castration???

[simonejp]

hi all,
my springer harvey is just over a year old, and still has all his bits. lately while we are out walking if we come across a lady dog, he follows them and goes deaf when i call him, usually he comes when i call. i know that obviously he is begining to mature and these things will happen. i just wandered if he will always be as intrested in the ladies if we keep him entire? i am for getting him castrated for this and other reasons. my oh thinks that having him castrated will change his personality, would just like to know what you all think?
sorry for the long post

 

[Onyxia]

Have always found that castration will only change personality for the better,so dont worry about that.
As long as he is entire he will have a strong intrest in any bitch he sees, and TBH unless you plan to breed form him it is better for him and you to have him done.

 

[simonejp]

thanks anima,
another reason why we are in this dilema is because the last time he went in and had anesthetic, we nearly lost him as it turned out he is allergic to it. he had only had it once before, so nobody knew. so this time we need to go about things differently, and tbh that is worrying me, although i know the vet will go through our options when it comes to it..

 

[sherlocksgirls]

Hi had my six year old Springer castrated on Monday. Still feeling bad but vet said it was the best thing as he has been chasing skirt all his life and had started to get aggressive as well. My vet also informed me that Springers can be prone to testicular cancer later in life. So that made up our minds. Hope this helps , its a horrid decision and took me two years and three new fences in garden.

 

[Onyxia]

Hmm,makes it a much tricker situation!
Talk to your vet and see what your options are.I really do think all involved ould be happier for him losing his bits but if there isnt any way around using the same type of anesthetic you may just have to put up with his selective hearing.

Good luck whatever you decide

 

[echodomino]

I've got 3 entire dogs, 2 of them have been used at stud and they live with bitches, the only time they have a strong interest in them when they're in season and obviously we separate them.

In my experience castration hasn't made any difference at all to the unwanted behaviour but then again that was a different reason, not bitches.

It doesn't always work, my friend had her dog castrated and he still tries it on with the dog he lives with. Another friend had her JR done and the only thing it stopped him trying to mate was the yard brush!!

He still did it to her other terrier, the only difference was that there are no pups!

IMO it only makes a difference if you don't want to breed.

 

[milor]

Castration is likely to change his character - usually it will make male dogs quieter and calmer but be warned it is also VERY likely to change his coat and he will grow a thick woolly undercoat which is rarely shed so he will need to be groomed much more often - he is also highly likely to put on loads of weight - hence the reason you see so many fat fluffy plodders around - especially in breeds like Cavaliers, Spaniels and Golden Retrievers who would normally have a flat silky coat.

 

[simonejp]

we wont be breeding from him, although he is extremey handsome!! i think maybe the girls he has met recently were in season, he hasn't started to hump anything yet!!! (shouldn't speak too soon!!)

sherlocksgirls you mentioned testicular cancer which was another main factor for getting him done, want to do the best thing for him as always.
thanks all for your wisdom

 

[CAYLA]

All my dogs are/always will be castrated.........Testicular Cancer is a very good reason to have him castrated......although it is likely that he will still show a little interest in the girls......it wont be any where near to the extent he shows when entire.

It is true the coat will grow in thicker/faster......however this can be easily maintained....with a few extra trips to the groomers

and he will be more prone to gain weight.....however this is also easily maintained.....more excersise less food

If you do not intend to use him for breeding purposes.......then IMO it is better to have him castrated......the only worry I would have is the anaesthetic risk u mention.......but I am sure your vet will look into this....and discuss the risks....if any.

It is very rare castration.....will change a dogs character/nature for the worse.......As mentioned it very commonly calms them in my experience.

 

[simonejp]

the weight thing bothers me a little, but he is exercised every day and is always bouncing around given the chance!! he is groomed daily too and enjoys it so thats no problem.

my mind is pretty made up just worry about the anesthetic thing, but as you say our vet will discuss risks etc with us. he always remembers harvey because of what happened so i know he will want to do as much as he can for him, so that it doesn't happen again. he said it put about twenty years on him that day!!

 

[CAYLA]

All my dogs......7 at the moment have been neutered......none are over weight.........As I advise anyone that neuters their dog........if you begin to see a noticable change in weight then reduce the amount of food you feed...........alot of people still carry on feeding the same amount+treats.......as they would have before the procedure........hence the reason we see these over weight dogs walking around

As you say you give him chance to excercise regurlarly......so there is no need for u to think you will have any probs with his weight.

