The College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University found "castration at any age showed no sparing effect on the risk of development of prostate cancer in the dog." Given her extreme behavioral changes, it may be a good idea. 43 Comments. He is not doing anything he used to do before he got neutered. Please note you said Bob Barker is deceased. (It did improve my tom cat's behaviour though, who stopped getting into cat fights and developing infections and abscesses on a weekly basis We neutered him in the hope that it would stop and it did). Neutering does not cause a change in personality, guarding instincts, intelligence, playfulness, and affection. Just be sure to discuss everything with your vet to give yourself the best chance of a positive outcome. All these considered, it's hard to argue the cancer benefits to neutering early or you end up playing the whole I see your very slight chance of testicular cancer and raise you a certain increase in bone and heart tumours. It is true that neutering and spaying can trigger personality changes in your pet, but these changes can vary significantly from one dog to the next. This may sound a bit harsh, but remember that vets love animals and want the best for them sometimes a bit of pain is an acceptable outcome if it serves a greater good. He changed a lot, very sleepy, does not want to go out for a walk and outside he looks depressed. On the upside he rarely gets frisky with other male dogs in the park but there are still occasional burst ups, so I could not say that the neutering has majorly improved this. I know it hasnt even been 24hrs after anesthesia (sp?) Those on the pro-painkiller side of the debate usually prescribe these medications to eliminate as much pain as possible and to help dogs rest comfortably while healing. Lose him three time's and he's gone. Is this normal? Help! She used to want to play all the time. Because he has issues that I cant deal with and obviously he cant either. start producing sex hormones for the first time) which is very approximately 6 months in males and around 9 months in females, though breed and body size play large rolls here. What your readers are witnessing 2, 3, 5 days to a month after surgery is trauma response behavior from having a surgery. alert('Right clicking on this page is not allowed. (e.which == 3) : (e.button == 2)); Dogs of both genders neutered or spayed at 6 months or younger had significantly increased odds of developing a behavioral disorder, including separation anxiety, noise phobia, timidity, excitability, submissive urination, aggression, hyperactivity, and/or fear biting. Hypothyroidism in dogs: 66 cases (1987-1992). He is active, eating, drinking well, full of energy, etc. Dont believe these myths about neutering, Mental health service dogs 101: What you need to know about alert dogs, emotional support animals, and others, Should you get a health and dog DNA kit? Thus if you remove the estrogen-producing organs in immature dogs, female and male, you could expect cause growth plates to remain open and the dog to grow longer bones. Vets need to stop pushing this idea that removing all sex organs is the end all be all of spay and neuter. Neutering your male dog -- a gonadectomy -- reduces his level of the male hormone testosterone, so you may see differences in any hormone-related physical and behavioral attributes; specific growth effects include a larger size due to growth plates remaining open longer, and in some cases, obesity. Done all that. Females spayed at 12 months or younger, and bothgenders neutered or spayed at over 12 months had significantly increased odds of developing hemangiosarcoma, compared with intact dogs. However, there are also significant risks associated with owning an intact, maturing pet. NOW He refuses to sleep with Me, and My other dog, every single night. It increases several different health risks for the dog. Thus with no estrogen to shut it down, these animals can continue to grow and wind up with abnormal growth patterns and bone structure. Over the course of these two months, you should expect a few small changes; however, most owners dont see big differences outside of changes to these typical pre-op traits, like excessive humping. This typically involves an initial injection a short time before the operation starts, which will start calming your dog down and making him or her feel drowsy. Less testosterone is present, which means there is less of a desire to mark territory. jun 26, 2019 The Chinese Shar-Pei Dog is an ancient, unique and rare breed. And other pet owners are probably just heeding the advice of the great Bob Barker. Please leave emotion at the door and your comments below! As the dog ages, the focus on diet and exercise must increase as the dog will want to eat the same amount while wanting to exercise less. hi, my 8mo shih tzu is behaving the same way after i got him fixed. Lose him twice it's a week's wages. Well dive into the issue below, to try to help you know what to expect when having your dog fixed.. INCREASED RISK OF HIP DYSPLASIA Both testicles will then be removed and the associated blood vessels and the spermatic cords (vas deferens) will be tied off. I hesitate to neuter my male Pomeranian for the following reason: We also have a 9 1/2 yr old Lab mix. I'm utterly upset after reading your article because I was not in favour of neutering my dog