Neutering a puppy?

Question

My rottweiler is almost 4 months old, he is already getting 10-20 erections a day, and his testicles have dropped, he is not humping anything and does not seem interested in female dogs in a sexual way.
I am just wondering if this is normal for a puppy and what age others had thier dogs fixed. Thanks for all answers.

Answer 1

Testicles are supposed to be 'dropped' at birth, or within the first week or two of life...so that has nothing to do with the age of neutering.

For the past 4-5 years, I have been spaying and neutering dogs at 4 months of age....several hundred in that time. The Humane Society of the United States as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association have advocated doing the surgery as early as 8 weeks for the past 20 years, with no documented ill effects. I'll do cats as early as 3 months (they mature faster), but prefer to wait until 4 months for most dogs. That's just a personal preference on my part, however....I like for their livers to be a little more developed in order to better process the anesthesia and pain drugs we use. We use internally-heated surgery tables, so body heat loss is not an issue for small dogs.

There IS some credence to the hormone/bone development theory, however. I heard a very compelling lecture given by a renowned veterinary orthopedic surgeon (one of my old professors, in fact), who raised some valid questions about the early age spay/neutering of certain breeds....mostly the large one, which take longer to physically mature. For example, it used to be that cruciate ligament rupture was 'only' a problem of small dogs....especially overweight poodles, etc. His caseload for that is now primarily Labrador Retrievers, however....all of which were neutered young, and many are at normal weights. I myself have been seeing more and more Labs with cruciate ruptures over the past several years, too. In talking with my colleagues, it seems we all have. Is it due to early age neutering or something else??? (Poor genetic selection by breeders is always a common possibility...one of the reasons we can't get rid of other genetic problems like hip dysplasia and demodicosis, in fact.) We don't know, but he certainly gave food for thought.

You have to weigh the behavioral advantages versus that. Talk it over with your DVM....and do what the two of you think is best for YOUR particular dog.

More importantly, Rottweilers are THE number one breed to get parvo....and when they get it, boy do they get it!!!! They have a genetic problem that makes them respond poorly to the vaccine....most pups are 'done' with the series at the age of 4 months, but a Rottie needs additional parvo boosters until at least 6 months of age, or he might break with the disease. By the age of 4 months, he should have already received several vaccines, been checked for internal parasites and prophylactically dewormed for rounds, and been started on a monthly heartworm preventative. If that's not the case, he's SERIOUSLY behind...and getting him caught up ASAP is of more importance than neutering right now. (Not much point in neutering a dead pup....or neutering him only to have him die of parvo or hookworms 2 weeks later.) Schedule an appt. for his routine puppy care, and you can discuss any neutering questions you have at that time. :-)

Answer 2

At 4 month he is fine to neuter. He will heal quickly and not develop the tendency to make his turf. He will also not be a tertiortial, which will help him a great deal socially. Rottweiler can be human aggressive and getting them neutered early will help with this area. It will not change the personality or their protective love they will show you but it will make them a much better pet. It also keeps them from not want to roam in search of a female friend every time a female comes into heat in the area.

Answer 3

It is easier to neuter a puppy than an adult. The surgery is much less invasive if they are done when they are younger. The incision is actually made in different spots at the puppy age versus the adult. It's also healthier for the pet.
I neuter as young as 4 weeks, or 2 lbs. I rarely ever have a complication.
Remember this, too: it's much easier to curb bad behavior before it begins. If you neuter him before he has the desire to run away or mount, then you will be saving him from an urge he will never be allowed to gratify.
Good Luck:)

Answer 4

I got one dog neutered at 5 1/2 months (the breeder had it done right before I took him) and the other was neutered at 8 months. Ask your vet when is the earliest he recommends. I know 5 1/2 months is not too early.

Answer 5

Well what you may be interpreting as an erection may just be excitement. They will extract thier penis if they are excited, and not sexually excitied just playing around can do it. 4 months is a little premature to have him fixed, most Vets won't neuter before 6 months.

Answer 6

Most people have their animals fixed while they are still very young because its less tramatic on them and they heal faster. Puppies tend to forget what happened 5 seconds ago.

Dogs are strange with that body part. When they are puppies it tends to protrude often for no reason. It's like a boy going into manhood. Hormones are raging and the body hasn't gotten used to them.

Answer 7

In California, the pound will neuter at any age. 4 months is not too young. 6 months is normal in other states.

Answer 8

Yes it is totally normal. Most vets want to wait until the pup is 6 months old before nutering them, especially small dogs. Larger dogs can be nutered sooner, as they do not lose as much body heat under anasthesia. Puppies usually do not become "mature" until they are approximately 6-8 months old.

Answer 9

They're neutering kittens at 8 weeks now.

Your vet may want to wait because some research suggests that large breed dogs may need their hormones longer in order for their bones to grow properly, but some vets don't put any stock in that.

Talk to your vet.

Answer 10

You neuter or spayed a dog from 2 months up. I had both my dogs neuter and spayed at 2 months. It is a safe and easy procedure. You can take them to Vet in am and picked them up any time in afternoon. If you live in U.S.A. you can get it done at he humane society which is a lot cheaper than with a private veterinarian. I hope this helps you out.