LOL....

Im sure your vet will state any concerns....as u mention ...he wont be wanting another panick attack.

 

[louise1967]

I had this problem with my dog RINGO, I did book him in to be castrated, but my vet advised me to wait untill puberty was over, about 2 yrs and he would probably settle down, he said a 1 year old is like an 18 year old boy with hormones all over the place. He used to be rampant as hell and I had his sister too and had to separate them while I was at work as he would try to rape her. It did pass thankfully and he kept his bits untill he was 13 when he lost them to cancer. He then lived untill last August 16 yrs old

 

[prose]

As long as you give your dog plenty of exercise and a good diet, there's no reason for a healthy animal to be overweight. I know plenty of "fixed" dogs in their teens who are still in great shape. My dog is a spayed female, four, and is mistaken for a six-month pup because of her condition.

Unless you're a serious breeder, I'd send him for the chop! Having their tackle can cause male dogs to be frustrated, aggressive, prone to testicular cancer and prostrate problems. (Oh, and the longer you leave it, the more likely his humping tendencies will stay around.)

 

[Oneofthepack]

I've never owned an unneutered dog or bitch and have never had an overweight one so it's not compulsory! I've also never had one with an abnormally thick coat so I skipped that bit too. One of my dogs that was neutered aged 3 still had the urge to bonk but he concentrated his lust on passing labrador puppies and bitches in season never affected him. Once their bits have gone the difference is that like most lazy men they won't go looking for it but if an opportunity presents itself...........

 

[sloulou]

Hope I won't get shot down for this!

I've been doing alot of research on this as I have a 4 1/2 month old labrador puppy.

1) The vet suggested we get him castrated at 9 months - no disucssion about options - just assumed we would (so did we)

2) Puppy classes - we had a talk from the woman who runs these. She explained the problems with castrating dogs - especially if you get them done too young and advised waiting until 16-18 months old.

3) Dog behaviourist - said that we should also wait till 16-18 months because the hormones need to do their jobs and if you castrate too early the bones do not properly develop and the retain puppyish legginess. She also said that there is not really any reason to castrate if you are able to manage your dog properly.

4) A second vet suggested that there is no need to castrate unless there are real problems (either health or behavioural).

other points - bitches in season shouldn't be out in the park when you are walking anyway - that's irresponsible. They should be kept in until the season is over.

Basically I have come to the decision that either way - we won't castrate until he is 18 months old - by which point we will have had to manage the teenage hormonal stage and should be able to manage him - if not then we will castrate.

I would do alot more research if I were you (use the internet/ speak to experts) and come to an informed decision.

 

[simonejp]

would probably wait a little while longer to do it anyway because of what happened with the anesthetic (it was in january) the vet advised us to wait until at least the summer to think about it. as i said earlier, have never seen him try to hump anything yet, he isn't aggressive towards anyone or anything. he is 13 months now, so will see how we get on over the summer months, and speak to the vet.
thanks for alll yor comments, they have been a real help.

 

[sloulou]

Doesn't he hump anything?

My puppy already humps his bed! Am he is much younger - am sure he's going to be a handful

Sounds like you doing everything right

 

[kibob]

I have owned two un-castrated male dogs. The first, a lab, lived until almost 14 (we had him PTS cos he went off his back legs) and we had no problems with his "male bits" or personality. He only ever humped as a puppy and never even thought about it as an adult dog. He was the sweetest, kindest most well-behaved chap. He ocassionally wandered, but only ever went to the neighbour - who owned a bitch, and never went any further.

My current dog is "entire" (jury is still out as to whether he will keep his nads or not). We would like to breed from him. He has fantastic breeding and I have had a few enquiries from other Ridgeback owners as to bringing a bitch to him. We are undecided. He doesn't hump either, never has - good job really cos he is rather large

He has wandered off a few times - it seems that for about a month every year (this time of year) he is driven by his hormones and does go slightly off his food and looks for ladies, then this settles and he is fine for the rest of the summer. Our intentions are to decide over the next year - to chop or not to chop lol.