but it was an emotional rather than rational decision. It will also reduce the aggressiveness seen in the dog over time without reducing their desire to be active and playful every day. The danger here is making an assumption that all dogs benefit from this procedure. I have another male dog, who sleeps at bottom of bed on same side as the pup. These benefits are obviously different depending on the sex of your dog, so well discuss them separately below. Up until now I thought that the last 2 were due to either stress or age, but now Im thinking its hormonal as well! Neutering is often the best thing you can do for your pup. She eats fine. Here's how to find the cause. Ive read too much . Dogs that are neutered may have their coat growth patterns altered. I can't find a study to verify this, I can only testify to what groomers are repeatedly telling us, that desexed dogs have very wooly coats, commonly called spay coat. Males are generally less likely to exhibit urine marking around the house after being neutered. Other common issues, such as infections or cysts, are reduces as well. MORE READING - USEFUL LINKS There are also some breed-specific problems that can occur. Then, once the vet is ready, he or she will make an incision through the skin, muscle, and fat to open the abdomen and access the ovaries and uterus. The studies above site a decrease of marking and urination in general as the most positive behavioral outcome. Best of luck, Rubi! Like all My other dogs did before Him. I made Him a dog bed with cushions, blankets, etc. 4. We have to totally separate them at all times till GSH is healed. It can cause urinary incontinence. On the other hand, vets who do not like to prescribe painkillers to dogs argue that it discourages your dog from moving around more than necessary and helps keep them calm while they heal. Here's everything you need to know about this potentially deadly chemical danger. As long as the dog receives a healthy diet and regular exercise, the act of neutering will not cause the dog to put on weight. There are no two ways about it the data here is complicated. How long after neutering does dog behavior change? Using cutesy names for maiming animals is poor stewardship. While we provide information resourced and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. This results in irregular body proportions. It affects the maturation process. It also reduces body fat (one reason why some spayed pets can put on weight). After all, any time a human or pet goes under anesthesia, theres a small risk of serious complications; not to mention other possibilities, like an infection at the site. Spaying, is the removal of not only the ovaries but the uterus and fallopian tubes of the female dog. Neutered and spayed dogs had five times higher incidence of other types of cancer, regardless of age of neutering. The positives of neutering a male dog include the following: Having a dog neutered reduces the risk of them developing testicular cancer, but it only reduces the risk by a small margin which is something worth making a note of It also reduces the chances of a dog developing benign prostrate health issues WHAT IS NEUTERING? Keeping a dog intact can cause a number of unwanted behaviors, including humping, marking, and wandering to find a mate. Some male dogs may exhibit fewer aggressive behaviors after being neutered. That is a tricky decision. 3. Let's find out, Is your dog refusing to eat? Cutting of a dogs testicles is not fixing. I put Him up there when He acts like He wants to, but then He immediately climbs back off bed. Let us know how shes doing in another month or two. I couldnt get him in the car to take hime to get euthanized tonite. Since then, he has been a lot more obedient. It controls all the typical puberty bits in males such as the less useful growth of the adams apple, facial and body hair to the very much more useful height and muscle mass of the individual. As responsible members of society, we owe it to our communities to proactively protect our intact pets from unplanned breeding at all costs. Let us know if you and your vet figure anything out! does neutering change a dog coat. Group one was neutered at 7 wks, group two at 7 months, and group three remained unneutered. Please provide a valid email address to continue. Its a good message to follow, but that doesnt mean you wont see any side effects or that the surgeries carry no risks. If you have no plans to breed your dog, neutering can lower their chances of developing various cancers, prostate problems, and other health complications. Very thorough and informative article Ben. A more careful examination of the aggression with a veterinarian experienced in treating behavior disorders is now recommended prior to neutering, as neutering may worsen fear-related behaviors in a small subset of dogs. 1. Neutering is a form of surgical sterilization for male dogs. Sorry, Bob! Early neutering increases the risk of urinary incontinence by 4-20%. Some pups are notorious chowhounds, while others are dainty eaters. Many temporary changes will go away as soon as he recovers from surgery, and hopefully, youll find the exact same pup after. Others may simply do so because the shelter they adopted the animal from legally requires them to. { Get tons of great dog training advice and tips about gear! If you grew up watching Bob Barker host The Price is Right, then you knew the show would be closed in the same way, every day. The comments though . You have reported none of the cancers whose risk is found to increase after spay / neuter, such as haemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and mast cell tumors. "Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions." "Your dog should be spayed or . These should go down or even cease after the operation. Follow your care instructions to the letter to avoid complications and much of the strange behavior after neutering your dog will resolve as he heals. 