How old is too old to get our dog neutered?

Question

We didn't want to get him neutered at first because we have heard sometimes they "change" afterwards, but now we are thinking we want to. We can't take him to the dog park because he is so pre-occupied with trying to sniff eveyones butt and sometimes try to hump them. He was born March 30, 2005, so he's a year and for months. Does it hurt more when they are older or is it still okay?

Answer 1

Neutering will curb that behavior in most cases..especially with a dog as young as yours...It will not hurt him any more than if done when younger..Expect him to be pouty for a couple of weeks...

When social activity takes place at the dog run or daycare, it is all too common for a large-breed dog to attack an un-neutered small dog (no matter how friendly he is). Bite wounds are frightening and can be quite costly, even if they appear minor. Some cases of BDLD (Big-Dog-Little-Dog) are deadly. Male dogs of any size who are not neutered tend to exhibit more of the unpleasant sexual behaviors, such as “humping.”
http://www.theanimalcenter.org/content/neuter.htm

One out of three neutered male dogs and the occasional neutered female still engage in humping years after neuter surgery. Even when it’s slated to disappear, humping may persist for several months after surgery before its frequency and intensity eventually wanes.
http://www.petplace.com/dogs/humping/page1.aspx

Answer 2

It's preferable to do it at a very young age, but it's not too late and wouldn't hurt more--please do it. He may still hump, may be calmer,but not always. Many dogs stay playful and active even at an old age. Some breeds are more hyper than others; i.e., Jack Russel terriers, so neutering doesn't make a difference. Many dogs, female, males will always hump, whether fixed or not. This can make another dog's owner angry, but just discourage it as much as possible. I've watched dogs pick out a favorite, even the same sex, and follow it around constantly trying to hump it non-stop at dog parks--can't be helped, natural instinct, like checking out genitals to identify sex of dog, even pee on another dog's right afterwards.

Answer 3

Your dog is actually at the perfect age to have him neutered. Lots of people think it needs to be done early on the dogs life and this is INCORRECT. Your dog needs the hormones produced by the testicles in order to mature through puberty. Just like you! No doctor in their right mind would preform this surgery on an infant human and your dog is no different. Hormones are vital for proper growth and development. Puppies neutered too early have problems with growth plates, increased risk of cancer (there's all kinds of things do a little research and decide for yourself). You should have the procedure done for population control though, but remember the problems you are describing are behavioral problems that need behavioral and not medical solutions. Hope this helps you!

Answer 4

I just had one of mine neutered Tuesday ....yeah this week . He just turned 4 on July 1 2006. Hes doing ok so far stiches look good hes active and happy so it seems to have had no ill effects. But I do think the longer you wait the more skin hell have left "down there" from where they remove his little testes. My other dog was neutered last year while he was 3 and he also had no ill effects and the skin shriveled up and went back into place.

Answer 5

After about six months old, any age is OK. Actually your dog is at a perfect healthy age to be neutered. Most dogs change for the better. Most neutered dogs are calmer, a little less curious, and less agressive. Not to mention have less health problems when they get older. I would definitly have it done.

Answer 6

I had my little Dachshund neutered when we was 12 after he started peeing because his prostate became enlarged and started pressing on his bladder. It was more out of necessity. However, many vets including my own highly recommend within 2 years because the males want to start mating and it is less traumatic. It was traumatic for my Dachshund. My Dachshund passed away in March 2004. My two new puppies were neutered and spayed within the first year I adopted them. They were so young that it wasn't a huge deal for them. I highly recommend you talking with your vet because it also depends on the breed.

Answer 7

Dead is too old! But he will still sniff and hump after he is fixed, that is just how they do things. They can't talk, so they use their nose and other things to communicate! Humping is not always sexual. It is sometimes a way of dominating another dog, or even a person!

But, it is never too late to get them fixed!

loj

Answer 8

Now is a good time. No, it doesn't hurt them any more now than it would have 6 months ago... Yes it's still okay.... and a darned good idea too! Be prepared tho, he'll STILL sniff butts... may even still hump one or two... but at least you'll know he's safe...

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure it's alright to get a dog neutered at any age,but the older they get,the more painful the procedure is.Now is probably the best time.

Answer 10

As long as the dog is healthy it's never too late. Ask you Vet just to be sure about the dog's health. (He'll probably continue with the sniffing and humping, cutting off his balls can't stop that)