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Should people neuter/spay their dogs?

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#201 ·
So if Jenna nearly died of pyometra, would I spay her offspring to prevent pyometra? Probably not. As far as I know there is not a genetic component that makes some females more likely to have the condition than another. Whereas, bloat may have a genetic component, or just the progeny have the same shape form that might contribute to bloat, may make it much more likely for them to have the condition.
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I dont think there is. Like I said before, in thirty years we've had two females with Pyometra.
 
Discussion starter · #202 ·
Bringing this thread back to bump it for new people.

It's been on my mind since my friends asked if Viking was neutered yet.

"No."
"What? Why not?!"
"He's nine weeks! I don't see any reason to do so before he has reached full maturity."
"Well as long as you neuter eventually."
"To be honest, I probably won't neuter him. He's never going to be in a situation where I would allow that to happen."


They eventually backed off, but I felt like they were glaring daggers into my head. Because I hadn't had surgery performed on a nine week old puppy. Now for me, I never intend to take him to a dog park, or out in public without a leash. I don't have a yard to let him loose in that he can get out of, and I hope that by the time I have a yard he'll be well trained and him running away constantly won't be an issue.

The standard around here is to speuter 10 week old kittens before sending them out for adoption. The friend who asked why I hadn't neutered Viking yet grew up around here where that is the standard and probably doesn't know any better. It's "common knowledge". It's something you just do around here. Which is unfortunate, because speuter debate aside, there is no good reason to go and take a baby to get de-sexed.
 
#204 ·
I have gone BACK and FORTH on this one! Agonizing thing, actually. Almost as bad as choosing food!

I came on this forum intent to neuter at 16 weeks. Got much feedback, decided not to.

Fast forward to eight months old... sexual maturity setting in.. Bailey began earnestly sniffing girls and sniffing where they peed at the dog park. I stepped up shutting that down. He will still try, but now he knows it is going to get Mama grumpy with him, so it is better. (It's actually funny; he'll go for the sniff, I'm right there, he looks up, I don't really have to even say anything because he knows, gives me the "guilty" eye, turns around and that's that.) Then he had his very first attempted hump. I think three attempted hump incidents now, and all shut down PRONTO. I must say, as these things surfaced, neutering certainly was dancing on my mind. He marks all over at the dog park - I can't get a grip on that one yet because he's too dang quick. ANYWAY, now that I've found these issues really are quite manageable with supervision and control of the situation, I'm relaxed and more prepared to make it to at least a year, preferable 18 months to 2 years. We'll see.
 
#205 ·
ladyfreckles said:
This isn't a question about advice for me, it's just about opinions in general. I searched, but could not find a thread on this already.

I've had intact pets and I've had neutered/spayed pets. I don't really have a preference. However, awhile ago when I was doing research for a report I came across something about neutering and how spaying/neutering your pets can cause more diseases than it supposedly "fixes".

Now, whether or not that is true is up for debate. I've had perfectly healthy neutered pets and I've had neutered animals with neuter-related health problems that cost me thousands of dollars.

I spoke to my vet about this, and the vet said that there's no reason to neuter your animal unless there are health concerns that are related to spaying/neutering. She doesn't condone it at all unless it's absolutely necessary. On the flip side, the people from the shelter I spoke to said that people who don't neuter/spay their animals are "fools" and are just asking for their pets to get cancer, pregnant, and be aggressive.

I spoke to another vet at my facility, and they had a more in-between approach. He said that he did not believe in neutering purebreds unless there was a medical reason, but that rescue animals should be.

Interesting articles on the matter:
http://leerburg.com/pdf/neutering.pdf
Spaying / Neutering
http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/longtermhealtheffectsofspayneuterindogs.pdf
AVMA: Mandatory spay/neuter a bad idea
BAD EFFECTS OF SPAY-NEUTER,IGNORED BY AR EXTREMISTS | Pet Defense


What is your opinion on the matter?
Do you spay/neuter your pets? Why or why not?
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No, unless there is a problem with there reproductive parts they will remain intact.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I think that a mammal's body is a intricate number of systems that work in tandem and work together and work separately to perform all the many functions that make up the life of the critter. If you look at a thyroid gland, and all of what it actually affects, it just makes sens to me that the hormones in the reproductive organs may do more than generate eggs and sperm.

For me, it is no problem to keep intact animals. If someone feels they should spay because they do not want to deal with heat cycles, I have no problem with that. If someone is afraid they will not be able to keep their dog and bitch apart, then they should spay or neuter one of them. It is one of those things that people should not feel better than others because they do or they don't. Spaying or neutering does not make you a rocket scientist, nor does not spaying or neutering make you low crawling thing.

Vet's and humane organizations have an agenda. That agenda is not always the health and well being of an individual dog.
 
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#206 ·
I never planned to breed Josh, no one would have him anyway, he was cryptorchid.

We ended up giving in and having him neutered at 7 mo, might have waited a little longer, our vet said the younger dogs get over surgery easier than older ones so we went ahead and did it earlier than planned.
 
