Need advice from dog owners

[wtmusic]

Meet Chester, my new pound mutt...



Chester came from LA Department of Animal Services. Though they usually neuter all male dogs as a matter of policy, he was ill when adopted and they couldn't perform the surgery (cutting off his testicles).

He's had all his shots, etc. I was planning to do the PC thing and have him neutered, but a friend laid the serious guilt trip on me (mutilation, "his temperament will change", "why make the dog suffer for your convenience", etc.)

He will be in an enclosed area (back yard) or on a leash all the time. Now I'm torn--what to do?

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. It's not your convenience as much as it is for his good health, his safety

and as Bob Barker would say, the entire pet population. All we need to do is think about why this poor little baby was in the pound in the first place and there is your answer.

He's adorable!!! I just want to hug him!!! Congrats!!

Laura

[bleedingheart]

2. I would still neuter him because there is a risk

and you don't want him hatching an escape plan once he gets the whiff of a "ready and waiting" female in the neighborhood...

[MuseRider]

3. Do it.

A fence will not keep him in if he really wants out and he will really want out.

[H2O Man]

4. I had my shepard fixed.

A few people told me not to, because I could make bucks breeding him. But my brother, who raised shepards, said he would be a lot nicer to be around if he were fixed. He is about 116 lbs, and dogs get out of fenced-in areas. It's their job. He's not as aggressive as he would have been, but he still is a great guard dog. If my daughters are outside, no one gets out of their car until my wife or I go out.

[Abelman]

5. It just makes them calmer I think

I think that's the only thing that changes. It makes the males a bit easier to handle.

[Beaverhausen]

6. Do it. And by the way he is adorable!

Good for you for rescuing him. He is a cutie!!!

As far as the neutering...even if he is enclosed dogs find a way to get out. And it's better for his long term health.

[wtmusic]

42. He's a little crazy

beyond typical puppy-crazy. The change would likely do him (and me) good.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. His temperment will change

for the better. I've known of unneutered male dogs who learned to jump or even climb chain link fences.

Also, neutering your dog significantly decreases his risk of prostate cancer.

[hlthe2b]

8. Neutering also decreases his risk for prostate cancer....

BTW, most offleash dog parks, doggie daycares, won't take an unneutered dog because they are more aggressive (in general).

And, sorry, I can't help but say it, your friend is either seriously misinformed..... (or an idiot). :eyes:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

27. The funny thing is

we both posted that at the same time. :toast:

[hlthe2b]

49. yUPPER!

:toast:

[BR_Parkway]

9. Simple. Would you like to have the urge to have sex but no outlet

or not to have the urge in the first place? If you're not going to breed him, have him fixed.

[wtmusic]

37. Hey, I can *relate* to that!

:P

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

10. He's large enough that they probably won't cut them off

They go in and remove the sack and the testicles shrivel up and recede. It's better for the dog and will be better for his temperament if he's got any alpha traits.

[hlthe2b]

11. NO, castration requires removal of the testicles.

you are mistaken....

[DS1]

17. Swap them out for a pair of brass balls

;-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. I had my dog nuetered at the age of 3...large Golden Retriever

They did not remove his testicles. They went in and removed the glands that supply the semen. His testicles were left in tact and subsequently shriveled up over a period of about 6 months.

[hlthe2b]

23. You are referring to either a laser orchiectomy or (when done on

very young animals), a prepuberal gonadectomy. In both cases, the testicular artery/vein and the ductus difference are ligated (tied off) which removes blood supply to the testicle itself, such that they do atrophy (shrivel up) over time. However these two procedures and classical neutering that removes the testicles are all castration procedures because they are removing the testicles, whether from direct surgical excision or from the surgical elimation of the blood supply and ligation of the spermatic duct. Thus, they are all procedures that remove the gonads (gonadectomy) and specifally the tests (orchiectomy).

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Thanks for the clinical description :)

I guess the only point I was making was to those who worry about "cutting them off!"..since with this procedure, my dog still found "them" after he was fixed and they slowly disappeared -

at any rate..thanks

[hlthe2b]

50. Might reassure some concerned "daddies" as well...

:7

[Maddy McCall]

12. Mutilation is when the puppies he fathers get run over by a truck.

When a female dog in the neighborhood goes into heat (and to a male dog, the neighborhood can be a diameter of five miles, because that's how sensitive males are to the scent of heat), it won't matter if you have the dog in an enclosed area or not. He'll get out if he wants to. Are you going to have him in your sight every moment?

If the answer is no, then you need to neuter him.

