogs in the house.

I think that if you want to neuter him you can and couple the operation with a dental For a Yorkie I would be more worried about dental disease than any rare form of cancer from having an intact male.

I would have Chewie neutered. Mac's baby teeth wouldn't come out either they pulled at same time, he bounced back next day.

My opinion is for you to wait until the pup is at least 8 months old....his growth plates will be matured and bones will have stopped growing....he is a "full growed boy!" by that age, and neutering him at that point in time will not have a negative effect on growth patterns. If you get him neutered BEFORE he begins to mark his territory, chances are better than great he will continue to pee like a little girl and will not hike his leg to pee! Have extra teeth removed during the surgery....that is what is normally done, and if you wait until closer to 8 months old, you may not have as many teeth that need to be removed!

And of course, a neutered/spayed Yorkie's value to a thief, plummets once they are no longer able to be used as baby producing machines! They will still be targeted simply because of the breed value, but because they can not reproduce, THAT option for making money is eliminated, and the value for a yorkie that is not able to make money by reproducing, is cut drastically....a thief can only ask about 1/4 of the value/price they would demand otherwise.

Judi just how prevalent is it in Texas? I never hear of stolen dogs here in Toronto - but we have lots of wackos that like to bloody well poison dogs Two instances just last week.

There are cases of everything from stolen cattle and horses, which by the way is STILL a hanging offense here in Texas!!!, to stolen dogs of all breeds especially breeds that are high dollar returnees. A woman walked out of a pet store just last week, yet again, with two pug puppies in her bag....these are apparently an up and coming breed for thieves to make money on....they steal yorkies at any opportunity...from outside restaurants, sitting at cafe tables, when the owners STUPIDLY walk back into the cafe to get a refill on a drink or something....they are stolen from cars, they are stolen from yards, they are stolen from shopping carts in Home Depot. Years ago, I PERSONALLY had some woman ask to hold one of my dogs while I was shopping in Home Depot, and like an idiot, I let her....she bolted and I gave chase....jumping thru turnstiles and charging thru and around rows of items stacked for sale outside the store....I caught her in the parking lot and if the employees at Home Depot had not restrained me, she would have left in an ambulance, rather than a police car! Yorkies are a huge big ticket item here in Texas.....only one of several small breeds that thieves concentrate on.....and around the Holidays, it is absolutely treacherous and quite a challenge to watch out for thieves stealing anything they can get their hands on, and small dogs are in huge demand! We have more thieves that target small dogs than people that poison dogs....

Agreed! Dogs are stolen in Midland constantly. I'm from DFW and NEVER heard of theft like I do here. It's terrible and unfortunately yorkies are a high value dog that are easy to transport.

Oh Judy that is just awful!! :eek: I am horrified from your story! :( I had a long haired chi stolen from me and it was just terrible. One of my daughters was at camp when it happened, she was heartbroken. We filed a police report, he had a microchip and we plastered the town with fliers, followed up on tips- it turned out to be a very long story but a really heartbreaking experience. I am always so nervous with Lilah now because of that and I feel like my fear has limited some of her experiences and opportunities- but it is a very legitimate are real concern. Dog theft is rampant down here!

Gail, thank you for those article links. I look forward to reading them. It is a fascinating issue of often contrasting opinion which our communities debate.

Wow Judy and Alyssa Not sure what and how come the States are so different to Canada. I have only heard of one dog napping ring in Toronto who thankfully was finally caught - but big n small dogs were stolen for dog fighting rings!!! That is so very much more awfull. I would happily beat someone seriously if I knew they were into that dog fighting thing.

Razzle would be meat fodder ergo training fodder for the fighting dogs - Magic would be beaten and prodded until he turned vicious! Although it is hard for me to imagine anyone being able to take Magic willingly when he would be tied up. Maybe they use tranquillizer darts or something. Unfortunately Dara is much more trusting of humans and probably would go willing..... Much different temperament to my male.

How-ever I do not leave them alone even if I get dirty looks when I take my dogs into the washroom with me when we are hiking.

I've heard a lot of the dog thieves in Texas take the dogs to Canton to sell. I know when I had a friend whose dog went missing, she went to Canton the next time it was open to see if she could find him. Those people sell all kinds of dogs at Canton for unbelievable prices!

As for spay and neuter, I spayed Fallyn because she isn't breed quality, even though she showed, and I didn't want to mess with the heat cycle. Moxie isn't spayed because she is being shown, but if she turns out to not be breed quality, which I really doubt she will, she will be spayed also.

ABSOLUTELY!!! I even had a lady who I happened to mention that while I almost never had female puppies available, the little boys were harder to sell, she suggested I could take them to Canton and off load them at the Flea Market!!! OMG!!! I almost died!!! Seems they have an entire section that sells animals of all descriptions.......

not necessary, although it is recomended

Two perspectives noted in this thread that I resonated with.

A. having an intact dog for its life without ever being able to breed.
B. fixing your pet reduces the high dollar amount.

I can't count how many times people have told me I'm silly for spaying/neutering my pets because I can't gain a profit off them. Not for me and I even say that my dog has health issues (she doesn't) to reduce someone from wanting to steal her.

From what my dad tells me, they sell EVERYTHING at Canton. He says the animal side is called Dog Town??? He says they sell chickens, horses, pigs, just about everything you can think of. He says there are isles and isles of dogs being sold there. That must be puppy mill central!

I'm not neutering my puppy. I have him Chipped but now I'm wondering if the chip has a tracking device or not:confused:

I am not sure what you mean by a tracking device? Most chips as far as I am aware are static they do not broadcast actual location. Good vets should always scan a new dog to their practice for a chip -even if brought in by a long time client.

When I bring in new pups that I bought I am always asked for the paperwork and the puppy is always scanned = which I stay for and match up the chip numbers on my paperwork.

It is also a good idea on yearly check ups to scan for your chip - not many vets do this automatically. This will assure you that the chip is still functional and has not migrate too far from its original insertion point.

So I can't track the exact location of my pup if he is ever taken? That's wack.