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#207 ·
I have both my male and female fixed, I don't want puppies and it's easier to deal without the extra hormones going through them, Sadie I had done at 7 months and zero I had done at 14 months, I hated going to the dog park and dogs trying to mount Sadie of others trying to fight zero ( even though he's the nicest and least territorial male) other dogs could just smell that he was intact and it was to much for me to handle. And he's not a good specimen for his breed. Beautiful yes! But he has to much anxiety
 
#208 ·
It may seem sexest, and unfair.... but as a rule I only fix my females. I do have two neutered males but they come to me that way. I just don't want to have to deal with the heat cycles, or deal with puppies. I live too far away from others to worry about my males doing any unauthorized breeding.
 
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#209 ·
I decided to take the middle ground with Ilda.

She's almost two years old and I'll be taking her in next Monday for a laparoscopic spay.

Still got the lecture from the vet about how she has a much more of a chance of getting mammery cancer..:(...but after doing research there's a lot of health issues brought on by S/N too young as well. We'll wait until our Aussie girl is around 14 months before spaying her.

This is a good article written by a vet on this topic:

Canine Sports Productions: Early Spay-Neuter Considerations for the Canine Athlete





ladyfreckles said:
Bringing this thread back to bump it for new people.

It's been on my mind since my friends asked if Viking was neutered yet.

"No."
"What? Why not?!"
"He's nine weeks! I don't see any reason to do so before he has reached full maturity."
"Well as long as you neuter eventually."
"To be honest, I probably won't neuter him. He's never going to be in a situation where I would allow that to happen."


They eventually backed off, but I felt like they were glaring daggers into my head. Because I hadn't had surgery performed on a nine week old puppy. Now for me, I never intend to take him to a dog park, or out in public without a leash. I don't have a yard to let him loose in that he can get out of, and I hope that by the time I have a yard he'll be well trained and him running away constantly won't be an issue.

The standard around here is to speuter 10 week old kittens before sending them out for adoption. The friend who asked why I hadn't neutered Viking yet grew up around here where that is the standard and probably doesn't know any better. It's "common knowledge". It's something you just do around here. Which is unfortunate, because speuter debate aside, there is no good reason to go and take a baby to get de-sexed.
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#210 ·
ladyfreckles said:
"Well as long as you neuter eventually."
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I love it when people say stuff like this. "As long as you neuter him eventually. . . ." what? You'll still be my friend? Santa will still bring me presents? I'll still go to heaven? And if I don't neuter him eventually, you won't be my friend, Santa won't bring me presents, and I don't get to go to heaven?

Other people's opinions have ZERO impact on most of my decisions.
 
#211 ·
If I had a male from a good breeder that had potential as a stud down the road I'd likely keep him intact. Same story for a female, but it would not really be my decision, I'd defer to the breeder on that matter. I have no business doing my own breeding, not enough knowledge in that arena. Also, when I say good breeder I mean someone that knows what they are doing, does it right and is in the biz for the love of the breed above monetary gain.

Since I'm a rescue type fella, I just get the bits removed to make life easier all around. I might treat myself to a high-end PB from a breeder someday, and I'll make that call at the time as the situation warrants.
 
#212 ·
I'm like the other people on here, I haven't neutered and was planning on doing it at 2 years old. But we haven't had any issues, he listens really well, and he shows no aggression due to having extra testosterone. I love his work ethic, I can keep him in check, so I don't think he'll be getting neutered at all.

Now the next one in a few years will be a female and will be spayed as soon as she's out of her first heat...unless I start doing conformation. But most likely won't and she'll get spayed so I don't have to deal with keeping the two apart and heat schedules.
 
#213 ·
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#214 ·
Rocket will get neutered because both of his testicles are retained, and as far as I know, his risk of (testicular?) cancer is higher then if he didn't get neutered? But, it won't be for awhile. He's fine. No aggression, minimal marking, never out of my sight. If it weren't for that, he would likely not be neutered.
 
#215 ·
We'll neuter Ruger one of these days. He's not showing any butt-headedness that often goes with adolescence so he's still got his.
But before 2yrs. probably.
 
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#216 ·
#218 · (Edited)
Yeah, but who is biased here? I can try to find the cited studies and read them but I've not got the D.V.M. after my name.

This is why I never take a some bloggers 'word' on something like this. I verify the source as to the individual's professional status and ability to interpret medical data.

If the article you linked to is correct then the author of the first should be ashamed....because I read your link and it's not just about being 'overblown' it's down right misleading.

(btw there's something similiar going on with vitamin c and it's affect on osteoarthritis in dogs..conflicting opinions amongst vets and Veterinary colleges....)

msvette2u said:
I'd go straight to the source and not rely on a biased individual to interpret the findings.
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#220 · (Edited)
Emoore said:
I love it when people say stuff like this. "As long as you neuter him eventually. . . ." what? You'll still be my friend? Santa will still bring me presents? I'll still go to heaven? And if I don't neuter him eventually, you won't be my friend, Santa won't bring me presents, and I don't get to go to heaven?
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:D:cry:
I guess I would have to agree with you there.:p By the way, when it comes to neutering your pet, people who have pets wanted their pets spayed or neutered, but when they find out how much it costs, they think it won't be possible. But it absolutely is possible—there are many shelters, veterinarians, and organizations who are ready and able to help. And it can be easy to find them.
Now, if you still need help, we've got more suggestions.
1. Visit some website on the Internet to see if there is a state or national group that will help you out.
2. Call your local humane society or animal shelter and tell them you are looking for low-cost spay/neuter services.
3. Talk to your veterinarian. You might be able to work out payment arrangements.
4. Click here for website that offers credit plans for veterinary services.
 
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