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[HeatherH]

Hi, We've been busy running through the valley. Not sure how this is going to workout ( no one wants to come out in the cold weather) Come a lttle warmer weather suddenly everyone wants to take a walk.

Anyway, Dutch is now 8 months and huge, he's got his appointment for you know what. Neutering on April 13.

Cross fingers

Heather

[Dutchringgirl]

[alspyce]

Have you looked into the Pro and Con sides of neutering at a young age?

[LyonsFamily]

Have you looked into the Pro and Con sides of neutering at a young age?

That's what I was going to say. Whole Dog Journal recently did a write up about the pros and cons. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues ... tml?page=2

Personally, I have the ability to keep intact animals securely confined, and I don't like neutering males under 2-3 years, depending on the breed, and for performance dogs, I prefer to not neuter at all. I've never had an accidental litter, and I feel the cons out weigh the pros.

For females, to prevent pyometra and other diseases, I have spayed all of my females in the past, but after they were 3. I've only had 2 females before though and I prefer males. Vets offer uterus only spays to prevent pyometra and pregnancies as well as tube tying options now.

I understand that not everyone has the ability or desire to do they extra work to keep these dogs secured, and some people want the removal of testosterone for training and behavioral reasons or to get them into daycare or dog parks, so it's always good to weigh your personal pros and cons.

Odin was neutered at 5 months at his first shelter and boy is he leggy and his body hasn't filled out like I had hoped. He's still a great dog, but if it was under my control, I would've at least waited longer for him to develop more.

There are also places that will do a vasectomy on males instead, to allow the hormones continue if you do want to neuter early.

[leih merigian]

Vets offer uterus only spays to prevent pyometra and pregnancies as well as tube tying options now.

Then there's another option, which I'll mention here to keep them all in the same thread ; ovariectomy, which is removal of the ovaries only, keeping the uterus. It's the hormones that cause the pyometra and other related diseases, so no ovaries, no diseases, no need to remove any additional organs.

Again, I know the OP is discussing neutering a male...and on that topic, I agree with Stephanie (tho if someone isn't able to ensure the safety factor, it's kind of inevitable).