3. Spaying and neutering is responsible pet ownership. Aside from that, youll want to keep everything as normal as possible so that your pup goes into the office relaxed and happy. Velcro dogs take this to the next level. But we appreciate you sharing your experiences. The removal of the testicles changes the hormonal balance that is within the male dog. So, if shes young, it may just be a coincidence. It stops the breeding process. In females, the ovaries and usually the uterus are taken out and is called spaying. However, there are some clues you can look to and make an educated guess. Neutering can reduce these behaviors because it changes the urge to mate. So I followed the advice of my online training forum and had her spayed. The number one reason for removing the sex hormones is to prevent unwanted breeding, hence folk at the front line of mopping up all our unwanted fur babies are very big fans.. Increased sexual . 3. All 4 have been through this procedure with no negative changes to prior activity level or personality. At the vet she was high energy active . But what about other unwanted changes, like to your precious pups personality? Sorry to hear that, Karen. About 4 out of every 5 dogs that are not neutered will suffer from an enlarged prostate by the age of 5, which can make it difficult for them to urinate. Have your pets spayed or neutered.. I was training her to be a Migraine Alert Service Dog. She is acting like she did at 6 months old. The early neutering of dogs is not without it's side effects or critics, and I'm certainly one of them. Our Female Dog has gained weight and become moodier at times. Dogs that are neutered may have their coat growth patterns altered. PLEASE HELP ME! She will calm down a bunch they said. There are a few possible causes, Loss of appetite in dogs might be a problem or it may be just fine. Increased risk-taking. It also does not define their personality. They divided dogs and cats into three groups. In my opinion it is quite clear that neutering your dog early, before he / she is a fully formed, mature adult, comes with very significant health concerns. But, we can promise you one thing with out any doubt: Your pooch still loves you! Its nice you feel that way, but my reaction to your one-sided account was very similar. For that matter, we worked with our consulting veterinarian to ensure the information was accurate. Best of luck! If the skin or coat has a color other than white, it is said to be pigmented. What makes a pup a velcro dog? Emma Judson - Canine Consultant. But please, before the heavily stressed and over-worked shelter staff post up about overpopulation problems, lets look at this this issue with less emotion and more science. A tube will then be threaded down your dogs windpipe so that anesthetic gas and oxygen can be delivered throughout the operation. Also, hormones can affect the growth of the hair coat, but spaying does not usually change the coat to the "puppy coat" sort of consistency that you describe. Some will be willing to adjust their typical procedures to suit your wishes, but others will remain steadfast and refuse to adjust their practices. Wed recommend that you continue to give her lots of love and support, and let her adjust at her own pace. Panciera DL. These pups stick to their humans like glue, or well, velcro. But the gonads also produce a variety of hormones including the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone; and the male hormones including testosterone and androsterone. var right_click = (e.which ? Some of the notations on this diagram give a pretty big window, this is because small breeds will close sooner and larger breeds like the GSD will close much later. But I am totally afraid of what the GSH will do after she is healed. The reasons given are always the same, prevent unwanted babies and long term health benefits including a reduction in cancer. 6. However, this usually only works well if theyre neutered very early in life. Others will continue to do so from time to time, especially if the dog was neutered relatively late in life. Use a crate if necessary to keep your dog calm, but dont force him to endure days of pain unnecessarily. THE PROVEN SIDE EFFECTS OF NEUTERING EARLY: Hey, Kelley. Petfinder reports that most animal hospitals charge more than 300 dollars for the surgery. There are other variables that can influence . Progestagens are female hormones, found at high levels during pregnancy, and in fact calm male dogs down in general. 4. But unlike your appendix for example where it's absence is not noticed in your daily routine, your reproductive (or sex) organs play a whole host of hormonal roles that stretch far beyond the manufacturing of babies. This can be especially helpful for dogs who always seem to be interested in escaping from the backyard or bolting when you open the door. They are usually crazy active. 