GSD puppy neutered by shelter at 6 weeks! Will there be any future side effects?

ALynott · 03-02-2013, 11:45 PM

Hi there,

I'm new so I hope I'm posting in the right place - if not, please feel free to move me to somewhere more appropriate!

Basically, we've been looking to adopt a GSD puppy for a while now and just came across one at a local rescue, but the shelter they rescued him from neutered him at 6 weeks old!

Can anyone tell me, will he suffer any long term side effects from being neutered so young, physically or temperamentally?

This was recent, he's still 6 weeks old now, but on the small side and thin (I'm going back tomorrow to see him again and find out exactly how much he weighs). He was only rescued on Monday and he's pretty shell shocked so it's difficult to gauge temperament.

Apparently the shelter neuters with NO anesthetic and so I'm worried that the whole experience may have scared him - is that likely or is he young enough to get over trauma like that?

He also arrived at the shelter with only half a tail, god knows what happened to the poor little thing...

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks so much,
Alanna

shepherdmom · 03-03-2013, 12:03 AM

I've gotten dogs from the shelter that were neutered early and never had a problem. One boy I got at about 5 months and he was really traumatized from the shelter environment and whatever happened to him before. He is over a year now and the biggest social cuddle-bug on the planet. He was young enough that with socialization and love he forgot all about his trauma.

wolfy dog · 03-03-2013, 12:18 AM

The ones I have seen who were neutered at 8 weeks, never developed a proper penis. They don't develop muscle and grow too tall. it also seems to have a bad effect on their bone structure. I personally would not adopt a pup like that but that is MHO. I don't like to neuter the males if it isn't needed. People are so paranoid about intact males. I do spay my females though for health reason and for not getting puppies.

shepherdmom · 03-03-2013, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfy dog

The ones I have seen who were neutered at 8 weeks, never developed a proper penis. They don't develop muscle and grow too tall. it also seems to have a bad effect on their bone structure. I personally would not adopt a pup like that but that is MHO. I don't like to neuter the males if it isn't needed. People are so paranoid about intact males. I do spay my females though for health reason and for not getting puppies.

You and I are at totally different ends of this fence. LOL I wouldn't take a dog that wasn't neutered. The younger the better as far as I'm concerned. I let one dog go longer and I hated it.

Intact male dogs are yucky. Humping everything, so full of boy hormones, and IMO they are more stinky too. Ugh! His male brother that we neutered younger actually looked the more male of the two... BTW none of my boys have ever had a messed up penis or grew too tall or any of that.

Karma6577 · 03-03-2013, 01:09 AM

Boys do stink!! 💩😸😸

Sent from Petguide.com Free App

Jag · 03-03-2013, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shepherdmom

You and I are at totally different ends of this fence. LOL I wouldn't take a dog that wasn't neutered. The younger the better as far as I'm concerned. I let one dog go longer and I hated it.

Intact male dogs are yucky. Humping everything, so full of boy hormones, and IMO they are more stinky too. Ugh! His male brother that we neutered younger actually looked the more male of the two... BTW none of my boys have ever had a messed up penis or grew too tall or any of that.

I never noticed any of that in my intact males. Doing research on it helps. There are some issues that can arise from early sputers, but not in all dogs. Why do you think this was done without anesthesia? I'd be WAY more concerned about that! Was it a rumor that you heard?

gsdlover91 · 03-03-2013, 01:19 AM

Sorry OP, I cant answer your question, but why in the world would they neuter the poor puppy without anesthesia...

Also, my spayed female is more smelly than my intact male

ALynott · 03-03-2013, 01:27 AM

First of all, thank you for the replies - please keep them coming! I need to know as much as possible to help make the decision of whether to adopt this pup or not...

Jag and gsdlover91 - Regarding the neutering w/out anesthesia I really have NO IDEA why they would do something like that!! It seems barbaric to me. A girl at the rescue center the puppy is at now told me that the shelter they found him at routinely neuter without anesthetic. She was quite young, but I don't know why she would say that if it wasn't true. I am going back tomorrow and I'll find out more....

wolfy dog - In Europe I never spayed or neutered my dogs, and we never had any unwanted pregnancies, etc., but in LA it's mandatory to spay/neuter a dog before it reaches 4 months (unless you have a breeders license) due to the large number of unwanted dogs in the city. I can see the sense in it, although I do worry about the effects of spaying this early...

