LoveToKnow Dogs:Custom Spaying and Neutering

From LoveToKnow Dogs

Past Questions

Question: We bought a Labrador Retriever from a local breeder whose husband is a vet. She recommended neutering our puppy at four months. Our local vet said nine months. What considerations go into when to proceed? We would like to neuter him as early as we can witout adverse affects. - Posted by: Joe bolgiano

Answer: Hi Joe, and welcome to the site.

It's true that some vets are willing to neuter a pup at four months of age because this is about the earliest they can reach any level of fertility. Most vets still recommend neutering at six months because most male puppies have definitely reached fertility by that point and are also fairly capable of siring a litter if they come in contact with a female in heat.

Your own vet may recommend waiting until nine months old just to be on the safe side since younger pups are at slightly more risk for complications from anesthesia. However, you could ask him/her why there is a preference to wait until that age.

I think part of the trend toward neutering at four months is about trying to nip bad habits in the bud before they begin, especially marking in the home. I'm not sure that neutering so young is really that much of a help, but it's a possibility. For myself, I've always waited until six months to have male pups neutered because I felt they were stronger at that age and better able to bounce back from the procedure.

Thanks for your question. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: Is three years old too old to neuter a male dog? We are only considering it now because it turns out our dog has skin allergies. He is on Atopica. Also, he tends to be aggressive towards black Labs, having not forgotten he was attacked by one as a pup. We want to do the best for Lami. He is a Tibetan Terrier. Thanks very much, Mrs. T Baer. - Posted by: Mrs T Baer

Answer: Hi Mrs. Baer,

I don't believe that three years old is too late to neuter a male. Vets neuter males of all ages as long as the dogs are deemed healthy enough to undergo anesthetic. In fact, this procedure requires less anesthetic that other kinds of operations, so most dogs make good candidates and come through the procedure just fine.

Now, on to your dog's display of aggression. Don't count on the neutering to resolve that. The reduction of testosterone does leave some males a little more docile, but it's not guaranteed. Aggression is still mainly a behavior characteristic, so behavior modification is the key to bringing that issue under better control. Have you ever heard of clicker training? This could be a good way to train your dog away from the unwanted behavior. We have an article on the site that explains the basics of clicker training, so you might want to check it out and consider if it might work in your situation.

Here's the link:

Dog Clicker Training

Clicker training kits, complete with a training manual, are sold at most pet supply stores.

Thanks for your question and for visiting the site. I hope you find this info helpful. :) - posted by:Kelly

Question: I have a two-month-old "teacup Yorkie" that presently weighs a pound, and the vet expects her to reach about four pounds. He prefers to spay small dogs at about one year. However, he said he would do it sooner if I 'd like. I prefer to do it before she comes into heat. When is the safest time to spay a very small female? He said he would do the bloodwork to make sure her kidneys are working properly prior to the surgery, etc. - Posted by: Diane

Answer: Hi Diane,

Your vet is certainly the expert in this situation. Females can be spayed as young as four months, but they must be in good health. However, the fact that you have an especially small Yorkie does complicate matters. Very small dogs are susceptible to complications from the anaesthesia. Kidney function is vital to expelling the medication from the dog's system.

All things cosidered, I would wait until she reaches one year old when the odds will be more in her favor. It will certainly be worth the inconvenience of going through one heat cycle.

Thanks for your question, and good luck whatever you decide. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Hello, I have a male dog that has been fixed and is about two years old. My female dog is a year and has had two heat cycles. Even though my male dog is fixed, he still wants to mount my female and acts like he's not fixed. Can this be harmful to my female dog in anyway? Should they be separated? Also, when is it a good time to fix my female dog? Thanks, - Posted by: bernadette

Answer: Hi Bernadette,

Some males still carry on without their baggage so to speak. While this behavior isn't particularly harmfull, is can become a nuisance.

At one year old, your female is certainly old enough to be spayed, so you can go ahead and schedule a veterinary appointment as long as the heat cycle has ended. Some vets are willing to spay a bitch in heat, but the increased blood flow can lead to bleeding complications, so most opt to wait until the cycle has ended.

Thanks for your question, and best of luck. - posted by:Kelly

Question: Our golden Lab, Libby had a litter of ten puppies over the summer and was spayed two weeks ago. She has always been a very sweet, good natured girl. Since being spayed, she has become anxious, chews up her bed, becomes listless at times and has nipped at a child outside our family. Her nose is also dry. She has never exhibited any of these behaviors prior to being spayed. Should we be concerned? Thank you for your time. - Posted by: Patty

Answer: Hi Patty,

Yes, it's right to be concerned when your dog's personality suddenly changes. Her warm dry nose makes me wonder if she's running a fever. If so, you are probably dealing with a post-operative infection.

I believe it would be beneficial to take her back to your vet for a follow up examination. This will give you the opportunity to share with your vet what is going on. The vet will check your dog's vitals, as well as the surgical site. An ultrasound or X-ray may also be beneficial to see if any surgical material was accidentally left inside.

Thank you for your question, and I hope your dog gets back to her normal sweet self very soon. - posted by:Kelly

Question: I went on vacation shortly after my eight-month-old Shih Tzu went into heat. I later found out that my house sitter was not diligent in keeping Pepe in the house, and she sometimes left my pets in the yard all day. Anyway, my dog was still in heat when I got back, and I noticed a German Shepherd lurking around. He was around for about a week, but Pepe finally seemed to go out of heat and now, two weeks later, her nipples are swollen and enlarged. If she is pregnant, will large pupplies put her in danger? Should I try to get her an abortion? I meant to have her spayed anyway. Thanks in advance for any advice. - Posted by: Ann Richardson

Answer: Hi Ann,

You'll need to discuss the situation with your vet to find out his/her opinion, but many vets are willing to spay a bitch in the early stages of pregnancy.

Although there is no guarantee your dog is pregnant, this might be your best route if you want to avoid similar situations in the future.

However the situation turns out, best of luck and thanks for your question. - posted by:Kelly