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07-23-2006, 12:00 PM | #1 |
I Love My Lil' Punkin's Donating Member | Neutering? I have a couple Neutering questions about my little guy. I was wondering at what age you all Neutered your little boys? I asked my vet and he said that it can be done "as soon as the testicals drop"...but what exactly does that mean? I thought "the testicals dropping" just meant that I was able to see them...which I now can. Also, I have read some pretty scary things about the little Yorkies going in to have this done...and when they are put to sleep, sometimes the vet's inject too much (of whatever it's called LOL) in to them (because they are just so small), which can cause them to never wake up. I have read on a couple web sites that you should demand that your vet uses Gas to put them to sleep whenever having this procedure done, instead of injecting them. So anyway, I am wondering when I should have this done? Is he old enough? And if I should ask them to use Gas instead of injecting him because he's small? Stedman is 5 months and 3 days old and weighs just over 3 lbs. Thanks so much for any help you can offer! P.S.- He has NOT started "hiking" his leg yet and I would prefer to have this done before he ever starts the hiking thing, lol. I have heard that if you wait until they start hiking their leg to have this done, that sometimes they will still hike even after they are Neutered. I have had dogs all my life, but this is my very first male so I am a little confused about all this boy business
__________________ Mommy Loves Stedman and Tatum! They have us wrapped around their little paws! Last edited by stedmansmommy; 07-23-2006 at 12:03 PM. |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-23-2006, 12:06 PM | #2 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,823
| Quote:
When I first came on this board, I saw a lot of people were afraid of getting their dogs spayed and neutered. I asked my vet what the big fear for getting a yorkie fixed is all about, and she told me its no different from any other animal, or person going under the knife. Remember that ANYONE can recieve to much anestethic(sp?), no matter what their size. She also informed me (which I already knew) that they are not going to give it a huge amount. Gas is a good idea though, but I would find out pros and cons of boths before you decide. Good luck! | |
07-23-2006, 12:06 PM | #3 |
Little Bit & Buttons Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: US
Posts: 2,160
| Neutering Hi Stedman's Mommy, I do understand how you feel. I am going to be scared to death to have my Little Bit spayed and I have tried 3 different vets to try to figure out which one I trust to put my little one to sleep. She weighs 2# now at 3 1/2 months. Anyway, by questioning everyone I could, I think you should request isofluorane - I hear it may cost more but I've got so much invested in Little Bit now, I don't know that it matters what it costs. I just want her to wake up after its over. By the way where are you in S. Texas I'm between Houston & Beaumont. Good Luck! Donna |
07-23-2006, 12:20 PM | #4 | |
I Love My Lil' Punkin's Donating Member | Hi Donna :) Quote:
Hi Donna I agree in that I don't care WHAT the cost is...I'd pay 10 x's more if I knew it was safer for my little one I just want him to be ok. I just lost my Cocker Spaniel in January that I had for over 11 years (she passed away up at the vet's office...the same vet that I use for Stedman...it wasn't the vet's fault or anything, she was very sick with Cancer)...and I don't know WHAT I would do if anything happened to him. I know that I would just lose my marbles Anyhow though, I am in Victoria, which is about an hour and 1/2 from Houston
__________________ Mommy Loves Stedman and Tatum! They have us wrapped around their little paws! | |
07-23-2006, 12:46 PM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia
Posts: 93
| i haven't gotten tucker neutered yet, but my vet told me he couldn't do it until 6 mos. i dont' know the reasoning, but that's what he told me. so i plan to call tomorrow and set up a time. tucker will be 6 mos on the 30th. tucker's bigger than your stedman, though. he weighs 5.5 lbs right now. i'm sure nervous anyway, though. he's already started hiking, but i guess we'll just deal with that. i'll let you know how it all turns out, but maybe that answers your question on how old he should be. |
07-23-2006, 01:12 PM | #6 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| Sorry, this is a long one! I was scared to death about having Oscar neutered - I cried the day I dropped him off at the vet. I knew it had to be done though, and I had to put my trust in my vet. Keeping in mind that this is just my opinion - and some people's opinions/experiences will differ, here are my thoughts.... Stedmansmommy - I think it's pretty standard to wait until they are 6mths to have them neutered. I waited until Oscar was 7mths because I wanted him to gain a little more weight beforehand (he was 2.8lbs the day of surgery). BUT, he did start hiking his leg every once in awhile before he went in for surgery and this did not change after surgery. He squats sometimes, hikes sometimes - he's not marking in the house mind you, just misses the peepad sometimes. I guess it depends on your vet if he/she feels that your puppy is ready for surgery because both of his 'boys' have dropped. As far as the vet over-aneasthetizing your puppy - I think they'd have to be fairly inept to do that. They weigh your puppy and administer the anaesthetic according to their weight. Oh, I would also recommend having any baby teeth removed at the time of their surgery. (Oscar was one of the unlucky ones - had to have 14 baby teeth pulled - poor little guy didn't know which end hurt more!). I think it's a good idea to have them pulled at the same time as their spay/neuter surgery - saves you having to put them under again later on to have retained teeth pulled. Some people opt to wait and see if they fall out on their own - and sometimes they will, but sometimes you end up having to have them pulled a year or so later. Oscar looked like a shark - two rows of teeth, so pulling them was the best option - before he started getting any gum infections/etc. Here's a few things I did to make the surgery easier on both of us: 1. Asked LOTS of questions - my vet was fantastic about answering all of my questions in great detail, and it put my mind at ease. Even go so far as to have them explain exactly what happens during the surgery. Don't be afraid to ask questions - even ask them about things you read on here. 2. Pre-op bloodwork/consultation with vet the night before the surgery - to make sure he's ok for surgery. 