[ET Awful]

13. Number one, the dog won't "suffer" by being neutered, that's nonsense

He will be discombobulated for a day or two, then he'll be fine.

Number two, it's not for "your convenience" it's for the dogs.

If everyone followed the advice of your friend, there'd be even more unwanted puppies than there already are.

You'd be doing the right thing by gettin' the little guy fixed.

That said, he's a very cute pup and you did a good thing by saving him :). He looks like an awesome little dog.

[Cooley Hurd]

14. I'd neuter him... besides, if he misses hit nuts, you can get implants...

...they're called "Neuticles":

http://www.neuticles.com/index1.html


NeuticlesUltraPlus® with ScarRetard®
FDA medically-approved solid silicone. Not gel filled or saline filled- but feels almost liquid- yet it is still solid silicone. Features ScarRetard- a special design that virtually retards the risk of potential scar tissue development.

[Maddy McCall]

15. Oh, and when you adopted him, were you not informed that a condition...

of the adoption is to bring him back to have him neutered?

I've never heard of a shelter that didn't have that condition upon adoption.

[Worst Username Ever]

16. NEUTER HIM

He won't suffer. And think of the suffering you will have inflicted if there are unwanted puppies as a result of you neglecting to have him neutered. Your friend's advice is unbrilliant.

[Mizmoon]

19. Good person! You're a good person!

Good for adopting a shelter dog! Let yourself feel very altruistic for an act of kindness.

And get the dog fixed. They suffer when they endlessly desire sex but can't have it. Neutering makes it a non-issue.

[Technowitch]

20. I always spayed/neutered any dog I've owned...

...because I did not want to be responsible for adding to the unwanted pet population. I never saw it as 'making my dog suffer', but preventing the suffering of a potential litter of puppies for whom a home can't be found.

Leash, back yard -- it doesn't matter. Dogs can and do get loose. And not everybody is as responsible as you are.

Or, to put it another way, how'd you like to get a phone call someday from a neighbor, "Your dog got my grand champion poodle pregnant! I expect you to deal with the litter AND I'm gonna sue you for damages..."

Just sayin'. Also, as others have commented, male dogs do seem more tractable w/out those bits.

[flvegan]

21. Chester is adorable, but really should be neutered.

For all the reasons the previous posters stated.

Thanks for adopting this charming fellow, especially since he was ill.

:yourock: :yourock:

[Modem Butterfly]

22. An unneutered dog is a ticking time bomb

An unneutered dog will dig under, jump over, chew through any fence, door, crate, or any other obstacle you put in his way to get to a female in heat. They will run miles to find her. The biological response to a female in heat is so high it is irresistable. Your dog could hurt himself, innocent bystanders, or even you in his effort to breed. Don't take the chance. Get your dog fixed.

[sinkingfeeling]

25. Have him neutered...the sooner, the better. Male dogs (intact)

will tear up your fence and chew through a leash or whatever it takes if there is a female in heat for miles around. He will not 'suffer' from the procedure (most dogs are back to rough-housing within 18 hrs.), if his temperament changes, it will be for the better (less aggressive), and it certainly is not mutilation. Your 'friend' is very ignorant.

[Richardo]

26. Your friend has no idea what he's talking about.

Have him (the dog) neutered. :) It's best for everybody, except your friend, who may have some castration issues.

[China_cat]

28. HAVE HIM NEUTERED.

It's not the 'pc' thing to do, it's the RIGHT thing to do. Yes his temperament will change...he'll become more mellow and much less prone to both dog and people aggression. He won't be miserable if there's a bitch in heat within 2 miles. He won't hurt himself trying to go over the fence or dig out under it. He'll live longer...2 years on average.

Your friend is trying to 'protect' HIS manhood, not your dog.

[RebelOne]

32. Plus if he is not neutered and somehow gets loose

and if there is a bitch in heat, there will be little puppies that will end up at the pound and if not adopted, will be euthanized.

[hfojvt]

29. a neutered male make no difference demographically

If you have 200 dogs, half male and half female, spaying a female reduces the possible amount of babies, neutering a male does not.
My non-neutered Beagle seems fine. Can our medical science really improve on nature? Obviously yes, but not everything we do necessarily does so. I say follow the golden rule, do unto your dog as you would have done unto you.

[ChoralScholar]

48. at least the unwanted litter could be on someone else's

conscience instead of yours.

[sinkingfeeling]

30. Sorry, I forgot to say how cute and lucky Chester is when I let go

with some rather strong comments. I have 3 pedigreed dogs and all are neutered, as I feel strongly that all dogs and cats should be 'fixed' except those in the hands of professional breeders. If that would happen, we would have no need for shelters (where millions of innocent animals are destroyed each year) and we would be able to divert hundreds of millions of dollars from animal services to people services.

