Dog Health - When Should You Neuter Your Male Puppy?

If you own a dog, you must have heard that it is a must to neuter all your male dogs. You may also have heard that it should be done as early as possible, some people will say that it is best done before 6 months. This sounds like very definite information that begs the question whether the procedure is important and whether there are negative results.

Studies that are been done shows that there are risks that are associated with the procedure, and pets owners have no clue about them. First, check the positive results of neutering your male dog.

If you neuter your dog, you may benefit from lower licensing charges. It is a common practice with some communities to charge lesser fees for neutered male dogs. There is an advantage where the process reduces leg-lifting. This usually happens when the dog wants to mark territories. If your dog does this it might be unhygienic.

The male dog will be at lesser risk of developing some conditions like testicular cancer and some prostrate related conditions. There will be less testosterone in the system, meaning that the dog will be calmer, and will in a a less aggressive dog.

Experts recommend that you should neuter the dog any time after 8 weeks of age. There was a traditional advice that recommended neutering at puberty - 6 months of age. You should consult with your local veterinarian to determine the best time for your dog.

The dogs that are neutered before puberty tend to grow bigger than those who are neutered after. The reason behind this is that testosterone hormone is involved in making heavy bones. This growth is an advantage and a disadvantage too. If your dog's testicles do not drop, you should have them neutered, for such dogs develop the largest tumors.

There are a number of things that are done before the actual surgery. A pre-surgical blood work is done on the male dog to determine the health of the dog and also it helps in choosing the type of anesthesia to use. Generally, healthy and young dogs do not need the procedure, but it is not a bad idea to have blood information of your dog for future reference.

You should adhere to all the guidelines you will be given by your vet. You should not allow the dog to eat anything 8-hours before that actually surgery - the anesthesia used can cause nauseate. However drinking water before the procedure is okay.

After the surgery there are a number of things that you should look out for and report to the clinic in case you notice them. If there is a discharge from the incision, you should contact your vet, if the dog seem to be in a lot of pain take it to the vet. Most dogs do not need pain medication.

There are dogs that will lick the stitches, it is recommended to use Elizabethan collar to stop this. You may notice that your dog will have trouble walking, when wearing it but it is for their own good.