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Spaying versus neutering

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    #32
    lrushe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,710 ✭✭✭lrushe


    doctor evil wrote: »
    Surely thats just secondary sexual characteristics that are stunted bulkiness of.

    Dog that are done before sexual maturity are know to be leggier or more out of portion than entire animals or those s/neutered after maturity.


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    #33
    sionnaic
    Registered Users Posts: 183 ✭✭sionnaic


    Got our two boys done at 8 months in August. Our collie cross was a bit unsettled the first month but has since settled down. Personality hasnt changed except to get more affectionate but that could be the extra training and socialisation we've been doing too.

    Our basset almost immediately became much happier and really playful, energetic and mischievous. His, ahem, "things" were massive and with his stumpy legs they were dangling very low so we reckon they must have been weighing him down :D

    Neither have put on weight or had negative personality changes. Weight wise we're very careful about what they eat and feed them a really high quality food, and they're well exercised.

    Regarding the impression people have that their dogs put on weight or get lazy/morose after neutering - a lot of the time its just that it coincides with the dog getting older and growing out of their puppyhood with the associated natural personality change. Plus at the same time their bodies are maturing and bulking up. Plus sometimes it can be a case of the novelty of the pup wearing off and the enthusiasm for walking him every day starts to wane. Plus as the pup moves into adulthood they need less calories but owners continue to feed them the same.


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    #34
    magentas
    Registered Users Posts: 1,194 ✭✭✭magentas


    great to hear these positive stories re: (non) weight gain! and more importantly, not changing their personality.

    the dog I know that got neutered recently has gained weight and seems a little down in himself since the operation but as sionnaic said this may be coinciding with something else?

    I'll be keeping an eye on him anyway, hopefully it's not a long-term effect for the little fella

    Thanks for all the replies, great to hear the pros but are there any cons?

    for instance, I've heard about dogs reacting badly to anesthesia


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    #35
    ISDW
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,378 ✭✭✭ISDW


    magentas wrote: »
    great to hear these positive stories re: (non) weight gain! and more importantly, not changing their personality.

    the dog I know that got neutered recently has gained weight and seems a little down in himself since the operation but as sionnaic said this may be coinciding with something else?

    I'll be keeping an eye on him anyway, hopefully it's not a long-term effect for the little fella

    Thanks for all the replies, great to hear the pros but are there any cons?

    for instance, I've heard about dogs reacting badly to anesthesia

    I think that is something to be considered, all sugical procedures come with some risk. I get all of the rescue dogs neutered/spayed and usually, as I haven't formed a huge bond with them, drop them off at the vets and go about my business, then pick them up, not really thinking about it. However, when having my own dogs done, yes, I do worry about them during the operation, and phone as early as I can to see how they are. Sorry if that sounds a bit heartless:)

    Thankfully I've never had a dog with any problems during an operation yet.


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    #36
    Shanao
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    Finally managed to dig out my veterinary nursing notes this morning. I already mentioned the pros in another thread, so here's the cons and myths that I have.

    Cons:
    Risk of osteosarcoma (a type of bone cancer) if the dog is neutered before twelve months of age.
    Risk of urinary tract cancer.
    Risk of cardiac hemangiosarcoma (a highly malignant cancer which affects blood vessels).
    More prone to hypothyroidism or low thyroid levels
    Risk of orthopedic problems if neutered too young

    And the Myths of neutering of course:
    Neutering does not change a dog's personality, though it will eliminate some aggressive behaviours.
    Neutering does not make dogs prone to obesity. While their metabolism may slow down, as it does with age, they may gain weight, but only if not properly exercised and overfed.


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    #37
    Shanao
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    In saying that though, I will still always neuter. I still feel the pros outweigh the cons especially in this country when we have so many problems with animal welfare and the abundance of strays.
    Shanao wrote: »
    Pros
    Medical:
    No Testicular Tumors
    No passing on of a hamful genetic trait (Hip dysplasia etc)
    Decreases risk of Hernias
    Decreased risk of Perianal Tumors
    Decreased risk of problems with Prostate

    Behavioural Advantages:
    Decreased Aggression
    Decreased Roaming
    Less marking by urination

    Less stress on the dog as well, for example, if the dog is in the garden and a bitch in heat trots past, then the male can become extremely distressed trying to escape to mate with her.

    That's what I can think of off the top of my head in the argument for neutering male dogs.


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    #38
    doctor evil
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,114 ✭✭✭doctor evil


    lrushe wrote: »
    Dog that are done before sexual maturity are know to be leggier or more out of portion than entire animals or those s/neutered after maturity.

    A cosmetic reason.


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    #39
    Zapperzy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,524 ✭✭✭Zapperzy


    doctor evil wrote: »
    A cosmetic reason.

    But could it not lead to something like hip dysplasia if the dog is out of proportion? :confused:


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    #40
    lrushe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,710 ✭✭✭lrushe


    doctor evil wrote: »
    A cosmetic reason.

    An orthopedic one.


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    #41
    Donne
    Registered Users Posts: 190 ✭✭Donne


    Great info everybody especially Shanao (are you a vet?).

    I'll let my lad get up to twelve months and then have the snip done.

    Best for his own peace of mind and the risk of unwanted litters, to have the
    thing done sooner or later.


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    #42
    Shanao
    Users Awaiting Email Confirmation Posts: 919 ✭✭✭Shanao


    Donne wrote: »
    Great info everybody especially Shanao (are you a vet?).

    I'll let my lad get up to twelve months and then have the snip done.

    Best for his own peace of mind and the risk of unwanted litters, to have the
    thing done sooner or later.

    Bleh, only saw this now. I studied veterinary nursing and worked with a vet for two years. Spent a lot of time thinking about getting my own dogs neutered though so I've gone through all of this quite a bit. Glad that we were able to help.


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    #43
    lyndonjones
    Registered Users Posts: 177 ✭✭lyndonjones


    Hi all, have read this thread with interest as we are the owner of a lovely Maltese/ Yorkie Cross and during the visit to the vet she before Christmas she mentioned neutering the dog mainly for health reasons.

    From what I have read through the various threads it is best to wait until "Buddy" is fully grown which is probably 10-12 months, am I right in saying this?

    Am I also right in saying that the general consensus here is that nuetering/ spaying has more PRO's than CON's and that the temperament of the dog should not alter?


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    #44
    andreac
    Registered Users Posts: 8,000 ✭✭✭andreac


    To answer your questions, yes your dog should be fully mature around a year old as its a small breed and yes there are more pro's to neutering and as your dog is a cross breed, its is absol vital that it is neutered to stop anymore unwanted litters being bred as there are already thousands of cross breeds in rescues/pounds that are pts everyday, so every cross breed should be neutered as they shouldnt be bred from.

    Sorry, just read your post again. You dont have to wait until your dog is a year to get it neutered. As your dog is a cross breed it should be done sooner rather than later so anytime from 6 months on is fine.


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    #45
    toadfly
    Registered Users Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭toadfly


    lyndonjones wrote: »
    Am I also right in saying that the general consensus here is that nuetering/ spaying has more PRO's than CON's and that the temperament of the dog should not alter?

    Definately more pros than cons IMO. The personalities of my two didnt change. We got the female done at 18 months (had her from 8 weeks) and the male at 5 (ish) years two months after we got him. It did stop the humping and marking in the male though even at that age.


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