ADVANTAGES OF SPAYING/NEUTERING
Decreased incidences of disease (breast cancer, uterus disease, uro - genital diseases.
Prevents roaming by males in search of females in "heat."
Prevents male aggressiveness and territorial behavior.
Makes for a calmer personality.
John Ward Writes:
One of my Dachshund's is a female puppy. She is 6 months and 9 days old. How much time do I have before her first "heat" cycle? Are there any signs that will let me know that it is coming in advance? I am not interested in spaying her at this time, yet I'm not sure when I should stop taking her for her walks. She is a house dog, and I've taken steps here to contend with her cycle, and the necessary separtion that must take place in my house. Thanks for all, including this great, great, great links page. And Winston looks a lot like my dog Beau.
Hi,
Your doxie could come into heat anytime. Most common is 8 or 9 months. Her heat will usually last for 3 weeks. If your other dog is an unneutered male you may have some problems when your female comes into heat. The most common problem is that a whole male will mark his territory in the house. Some become aggressive and some will have prostrate problems. A male will usually go off his feed while the bitch is in season and will usually raise a fuss, bark and howl. Some will become physically ill.
You said that you are not going to spay at this time. If you do, it is a much safer, less extensive surgery and usually cheeper before they have their first heat.
Gretchen Miller
This is a topic I feel strongly about as I am sure many others do on the list. There is NO reason to keep a male dog intact or a female unless you are planning to breed. Both male and female dogs make BETTER pets if they are neutered and spayed. Then sex does not raise its ugly head at all, there are no breeding accidents and one does not have to deal with females in heat and males in lust. They will pay more attention to you, their owner.
For the first time in my life I have an unspayed female and intact male in my house. The reason is I plan to try to breed my own champion. The bloodlines were carefully thought out for many generations by the breeder I am working with. My male has earned 8 titles in 3-l/2 years including a Breed championship. My female I will put a Breed championship on and any other titles I can earn and at three years of age, I will try breeding my own litter. This is of course, if some unseen flaw doesn't crop up in her that I am not aware of, then I would spay her IMMEDIATELY. I have thought about this literally FOR MANY YEARS and I still am nervous about having a litter; it is a tremendous responsibility to do it right. Right now my 7-l2 months old female is in heat and believe me, it "ain't" fun, folks! Unless you kennel your dogs, a female in heat in a house with an intact male will DRIVE YOU CRAZY, not to mention I have to worry about an accidental breeding, and put up with sleepless nights of whining and such. So, please neuter your male and spay your female unless you have studied breeding and your specific breed of dog for years. If you want a pet, have the best pet possible by eliminating the spector of sex altogether. I must point out also that fixed animals are much healthier, no chance of testicle cancer in the male or female organ cancers, no chance of secually transmitted diseases, etc.etc. Andi and the Fur Family
I really can understand your discomfort at this line of discussion. However, I will attempt to answer your questions.
Yes, there is a testicle prosthesis called "Neuticles" which can be inserted in the scrotum when your dog is neutered to give him a more natural look after the surgery. It costs between $30-$50, depending on what your vet charges, over and above the cost of the neuter surgery.
Why not just do a vasectomy? Well, because neutering has a real health purpose as well as a behavior purpose.
1. Neutering prevents reproductive system cancer, a vasectomy doesn't.
2. Neutering prevents your dog from going nuts everytime he gets a whiff of a bitch in season, that can include small children with dirty underwear, your preachers leg when he pays you a visit, or girlfriend or wife when she is on her period. A vasectomy doesn't.
3. It prevents him from marking (peeing) inside your home when any of the aforementioned circumstances occur.
4. It prevents aggressive behavior associated with testosterone production. If neutered, he will keep much of his puppy-like personality too.
5. Neutered dogs enjoy a longer lifespan.
We have 10 dachsies. Four of them are male, all of the boys are neutered. Four of our females are spayed. The other two are involved in my breeding program. They will be spayed upon retirement.
Being a responsible dog owner, your pet should be neutered.
I hope I helped you see the value of neutering your dog.
Dena :-) and the zoo of *10*
About the neutering thing. My husband had the same problem with our having Peanut neutered as you do. Thus Peanut was two years old before we finally had it done. Peanut is a much happier pet today. We have no regrets and since we were not planning to breed anyway, he'll be a much healthier dachsie we're told by our vet and by many people on this list.
Charlotte Merritt