 

[echodomino]

If you do decide to have him done I'd leave it a bit longer like some others have said.

I believe the dog should be fully matured before removing the hormones that mature them. I have the same feelings over bitches being spayed, I wouldn't have them done until they've had a first season at the VERY EARLIEST - it doesn't necessarily mean they're fully mature but its one of the signs that everything is working.

 

[kibob]

Thats interesting, thanks. He is now two and a half so, if we do decide to have him done, he would be 3 by then (we are going to see what the summer brings)

Out of interest, your dogs that have been used at stud, have you found that they are now more obsessed with the ladies and therefore harder to control (ie, wandering off alot etc) or have you not found any difference?

 

[echodomino]

Not found any difference with either except that they realise quicker that our girls are in season.

My JRT has been used twice and I was worried that this would blow his brain but to be 100% honest with you he is no different, doesn't wander off (unless he sees an unsuspecting bunny!!) and still gets on really well with the other 2 males and doesn't cause any trouble at agility training.

The HWV has been used 3 or 4 times and he's no different either and lives with the JR and the other HWV male. We weren't sure how he'd be at first because he was very humpy as a puppy but it didn't affect him. He doesn't wander either, will happily concentrate in the show ring and gets on with other dogs too.

The only thing I've noticed that's different is that if a "lady" comes around deliberately! they know what they're doing just a little bit quicker!!! LOL

The JR is embaressingly fast at performing!! LMAO But then you want that in a stud dog - he's no good if he wont perform.

But being serious again, no they're not unmanagable and live together fine and with our bitches - unless they're in season; not sure how easy it would be to sell a Jack-Viz!! Neither of them have sex on the brain either - by that I mean they're not interested in grabbing people etc!!

 

[CAYLA]

Although some people choose/advised to have males castrated after maturity and bitches spayed after a first season...........most vets will advise dogs to be castrated between 9-12months and bitches before a first season(the ages all my own dogs are neutered) as the longer the sex organs are left to mature.........the greater the risk of MAMMARY TUMOURS/PYOMETRA in bitches and PROSTATE/ANAL cancers in males............having them done younger, near enough completley cuts the risks of developing this.

 

[sloulou]

CALA - I have been told that is the reason - but have also heard that for example mammary tumours and pyometra are less common than bitches suffering from being spayed badly (eg. urination problems).

Your perspective is clearly from a veterinary side. Which is cool, so I understand that point of view.

But I have been doing lots of research into both sides and I have to say the contradictions are confusing. I understand castration/ spaying early cuts risks of some health probs, but there must also be a trade off with the risks of doing it so early as well?

I guess that like in most things in life - you have to weigh one side off against the other and make what you feel is the best decision for your pets.

 

[CAYLA]

Yep.............it is a little confusing when weighing the pro/cons

.....however I must say in my experience......the incontinence/urinary problems are not nearly as common as the MAMMARY/secondary chest tumours in older bitches....that have been neutered at at later stage....normally through the results of PYOMETRA or those that have never been neutered.....and interestingly enough the majority of incontinence we treat are in larger breed bitches more commonly un-neutered.

However that is what research is for to try and help people come to a dissision.....esp those without a clear insight

 

[Onyxia]

My vet is always saying "if it has them, I can chop them off" lol.
There are of course pro's and con's to having them done early and late, IMO as long as they are unable to sire pups(unless thats why they are still entire) when exactly doesnt matter too much.


Widget, those problems are only (as you say) from spays that ar not done well.Go to a really good ver and you wont have them.

 

[belly]

Oh No...not another springer called Harvey....theres your problem lol. Our Harvey was "done" at 6 months because he used to bother the wits out of my old bitch...sadly she is no longer with us(sniff). He is now three years old and yes he has got a thick coat (clip it all off with the horse clippers now!) and yes he does tend to be a little on the porky side (more exercise prescribed ) but personality wise I did nt notice the change.
My friends collie was chemically castrated before he was surgically seen to...not quite sure exactly what this involved but I guess it would avoid the need for anaesthesia.

 

[kibob]

Thanks for that. You sound like you have a household full of very happy doggies

PMSL at the Jack-Viz - uhmm, never know maybe there is a market, what with the new designer doggy trend