Remind me of all the reasons to *fix* Gunner

[georgeharrison]

James wanted to wait to get Gunner neutered until he started lifting his leg to go #1.  He read somewhere that if they get neutered before, they often won't do it.  Well, he's lifting his leg now.  James and I keep saying that we need to make an appointment, but it's JUST.SO.SAD!  It was sad when we spayed Sadie, but that was all internal.  Gunner is going to come out as less of a man and that hurts my feelings.  So, please remind me why.

[toratoratori]

Both of my male dogs were neutered at 6 months and lift(ed) their legs to pee. It's a learned behavior, not a hormonal one.

As far as your dog being "less of a man," animals don't have any sexual ego or identity. That's all projected by their human owners.

Also, from the HSUS website, why to spay / neuter:

1. Pets are homeless everywhere
In every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. In the U.S., there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. Barely half of these animals are adopted. Tragically, the rest are euthanized. These are healthy, sweet pets who would have made great companions.

The number of homeless animals varies by state—in some states there are as many as 300,000 homeless animals euthanized in animal shelters every year. These are not the offspring of homeless "street" animals—these are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and even purebreds.

Many people are surprised to learn that nationwide, more than 2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters annually. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100 percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.


2. Your pet's health
A USA Today (May 7, 2013) article cites that pets who live in the states with the highest rates of spaying/neutering also live the longest. According to the report, neutered male dogs live 18% longer than un-neutered male dogs and spayed female dogs live 23% longer than unspayed female dogs. The report goes on to add that in Mississippi, the lowest-ranking state for pet longevity, 44% of the dogs are not neutered or spayed.

Part of the reduced lifespan of unaltered pets can be attributed to their increased urge to roam, exposing them to fights with other animals, getting struck by cars, and other mishaps.

Another contributor to the increased longevity of altered pets involves the reduced risk of certain types of cancers. Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing pyrometra (a fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer, and other cancers of the reproductive system.

Medical evidence indicates that females spayed before their first heat are typically healthier. (Many veterinarians now sterilize dogs and cats as young as eight weeks of age.)

Male pets who are neutered eliminate their chances of getting testicular cancer, and it is thought they they have lowered rates of prostate cancer, as well.


3. Curbing bad behavior
Unneutered dogs are much more assertive and prone to urine-marking (lifting his leg) than neutered dogs. Although it is most often associated with male dogs, females may do it, too. Spaying or neutering your dog should reduce urine-marking and may stop it altogether.

For cats, the urge to spray is extremely strong in an intact cat, and the simplest solution is to get yours neutered or spayed by 5 months of age before there's even a problem. Neutering solves 90 percent of all marking issues, even in cats that have been doing it for a while. It can also minimize howling, the urge to roam, and fighitng with other males.

In both cats and dogs, the longer you wait, the greater the risk you run of the surgery not doing the trick because the behavior is so ingrained.

Other behavioral problems that can be ameliorated by spay/neuter include:

* Roaming, especially when females are "in heat."
* Aggression: Studies also show that most dogs bites involve dogs who are unaltered.
* Excessive barking, mounting, and other dominance-related behaviors.
* While getting your pets spayed/neutered can help curb undesirable behaviors, it will not change their fundamental personality, like their protective instinct.


4. Cost cutting
When you factor in the long-term costs potentially incurred by a non-altered pet, the savings afforded by spay/neuter are clear (especially given the plethora of low-cost spay/neuter clincs).

Caring for a pet with reproductive system cancer or pyometra can easily run into the thousands of dollars—five to ten times as much as a routine spay surgery. Additionally, unaltered pets can be more destructive or high-strung around other dogs. Serious fighting is more common between unaltered pets of the same gender and can incur high veterinary costs.

Renewing your pet's license can be more expensive, too. Many counties have spay/neuter laws that require pets to be sterilized, or require people with unaltered pets to pay higher license renewal fees.

[madDawg228]

Gunner will not miss his balls. toratoratori is spot on with everything she posted.

You don't want him humping anything do you?

[dana86]

We couldn't didn't get Diesel fixed until his balls dropped, he wasn't lifting a leg to pee yet I don't think but it didn't mess with that as he does now.

You neuter to prevent over population. If he gets free and decided to hump a dog that wasn't fixed, accidents happen it's easier to proven tit the best you can on your end.
Health wise it is riskier for a female to go un-fixed but males can have health issues just the same with their balls. Get them removed, no worries.