Also, check the documents you signed at adoption. In most places, the dogs are required to be neutered within 60 days or they can come and take the animal back.

Say 'Hi' to Chester for Sugar, Hank, and Crissy!

[wtmusic]

39. S'okay, there seems to be a consensus here

and I have always gotten great advice from DU. It's a done deal.

[elfin]

31. Do it - I had two dogs have big problems because it wasn't done

The first had testicles that didn't drop - ended up with cancer in them. The second was a previously owned dog that developed an adenocarcinoma on his butt which was fed by testosterone - and so he was then neutered.

It's better all the way around to do it - and it is a simple procedure that shouldn't cost too much and I have never heard of any complications becuase of it.

[sbj405]

33. Beyond it being best for you, the dog, and society

You may agreed to neuter him in your adoption paperwork.

Get him snipped. Then you don't need to worry about confining him, etc. He can play at the park with free abandon. :-)

[MissMarple]

34. Do you want to be responsible for endless litters of homeless puppies?

Trust me if he wants out, he'll get out, and your life will be miserable. Neutering is the humane thing to do unless you are breeding papered dogs.

Your friend is....misguided. He will never miss them. :-)

[RebelOne]

35. Yes, I agree. See my post above. n/t

[wtmusic]

36. Thanks ALL for advice

Chester, I'm sorry, but it's unanimous -- your cojones are history

:cry:

[radwriter0555]

38. Um it appears I have his twin brother Joey... for whom I am currently

seeking a home... and we live in Los Angeles... and I wish I was kidding.

Interested in having a matched set?

And yes, nueter the little dude. It's better for him, you, the neighbors and any accidental, unwanted puppies he might end up being responsible for.

Seriously, you don't want to one day find his offspring in the shelters, do you?

And email me about my little joey.

[kodi]

40. no, let him breed wildly. we need more dogs

we have only about 50 million and kill millions yearly because they fuck so much.

neuter the damn dog.

[wtmusic]

41. thanks kodi

I can count on you for smartass sarcasm when I ask an honest question

:eyes:

[kodi]

47. no doubt. all 6 of my dogs are fixed. you got the point too.

all one has to do is tour an animal center to know neutering a dog or cat is the actual humane way to treat this problem.

btw: your friend is an idiot.

[Dutch]

43. Hey, he looks just like my dog!

Please have him neutered, he'll get over it very quickly then never look back; it isn't PC, it's just responsible and good sense. Realistically, he'll almost certainly get a chance to spread his seed at soem point and a horny dog can make a lot of unwanted puppies very quickly. Plus I really think it is good for their temperament.

[skygazer]

44. Neuter him

It is a myth that their actual temperment changes - what changes is their drive to mate. If he is a happy, loving dog he will still be a happy loving dog. If he's a goofy, rowdy dog, he'll still be a goofy, rowdy dog. The changes that do occur have more to do with aggression which is a product of the extra levels of testosterone and less aggression is a good thing.

It's also much better for the health of the dog to be neutered. Many cancers and other infections are centered in the reproductive organs - if he's not going to be bred, why leave him open to that risk?

Let me guess - your friend is male. Some guys get very squeamish about anyone losing their balls (my girlfriend is a vet. I used to assist her on large animal cases. We gelded a horse one day for a farmer and the man and his 20 something year old son were standing watching us work. We had the horse laid out on his side and I was sitting on his head while my friend worked. She snipped the first testicle and, without looking, simply tossed it over her shoulder toward the bucket it was going in. It landed with a soft splat on the ground and the son landed seconds later. Did him right in. Quite funny - even his father got a kick out of it).

[wtmusic]

45. Good story

Reminds me of my own--one time my Dad (who is a surgeon) was removing a cyst from one of our dogs when we were growing up. A family friend was watching, and when the scalpel went in, she went down in a dead faint on a concrete floor. After stitches, xrays, and hospital time (for the friend), we decided next time the dog goes to the vet. :D

[Samurai_Writer]

46. I had the same issue with my pound puppy...

He had heartworms and could not get neutered until after he finished the heartworm treatment. I finally decided to get him neutered. I thought it was going to be traumatic for him (he was 4 at the time, 5 now), painful, etc. I was SO wrong! He acted like nothing happened. Had to wear that cone around his head to keep him from licking his stitches, that was the worst part of it. His temperament did not change one bit, he's still as sweet and energetic as before.

I would get him neutered if I were you. He will live longer and be healthier!

Peace,
Bella