1. I wholly agree with your conclusions in terms of measures against overpopulation: tough rules and regulations are the most important prevention measure. Theyll monitor her for a while and then release her to you along with instructions for her post-op care. 4. Where prior she had been an active, playful, lovable, fearless puppy, she now was anxious, fearful and nippy. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA with his spoiled-rotten Rottweiler named J.B. Best of luck! Neutering is a common surgery performed in male dogs and cats. Her youtube video last year on neutering and article on same subject gave me the bones of this article. The other effects were the obvious weight gain (about 2 kg virtually overnight) and incessant begging for food. Dogs of both genders neutered or spayed at 6 months or younger had significantly increased odds of developing a behavioral disorder, including separation anxiety, noise phobia, timidity, excitability, submissive urination, aggression, hyperactivity, and/or fear biting. Glickman L, N Glickman, and R Thorpe. In Italy when I grew up we had 5 Alsatians, none of them neutered. Once back in the operating room, your dog will likely have an IV line inserted into the front leg, through which additional anesthesia and pain-relieving drugs are administered (and perhaps saline too). Now that I have seen in first person its effects and your article has confirmed my suspicions, I will never do this again to any dog. Although some vets do not administer pain medication to pets undergoing spay or neuter procedures to encourage your pet to keep still and rested, this is not in the best interest of your dog. Time4Dogs - Dont spay or neuter your pets, New evidence shows link between spaying/neutering and cancer, Three Reasons to reconsider Spaying and Neutering. Now he is using the bathroom in the house alot an before the procedure was just about trained. We have over 400 groups (shelters, pounds and charities) mopping up a portion of the strays. Let us know about your experiences in the comments below. Neutering will change the dog's coat. The truth is, there's no surefire way to tell if one animal will wind up being clingier than the next. Males are castrated whereby the testicles are surgically removed. NEUTERING, IN CONCLUSION This is also a result of the two studies. My 8 month old pug puppy was so very active. From this point on, things are a bit different for boy pups and girl pups, so well discuss the procedures separately. Hey, Jane. The texture of their coat might change as well. - see here 'the spayed coat'. 1. It is part of the healing process. Just got back from a morning hike with an unusual amount of neutered male dogs. If it turns out this particular operation isnt right for your pet at this moment, you can look into others, such as a dog vasectomy or delaying neutering and keeping him from other canines until hes ready. I worry that the lack of testosterone will make his fearfulness worse, and this effect has been confirmed in two large, recent studies. This doesnt affect the overall health of the dog, though it can change their sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures. I had a 2 month reprieve of no accidents in the house until Voltron started marking indoors. I can only hope this is not a permanent change. We appreciate you checking out the site, but I think your criticism is off base we did discuss both sides of the coin. Decades ago, most shelter workers and veterinarians - and many professional dog trainers, too - believed that gonadectomy (surgical removal of the testes in males or ovaries in females) would not just help . The short answer is, "Don't hold your breath.". Although there may be changes to the maturation process afterward, for some dogs, the benefits here outweigh the potential disadvantages which may occur later on in life. The video received an enormous amount of support but also scathing criticism. Experts tell us, Keep your pup and your wallet safe with dog health insurance what you need to know, Is cold just as bad as heat for dog paws? Note that these are all long-term changes which will manifest over the course of weeks or months following the operation. A bandage may be placed over the wound, and then the veterinary team will begin waking your pup up. Hey there, Bj. We are the puppy farming capital of Europe. I just got my 5 year old rat terrier chihuahua mixed dog Darla spayed yesterday. So here's what we know of neutering dogs early in their life. If you are wondering, "Does spaying or neutering change dog behavior?". On neutering, you will be hard pressed to find a vet today that would recommend anything but neutering your pet early in their life, normally around six months. He is currently very happy-go-lucky, non-aggressive, doesnt hump excessively, and doesnt mark in the house. 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Color other than white, it may just be a problem or it may be just fine got. Your breath. & quot ; Don & # x27 ; s coat reduces body fat ( reason. Cancer, regardless of age of neutering dogs early in life in the dog was neutered at 7,! Measures against overpopulation: tough rules and regulations are the most positive behavioral outcome precious pups personality your experiences the. Being neutered a walk and outside he looks depressed, we worked with our veterinarian.