Some say in males also that removing them will make them a little calmer and they won't want to screw everything in sight.

He won't be less of a dog just because he is missing his balls, you will be considered a responsible owner. Honestly if I see someone who's dog is still "in tact" it makes me angry as I can only assume it's for breeding purposes and there are enough dogs that needs homes no need to contribute. The process is much easier than getting a female fixed so if you had Sadie done already this shouldn't be anything.

[Deleted]

Unless if you're planning on breeding him I don't see why you wouldn't. The thought to NOT have a pet spayed or neutered has never crossed my mind for all of the reasons toratoratori listed.

Listen to bob barker and don't forget to spay or neuter your pets.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2014 2:31:27 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Unless if you're planning on breeding him I don't see why you wouldn't. The thought to NOT have a pet spayed or neutered has never crossed my mind for all of the reasons toratoratori listed.

Listen to bob barker and don't forget to spay or neuter your pets.

It's Drew Carey now....

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2014 8:38:26 GMT -5 @aellasbeth said:

Apr 25, 2014 2:31:27 GMT -5 @uwhuskygirl said:

Unless if you're planning on breeding him I don't see why you wouldn't. The thought to NOT have a pet spayed or neutered has never crossed my mind for all of the reasons toratoratori listed.

Listen to bob barker and don't forget to spay or neuter your pets.

It's Drew Carey now....

It will always be Bob Barker to me

 

[fiddles]

Apr 24, 2014 15:20:36 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Both of my male dogs were neutered at 6 months and lift(ed) their legs to pee. It's a learned behavior, not a hormonal one.

Exactly this.  Wrigley squats because Ash squats.  He doesn't know any different.  

Our vet told us it's better to get the dogs neutered when they are younger.  Just like people they are quicker to bounce back and there are less complications.  

[CrazyLucky]

Apr 25, 2014 12:11:38 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

I"ve never had a non-fixed pet and I never will. There are simply too many dogs dying in shelters every year, and it is tragically sad. The only way this will change is if people take the steps necessary to prevent over-population.

Please, neuter Gunner. Fixing your pets is, IMO, part of being a responsible pet owner.

This.  There is no reason not to get him fixed.  And your reasoning about getting an animal spayed is easier because it's all internal?  That's terrible reasoning!  Spaying is much harder on a female animal than neutering is on a male!

[georgeharrison]

I didn't say it was easier to get Sadie spayed. The difference is that there is nothing obviously different when she came out.

Also, to be clear, I never said anything about us not intending to do it. I have already made the appointment. I just think that it's sad. Sad to drop him off at the vet, have him in a cage all day, have him go through this procedure that he doesn't understand, and then come out and pain and have to wear a cone of shame.

[toratoratori]

Apr 25, 2014 13:19:04 GMT -5 georgeharrison said:

I didn't say it was easier to get Sadie spayed. The difference is that there is nothing obviously different when she came out.

Also, to be clear, I never said anything about us not intending to do it. I have already made the appointment. I just think that it's sad. Sad to drop him off at the vet, have him in a cage all day, have him go through this procedure that he doesn't understand, and then come out and pain and have to wear a cone of shame.

Honestly, neutering for male dogs is not as big a deal as spaying is for females. Sadie had major internal surgery; the procedure Gunner will be having can literally be done in an RV on the side of the road. (This isn't as sketchy as it sounds, I promise. There are lots of legit mobile neuter clinics!)

He'll definitely be tired at the end of that first day, and probably a little sore for a day or two after, but it's a pretty quick recovery process.

Also, if you don't want him to have to wear a cone of shame, you can do what I did with both of my dogs: Invest in some Bitter Apple spray. Spray it on a towel or your fingers, and then dab it around the incision (but not on it!). They're averse to the smell and taste, so they don't lick the area, which allows the stitches to heal, and they don't have to wear a cone, so they're generally happier and you don't feel guilty.

[georgeharrison]

Apr 25, 2014 13:23:51 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Apr 25, 2014 13:19:04 GMT -5 georgeharrison said:

I didn't say it was easier to get Sadie spayed. The difference is that there is nothing obviously different when she came out.

Also, to be clear, I never said anything about us not intending to do it. I have already made the appointment. I just think that it's sad. Sad to drop him off at the vet, have him in a cage all day, have him go through this procedure that he doesn't understand, and then come out and pain and have to wear a cone of shame.

