It is worth getting my boy 'snipped'?

[Cop-Pop]

As the title says really - my lab is 5 years old (in May) and is still entire. He can be a bit of a pain when there are girly dogs neaby but he's more interested in playing than anything else, he isn't aggressive at all and I always wanted to use him for stud.

The thing is he is only a few cm inside the minimum limit for the breed as he was the runt so people aren't interested in using him. I'm considering getting him done but he's v sensitive to everything - food, wormers, flea medications, shampoos... He had t take pills for an infected paw last year and had a v bad reaction to those as well. I'm a bit worried he'll react to the anaesthetic (sp?) etc... Having all his bits doesn't seem to have affected his temperament any, so is it worth keeping them on?

Sorry if I rambled...

 

[nikkiportia]

I've decided to keep my Whippet entire. I think it gives them more character, and he is such a show off!
But then, I do hope he'll be a stud dog one day, and perhaps do a bit of showing.

 

[Acolyte]

I would say have him done - just makes it easier if there are bitches in season about - and chat to your vet first about your concerns about the anaesthetic etc

Just make sure he doesn't put loads of weight on after he is done, castrated males tend to put weight on really easily!

 

[Luce1504]

My friend who used to own the kennels where I worked, looked into gettin her st bernard neutered when she bought the kennels as he used to go mad when he could smell bitches on heat, down in the kennels. The vet strongly recommended her not to do this, as by the time he'd reached the age he had (think he was 7) in the vets opinion he would still continue the same behaviour even after having been snipped and he thought the risks of the anaesthetic for a giant breed outweighed the possibility the operation may stop his over-excitement. So I'd question the vet as to if they thought his behaviour towards bitches would change if he was neutered at this stage.

 

[sloulou]

I'd keep him entire..... if he is no problem then why have him neutered?

If you get him done then he will be prone to weight gain, his coat will change... Plus you have to put him through surgery without any real benefit...

My lab is entire - i would only have him neutered if behviour or health problems meant I needed to. Am not against neutering, but in your case I don't see the need

 

[Oneofthepack]

I agree that there doesn't seem to be a huge problem keeping him entire even though you're not going to breed from him but I have to disagree re-the change in coat, weight and character after a dog is neutered. My dogs are always neutered, they all have lovely soft silky coats, none of them are overweight and they all have lovely natures and are full of character.

 

[sloulou]

I thought that was what neutering did to dogs coats? made them soft and fluffy?

My dog has a very coarse yet shiny coat.. my parents neutered Border Collie has a very soft, fluffy yet shiny coat. Neutered labs I have seen have a more dense coat than mine..

 

[igpodet]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was what neutering did to dogs coats? made them soft and fluffy?/quote]
Mostly long or semi long coats are affected by neutering eg Spaniels.. but not all of them!
Neutering does not make dogs fat

over feeding does!
If you were planning on using your dog at stud he would need anaesthetic for his Hip and Elbow X-Rays too, but as you say no one is interested in using him anyway..I would say go ahead and get him 'done'.
It is only advisable to breed from the very best dogs, those who have proved themselves either working or in the show ring; who have the best possible health record, and have had all the necessary health tests with good scores etc. The rescues and dogs homes are full to overflowing with irresponsibly bred dogs , why add to those statistics?
For a male dog to be allowed to mate possibly just once is IMHO very cruel - to find out what it is all about and then be told you cant do it anymore .... well WE wouldn't like it would we!!

Sorry just my opinion......*climbs down from soapbox*

 

[wireweiners]

There was a discussion about neutering on a dog list that I belong to not long ago. The general consensus was that there are fewer health benefits to neutering a male than spaying a female. I say if you don't have a temperment problem and can contain him so he doesn't get away to look for a female, then at his age I wouldn't do it, especially if he has some allergy issues. That said, I have 2 males that are neutered and 2 intact. The 2 neutered males are both large dogs. I neutered Hank because every time my dachsie bitch came in season he was a total pain. I neutered the pit bull because I wanted to stop any agressive tendencies. The two dachsie males are intact, no problems.

 

[sloulou]

Neutuering means dogs need less food - apparently 1/3 less than before - so whilst it doesn't make them fat - they need less food - so often they do get fat as people feed the same.

You can have hip/ elbow scores do without GA

as I will be getting my dog scored - is under sedation.

Agree Nell that only the best dogs should be bred from and dogs should not be allowed to mate just once - is not fair on them.

Irresponsible breeding is v. bad - I hate it

Having said that I plan to keep my dog entire and not ever breed from him (he is very well bred but has a hernia, so would not be suitable to breed from). I don't see a problem with keeping a dog entire. Don't see the point of neutering a male dog for the sake of it.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I want him to put weight on - he's anorexic!!! His tummy problems mean getting food into him is a nightmare! When he was a pup he was fine but just before we got him the 'breeders' allowed him to get v wet and cold and he caught some type of virus which set it all off

The worsst he's ever been is when next door had a bitch in season and he kept standing in the garden staring at the fence but after a couple of days he was back to normal

He got his vacs coming up so I'll speak to the vet abt it then I guess.

 

[sevenoceans]

From my neutred JRT dog's point of view..... happy bouncy, lively, loads of characters, very slim and musular but still eats right amount sometimes little more cos he's on the go all the time...... His coat is coarse as before it only goes soft when he had bath with shampoo!.

worth asking vet before you decide anything.

My old dog who was a Basset hound, he was entire the whole life, the only time he's interested is when lab bitches are on heat! we and breeder tried to have him studded out to a basset bitch..... not interested at all! Silly beggar cos we could be rolling in with the money if he did!! I often wonder when i see short legged Labs around where i used to live, i wonder if it was his as when we were on holiday he escaped from pet sitters and were missing for 2 days, he was very happy dog afterwards!!

 

[CAYLA]

All mine are neutered, none over weight none with horrific hair...it can effect hair...but mainly long coated breeds...it tends to make their hair thicker...due to hormone change...but nothing a brush and groom wont sort out

, they are more prone to weight gain...only if not allowed to exercise regurlarly and over fed...much the same as an un-netered dog

and their is always the risk of testicular cancer...this alone is enough for me to get my dogs done....working in the vets I see it all to often

 

[prose]

I am always baffled when I hear that neutering affects a dog's coat and weight. If anything, Stella gets leaner, more muscular, and shinier, the older she gets. She is forever mistaken for a puppy and is nearly five-years-old.

If you don't plan to breed, I would get him done. My friend's Boxer was snipped at seven, after he developed terrible prostrate issues, and was just fine, despite having lots of food allergies and such.