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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lycanthrope" data-source="post: 151073" data-attributes="member: 562">[h=2]Possible reasons not to neuter your male dog[/h] Most of the following statistics come from a 10-year study at the  University of California (Davis) Veterinary Teaching Hospital. The study  was headed by Dr. Benjamin Hart and study results published in 2013. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> Neutering triples the risk of obesity.[/h] Extra weight leads to debilitating joint disease, arthritis, heart disease, pancreatitis, and diabetes.Neutered dogs become overweight when owners feed the same amount of food  as before their dog was neutered. Neutering, you see, changes a dog's  hormonal make-up and metabolism so he doesn't require as much food.Monitor your dog's shape as you feed him. Keep adjusting the amount you  feed so he stays on the slender side, and provide plenty of exercise.  Then your neutered dog will not become fat. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Neutering increases the risk of a deadly cancer called hemangiosarcoma.[/h] Apparently the reproductive hormones (testosterone) offer some protection against this cancer. Hemangiosarcoma is much  more common in certain breeds, especially the Afghan Hound, Belgian  Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bouvier des Flandres, Boston Terrier,  Boxer, Bulldog, Doberman Pinscher, English Setter, Flat Coated  Retriever, French Bulldog, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Greater  Swiss Mtn Dog, Labrador Retriever, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler,  Saluki, Scottish Terrier, Skye Terrier, and Vizsla. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Neutering triples the risk of hypothyroidism.[/h] The loss of  reproductive hormones appears to upset the endocrine system. This can  result in low thyroid levels, which causes weight gain and lethargy.  Fortunately it can be treated with a daily thyroid supplement for the  rest of your dog's life. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Neutering increases the risk of geriatric cognitive impairment.[/h] Old dogs can develop a  form of "dementia" where they become disoriented in their familiar  house and yard. They may interact differently with their human family.  They may forget their training and housebreaking. Intact dogs are less  likely to suffer this disease because the reproductive hormones are  thought to help protect the brain. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Neutering is major surgery requiring general anesthesia.[/h] Studies show that  about 20% of neuter procedures have at least one complication, such as a  bad reaction to the anesthesia, infection, abscess, etc. Fortunately,  most complications are minor. Less than 5% are serious, and the death  rate is less than 1%. [h=3]<img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/lifespan-sad2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> IF DONE AT THE WRONG AGE, neutering increases the risk of hip dysplasia, torn ligaments, and bone cancer.[/h] Your dog's reproductive hormones help his bones  and joints develop properly. If you remove those hormones too early,  they don't have enough time to complete their valuable work. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Early neutering causes the leg bones to grow unevenly. This leaves your dog more vulnerable to hip dysplasia and torn ligaments.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Early neutering makes a dog four times as likely to get bone cancer, a deadly cancer that mostly occurs in large and giant dogs.</li> </ul>The moral is.... If you're going to neuter, don't  do it before your dog's reproductive hormones have had time to do their  valuable work. And when is that? It depends on his size or breed, which  is completely covered in my <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/books/11T.html" target="_blank">dog care book</a>. Please don't neuter your dog before you read Chapter 10. [h=2]So....should you neuter your male dog?[/h] Let me ask you some questions:  <img src="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/graphics/neutering-jumping.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> If your male dog is hard to control, increased exercise and Respect Training are your first steps.  1. Does your dog have any of these behavior problems? <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Does he mark (lift his leg) excessively?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Is he aggressive toward people or other dogs?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Does he mount/hump other dogs, or even your leg?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Does he pay more attention to other dogs than to you?</li> </ul>If he has any of those behavior problems, I would increase his exercise and begin <a href="http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/training/articles/dog-respect-training.html" target="_blank">Respect Training</a> immediately. If that doesn't solve the problems I would add neutering at the right age. 2. Does your dog interact with a lot of  other dogs? If so, neutering would be wise. He will be less inclined to  pick fights with other males, less inclined to be picked on by other  males, and less inclined to pester females in embarrassing ways. 3. Is your dog a German Shepherd, Irish  Setter, or Leonberger? These breeds are prone to perianal fistula, and  neutering can reduce the risk of that. 4. Does your dog have two testicles in his  scrotum, or is one (or both) missing? Missing testicles are up inside  his body. In a puppy, it's not uncommon for them to go up and down for  some months. But if they have never dropped by a year of age, they're  probably not going to. Since retained testicles can develop cancer,  neutering is a must. 5. Is there a real risk that your male dog might hook up with an unspayed female? If so, you should definitely neuter him. If none of the above applies to you and your dog, you might decide not to neuter.</blockquote>

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