Honestly, neutering for male dogs is not as big a deal as spaying is for females. Sadie had major internal surgery; the procedure Gunner will be having can literally be done in an RV on the side of the road. (This isn't as sketchy as it sounds, I promise. There are lots of legit mobile neuter clinics!)

He'll definitely be tired at the end of that first day, and probably a little sore for a day or two after, but it's a pretty quick recovery process.

Also, if you don't want him to have to wear a cone of shame, you can do what I did with both of my dogs: Invest in some Bitter Apple spray. Spray it on a towel or your fingers, and then dab it around the incision (but not on it!). They're averse to the smell and taste, so they don't lick the area, which allows the stitches to heal, and they don't have to wear a cone, so they're generally happier and you don't feel guilty.

I will def look into this.  Thank you for the tip.

[dana86]

I think the hardest part of having Diesel fixed was keeping him calm for the few days after. We ended up needing to keep him crated for the few days because it was the only thing that kept him from jumping and running around. We didn't need a cone though so maybe you won't either? He was more set on keeping the area around clean than picking at the actual area.

[InBetweenDays]

If it makes you feel any better, my sister had their puppy neutered a week ago Tuesday and then was at our house last weekend. He came with them, cone and all, and was ANYTHING but sad. He was still his awkward, happy, gangly, 8-month self. And even repeatedly tried to mount our male dogs. Which is a dominance thing, I know, but a sign that he hadn't lost any of his bravado.

Hope it goes well!

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2014 13:25:48 GMT -5 georgeharrison said:

Apr 25, 2014 13:23:51 GMT -5 toratoratori said:

Honestly, neutering for male dogs is not as big a deal as spaying is for females. Sadie had major internal surgery; the procedure Gunner will be having can literally be done in an RV on the side of the road. (This isn't as sketchy as it sounds, I promise. There are lots of legit mobile neuter clinics!)

He'll definitely be tired at the end of that first day, and probably a little sore for a day or two after, but it's a pretty quick recovery process.

Also, if you don't want him to have to wear a cone of shame, you can do what I did with both of my dogs: Invest in some Bitter Apple spray. Spray it on a towel or your fingers, and then dab it around the incision (but not on it!). They're averse to the smell and taste, so they don't lick the area, which allows the stitches to heal, and they don't have to wear a cone, so they're generally happier and you don't feel guilty.

I will def look into this.  Thank you for the tip.

I just want to echo what PP's said. He will be up and around in a few days. And the people and the vet will take good care of him.. I promise

[fayeelle]

If it makes you feel any better I can say with all certainty it is harder on you than them. Always. This is my 14th year in the veterinary field working as a tech/assistant - the past 11yrs I have worked w/ some truly wonderful vets and most dogs (like 18/20) are so busy getting loved on and watching what is going on around them they don't have time to be worried. At my office, for example, our treatment cages are front and center so no pets are "alone" and get tons of quality time with staff before, during or after. Its not too uncommon for us to finish recovering a pet in our laps

And as much as everyone hates the e-collar, seriously use it. Especially when he isn't supervised. The only time I would say otherwise is if he is frantic and throwing himself around...which happens, but not as much as one would think. It takes some getting used to pet they figure it out real quick. I've seen SO many dogs return with chewed open incisions which need repaired surgically....more anesthesia and more cost. Its just not worth it imo.

I can't speak for where you are taking your guy obviously so I hope they are as awesome. But no worries! He'll do just fine

[BlackCanary]

Apr 25, 2014 14:49:06 GMT -5 fayeelle said:

If it makes you feel any better I can say with all certainty it is harder on you than them. Always. This is my 14th year in the veterinary field working as a tech/assistant - the past 11yrs I have worked w/ some truly wonderful vets and most dogs (like 18/20) are so busy getting loved on and watching what is going on around them they don't have time to be worried. At my office, for example, our treatment cages are front and center so no pets are "alone" and get tons of quality time with staff before, during or after. Its not too uncommon for us to finish recovering a pet in our laps

And as much as everyone hates the e-collar, seriously use it. Especially when he isn't supervised. The only time I would say otherwise is if he is frantic and throwing himself around...which happens, but not as much as one would think. It takes some getting used to pet they figure it out real quick. I've seen SO many dogs return with chewed open incisions which need repaired surgically....more anesthesia and more cost. Its just not worth it imo.

I can't speak for where you are taking your guy obviously so I hope they are as awesome. But no worries! He'll do just fine

This.

Does Abby look miserable?