Why did you alter your dog?

Those of you with intact boys. Do you have concerns about prostate problems as your dog ages? That is one of the biggest reasons I would neuter (even if it's later in life). I feel like neutering while healthy at age 8 or so is a better option than neutering because of prostate problems at age 10 (then you have age and possible complications).

I tried to find information from a mostly unbiased source for how many intact male dogs develop prostate problems, but I can't.

Mackenzy was spayed just before 6 months, because we had a contract through the rescue, and because at the time I believed it was best for her health because of the potential for mammary tumors. I was totally unaware of the other possible health issues and had no idea about potential changes in metabolism and coat quality.

Keeva's got her parts and will stay that way for a few years yet, and then probably eventually have an OSS.

Blossom had an OSS because the Mal rescue wanted her too and I didn't want to tell them to **** off. lol. And because it makes her eligible for an PAL# and AKC performance events.

I do worry about that. Prostate and testicular cancers would definitely motivate me to neuter. My compromise on that front is to have bloodwork done every six months once Rhys turns 7 or so. Any abnormalities and the balls will be snipped lol. I think I remember reading somewhere that both prostate and testicular cancers spread slowly and if caught early don't have a high incidence of recurrence. Also that neutering is usually sufficient to stop the cancer's spread. I could be wrong, though. As far as I know, Rhys has no direct male relatives that have ever had either of those types of cancer, and many have remained intact for most if not all of their lives. So I just try to be educated and informed about the risk.

My childhood dog was intact his whole life (16 years) and I can't get past how healthy he was, how beautiful his coat was, his great disposition, and incredible muscle tone. No one ever guessed his age, either. Purely anecdotal, but the experience of him being intact has made a strong impression on me.

Yup, I worry, too. Which is why Abrams WILL be neutered...just not young.

I was pushed pretty hard to neuter Frag by the vet. I knew to wait, and wouldn't have had a problem keeping him intact for life... he never had any problems associated with the balls, really. Vet thought it may help his weird aggression... I can't say for sure if it was what helped or not. The timeline is getting fuzzier for me, but he was about 2 when neutered, so finally maturing, and we were doing behavior mod like crazy for the human aggression, plus TONS of regular training and lots of confidence building sports like agility and dock diving.

Who knows if the lack of testosterone helped, or if it was all the behavior mod/training, or just growing up. May be a little of each. He's healthy now (with good hips!) and non-aggressive, so I can't say I would change a thing to find out otherwise...

Recon was neutered because he was cryptorchid and the breeder required it by 18 mos. I probably could have talked her into letting me keep him intact, as he was better behaved as an adult with the testosterone than he is now (ok he was a little humpy and sniffy but that could be due to lack of training on my part) and I liked it/he performed well, but with the crypt I didn't want to cause any medical issues, and he was full grown with (assumed) growth plates closed.

Patton will likely be staying intact for most of his life, unless something comes up. I've really liked all my boys with their bits. Haven't had any real trouble related to it. The age thing and medical issues does worry me, and based on studies it seems like the golden window would be a healthy mature adult neuter vs. staying intact indefinitely... So I may neuter Patton much older, who knows.

Rylie was spayed at 6 months of age because I thought it was the "right" thing to do.

After research, we spayed Chloe after her first heat... I believe she was 11 months old when she was spayed.

Emma was also spayed after her first heat... I think she was also 10-11 months at the time. Tucker wasn't neutered, so I didn't want to deal with separating them for another heat. It was a lot of work!

Tucker was neutered when he was 3 (I think?) because I couldn't deal with him marking. Neutering completely fixed that issue.

Rory is still intact because I haven't had a reason to neuter him. He'll be 5 next month.

Zara is also intact but will be spayed next month. She is being spayed per her contract.

Sako's breeder neuters her males by age 7 or 8 (she spays her girls by this age too), and this is one of the reasons why. I think it's a good practice, personally. That would be my plan with Barrett as well. I'll just have him collected beforehand if I feel it necessary.

Gavroche is neutered and started having prostate problems at age 5, 4 years AFTER he was neutered. Prostatic cysts with chronic prostatitis/intermittent UTIs leading to urinary incontinence.