3. Made sure they use Isoflourane (I was told by my breeder that this was the only acceptable aneasthetic for yorkies BUT, I know that others on this forum have had great luck with other forms of aneasthetic - this is just from my own experience). 4. I had them hook Oscar up to an IV during the surgery - It cost a little more, but the extra precaution made me feel better. 5. I took one of my big old sweaters that Oscar had been sleeping on so it had my smell as well as his on it. I was worried he would think I wasn't coming back for him! It was also great for bundling him up in when I picked him up later that day. 6. I called my vet around mid-day when I knew that the surgery would be complete so I could finally put my mind at ease that he was awake and well. Some vets will even call you after the surgery to let you know how your baby is doing. I've heard far more success stories compared to sad ones when it comes to putting a yorkie under for any surgery - and as much as I can try to put your mind at ease, I know you'll worry just the same. Just like I will worry when I take my new baby girl to get spayed in the fall - even though I have even more faith in my vet's capabilities at this point - I'll still worry, and probably still cry. Hope this helps.. sorry it's sooooo long!
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." |
07-23-2006, 01:36 PM | #7 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 2,992
| StedmansMommy -- Most vets say a puppy can be neutered at around 6 months - so your little guy is near ready... (it can also be done later).... If you can see or feel his testicles - they have dropped - mine were dropped at 8 weeks when I got him. I really think you should address your concerns about the type of anesthetic that will be used with your vet. I think most vets (today) are very experienced with small little dogs like ours. My vet(s) told me that as time goes by they have more and more "little dog patients" because these little guys are becoming more and more popular. So - they see and take care of them on a daily basis - and believe me - "spaying and neutering" are procedures that they do a often. Please discuss this with your vet - they will tell you about the different types of anesthetics available and the reasons for using them, etc. I know there are always a lot of horror stories going around, but they really are few and far between --- and there is no reason why a good vet couldn't take good and safe care of your little dog. Discuss your concerns with him. Good luck! Carol Jean |
07-23-2006, 01:40 PM | #8 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Canada
Posts: 2,180
| The surgery is done at 6 months old because the dog is more mature . I work as a vet assistant and can tell you that spaying or neutering is the most easiest surgery to do . |
07-23-2006, 03:08 PM | #9 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada
Posts: 28
| I think that, in most situations, 6 months is the perfect time to do it. However, I agree with pediatric spay/neuter in situations from a rescue or shelter where spay/neuter contracts are very difficult to enforce. I don't own any male dogs, but I've rescued two unneutered males. One was a Bichon Frise/Shih tzu X who was approximately 1-year-old. He was already marking everywhere, lifting his leg, and extremely distracted. I don't think I could survive with an intact male ! He went in for a neuter ASAP to say the least and there were no complications at all. The second was a Yorkie X that was about 2-years-old. He didn't mark, but did raise his leg. He was also neutered with absolutely no complications. It's scary, but like Oscar's Mummy said, there are far more success stories than sad ones. Just communicate with your vet, you have to be comfortable with procedures done with your baby . |
07-23-2006, 03:18 PM | #10 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,823
| Quote:
Don't all male dogs eventually raise their legs, neutered or not? | |
07-23-2006, 03:34 PM | #11 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada
Posts: 28
| Quote:
I'm pretty sure that neutering is related to marking though, mostly due to a desire to spread their scent. | |
07-23-2006, 03:47 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Indiana
Posts: 4,685
| Hi, I just had my Joey's teeth cleaned and 4 teeth had to be pulled this past Friday. Joey just turned 2 years old and weighs 3 lbs 8 ozs. The ONLY way I would let my baby be put under is with the Isoflorine Gas. It can be monitored throughout the surgery, where as a shot can't. I also had them do a complete blood workup on him before he was put under to make sure there were no underlying problems. Thank our good Lord and the prayers from all the YT friends that everything worked out great for him. Please ask for a complete blood workup and the Isoflorine gas.
__________________ Janet |
07-23-2006, 03:49 PM | #13 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,823
| Quote:
The marking I'm sure has to do w/ neutering, but I would assume that raising the leg is just how the pee, kinda like how human males stand up to pee. | |
07-23-2006, 04:07 PM | #14 | |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada
Posts: 28
| Quote:
I tried to look it up but couldn't find anything very convincing, just personal experiences. Hopefully someone will have a good answer, sorry . | |
07-23-2006, 05:11 PM | #15 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia
Posts: 93
| i've been watching this thread since i posted b/c i had many of the same questions... i just have to say, oscar's mummy, that was a very good post. thank you for the information and the reassurance i feel better prepared to take tucker for his neuter now! |
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