Jag · 03-03-2013, 01:38 AM

There are other exemptions... which I'd be looking into. I'd rather pay the fine. Politicians shouldn't be getting involved in this without having all the info. I agree that if someone's going to be that irresponsible they probably can't be trusted with an intact animal. However, for those that are it doesn't seem right. Who is 'monitoring' this? I can't see them having people out in force to make sure this is done.... Yes, find out yourself what's done in the clinic. Taking things as the truth second hand can cause all sorts of problems.

gsdlover91 · 03-03-2013, 01:42 AM

OP, I dont assume it is the end of the world, but I dont think fixing a dog that early is healthy either. Its probably bound to cause some development issues..some you may or may not notice. I think the main issue as wolfy dog said, is immature development of the external genitalia. I dont know, it just wont have all those manly hormones they need to develop. Doesnt mean it wont potentially be healthy and live a normal life with the right person. Id make sure the puppy is healthy though. Going through a surgery THAT young without an anesthetic....i dont know.

03-02-2013, 11:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
ALynott New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 7	GSD puppy neutered by shelter at 6 weeks! Will there be any future side effects? Hi there, I'm new so I hope I'm posting in the right place - if not, please feel free to move me to somewhere more appropriate! Basically, we've been looking to adopt a GSD puppy for a while now and just came across one at a local rescue, but the shelter they rescued him from neutered him at 6 weeks old! Can anyone tell me, will he suffer any long term side effects from being neutered so young, physically or temperamentally? This was recent, he's still 6 weeks old now, but on the small side and thin (I'm going back tomorrow to see him again and find out exactly how much he weighs). He was only rescued on Monday and he's pretty shell shocked so it's difficult to gauge temperament. Apparently the shelter neuters with NO anesthetic and so I'm worried that the whole experience may have scared him - is that likely or is he young enough to get over trauma like that? He also arrived at the shelter with only half a tail, god knows what happened to the poor little thing... Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks so much, Alanna

03-03-2013, 12:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
wolfy dog Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,313	The ones I have seen who were neutered at 8 weeks, never developed a proper penis. They don't develop muscle and grow too tall. it also seems to have a bad effect on their bone structure. I personally would not adopt a pup like that but that is MHO. I don't like to neuter the males if it isn't needed. People are so paranoid about intact males. I do spay my females though for health reason and for not getting puppies. __________________ To know if you are doing things right, you should be willing to trade places with your dog.

03-03-2013, 01:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Karma6577 Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kansas City MO Posts: 136	GSD puppy neutered by shelter at 6 weeks! Will there be any future side effects? Boys do stink!! 💩😸😸 Sent from Petguide.com Free App

03-03-2013, 01:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
gsdlover91 Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,148	Sorry OP, I cant answer your question, but why in the world would they neuter the poor puppy without anesthesia... Also, my spayed female is more smelly than my intact male __________________ Berlin vom Hokschhaus "The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can be."

03-03-2013, 01:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jag Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,683	There are other exemptions... which I'd be looking into. I'd rather pay the fine. Politicians shouldn't be getting involved in this without having all the info. I agree that if someone's going to be that irresponsible they probably can't be trusted with an intact animal. However, for those that are it doesn't seem right. Who is 'monitoring' this? I can't see them having people out in force to make sure this is done.... Yes, find out yourself what's done in the clinic. Taking things as the truth second hand can cause all sorts of problems. __________________ Wrath of Grim z Dragon "Mr. Grim"- Threaten my handler. I dare you.

03-03-2013, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
shepherdmom Knighted Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 2,323	I've gotten dogs from the shelter that were neutered early and never had a problem. One boy I got at about 5 months and he was really traumatized from the shelter environment and whatever happened to him before. He is over a year now and the biggest social cuddle-bug on the planet. He was young enough that with socialization and love he forgot all about his trauma.

03-03-2013, 01:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
ALynott New Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 7	First of all, thank you for the replies - please keep them coming! I need to know as much as possible to help make the decision of whether to adopt this pup or not... Jag and gsdlover91 - Regarding the neutering w/out anesthesia I really have NO IDEA why they would do something like that!! It seems barbaric to me. A girl at the rescue center the puppy is at now told me that the shelter they found him at routinely neuter without anesthetic. She was quite young, but I don't know why she would say that if it wasn't true. I am going back tomorrow and I'll find out more.... wolfy dog - In Europe I never spayed or neutered my dogs, and we never had any unwanted pregnancies, etc., but in LA it's mandatory to spay/neuter a dog before it reaches 4 months (unless you have a breeders license) due to the large number of unwanted dogs in the city. I can see the sense in it, although I do worry about the effects of spaying this early...

03-03-2013, 01:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
gsdlover91 Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 1,148	OP, I dont assume it is the end of the world, but I dont think fixing a dog that early is healthy either. Its probably bound to cause some development issues..some you may or may not notice. I think the main issue as wolfy dog said, is immature development of the external genitalia. I dont know, it just wont have all those manly hormones they need to develop. Doesnt mean it wont potentially be healthy and live a normal life with the right person. Id make sure the puppy is healthy though. Going through a surgery THAT young without an anesthetic....i dont know. __________________ Berlin vom Hokschhaus "The bond with a true dog is as lasting as the ties of this earth can be."

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