My parents had two intact GSDs recently. Both lived to age 13/14. One never had any prostate problems, the other got prostatitis every 6 months when the bitch next door went into heat in the last year of his life. Not something that really was a big deal, just antibiotics for a couple weeks each time.

So, I don't feel like a neuter will do any good when they're older.

IME (anecdotally of course) almost all intact males will develop an enlarged prostate like benign prostatic hypertrophy in humans when they are older, but I don't feel like they have more prostate cancer, prostatitis, etc. than neutered males. The BPH will often cause enough problems (typically with defecation) to neuter the dog. Lots of perianal adenomas in older intact males, too, which again are benign but can sometimes be a real nuisance for the dog.

Norris was neutered by FOHA four years ago when he first went there. Which is fine with me.

Daisy was spayed because spaying at 6 months is "what you did". She did develop a little urinary incontinence, but it really only happens now and then. She has territorial/fear aggression to strangers who come to the house, but I have no idea if spaying affected this behavior one way or another. Maybe with her hormones she may have been less anxious, but maybe not. Benji we had neutered because he had a marking issue. Rocky came neutered from the people we got him from.

If I get female dogs in the future, they will be spayed. No messy heats for me, thanks. Male dogs will be allowed to remain intact unless there is an issue that requires a neuter. Of course, if I get dogs from rescue, they'll come already altered.

Shamoo was adopted spayed. I think they were done breeding her and spayed her.

Sloan is intact and will remain so until we decide to breed her or not. The decision will likely be made 7-9, at that point we'll likely consider OSS.

Phelan is intact and I don't have any plans to alter him.

Hmmm... AKC takes OSS? Did not know that. Do they take vasectomies?

Last I heard they take OSS but not Vasectomies because "it looks like they're intact" and also "it could be reversed however slight the possibility"

Teagan was spayed at 6 months because of the clause in her contract. Panzer will never be Altered. And I plan never again to alter a dog.

I alter for convenience. Can I handle intact animals responsibly? Yes. Do I want the extra stress of it? No.

Muffin was neutered around 2, Walsh was done around 1. I would have waited longer but I was having problems with the two males so I just got them both chopped at the same time... It did help a little.

Going forward, all dogs will be altered. The age will have several factors involved, but I'd like to stay at a minimum age of 1.

And I agree that dog balls are gross, if I had a short haired dog with big swinging balls... He'd def get neutered sooner rather than later.

Cohen was altered around 6 months mostly out of convenience and because I didn't know any better (e: and breeder contract, now that I think about it). Mega is intact at 8(?) years old and I have no real plans to spay her barring a medical issue. Mega is a huge chore to deal with a month or two out of the year as a result. Can't say I really mind having Cohen desexed but I'm not sure I'd do it again.

I should add that when we got Sally the landlord said she didn't mind me having a pit bull in the apartment as long as she was altered. So, our rental agreement required it, but we would have done it anyway.

As far as other pets go, my cats are altered (and any future cats will be as well) and our birds are intact because desexing birds really isn't a thing. When I had horses my mare was intact and my gelding, was well, gelded-lol. If I ever had a young male horse I would keep him intact for a couple of years if possible to let him fill out, but he would be snipped when he started acting studly. It's actually not easy to keep an intact male horse if you don't have your own place--boarding places usually don't like them, and kids can't show them in 4-H and most breed shows.

Am I remembering correctly that BPH can be addressed by neutering at that time?

Also, some research I found indicates a higher rate of prostate cancer in *neutered* dogs.

"Immunohistochemical characterization of canine prostatic carcinoma and correlation with castration status and castration time"

"Canine prostate carcinoma: epidemiological evidence of an increased risk in castrated dogs"

After dealing with Beau and his prostate cancer, I will be neutering all future male dogs around 6-8 years old. Outlaw will be snipped at 7 years old or possibly 3 if he proves not worthy of breeding (it's a thought, not set in stone) barring health testing and some venues we want to title him in.

I feel if Beau was neutered, I'd never have to deal with it. But that could also be guilt talking as well

Correct. OSS is ok for PAL and CP. Vs are a little hit or miss - some at AKC are more accepting than others. I know of a PAL'd dog that is vasectomized, but I do wonder if it's more accepted in the PAL dogs since they appear purebred, vs CP dogs.