do you think getting a dog neutered before sexual maturity can hurt there look?

Question

I have a 7 month old pure breed chocolate lab and have heard that getting him neutured before he reaches his sexual maturity would result in a dog that might not look anything like his pure breed father any truth to this, if not i would get him fixed right but will wait if there is a chance he could look different then the parents.

Answer 1

umm... no they look no differnet

Answer 2

Contrary to popular belief it really doesn't have a lot to do with "look" if done 6 months old or older. It has more to do with individual bloodlines then it does neutering.
The longer your dog is left intact the higher the risk becomes of testicular & prostrate cancer and prostrate infections.Also the risk of anal fistulas increases.

Vets suggesting spay/neuter at 6 months of age is far from doing it because it is "easier" for them.. I am always amazed at the misinformation there is out there!!! A female should NOT go through a heat before spaying. That is very "old school" thinking and has absolutely NO basis what so ever..it can actually be dangerous to a dogs health.I can't believe the people who still believe such nonsense and adse it. Mammary cancer, pyometria, testicular cancer, anal fistulas etc aren't an old age issue.It happens as early as 8-9 months old.I deal with this all the time and have for 34 almost 35 years.
I've also been involved with breeding cats, dogs & horses.Have many, many years of expereince medical and personal

Answer 3

Hi! Being a former breeder of Golden's this is what I told all my clients at the time they purchased one of my pups.
For the females I asked them to allow her to go thru 1 heat before having them sprayed.
With the males I asked them to wait until they were 2 years old before have them neutered.
I know this goes against all of what the vets say, but their is a good reason for doing this. Especially in the males. If you want your dog to have the look which you paid alot of money for then the males need the hormones to get that look. Cutting the hormones off at 6 months of age will not let the males get the beautiful feathering and chest feathering the hormones provide.
Same with the females but their feathering is sometimes not as pronounced as the males in the first place.
Now the argument with the vets are sound but they can just as easily spray and neuter a dog at a year old for females and a male at 2 as they can a pup. It just means they have to work with a bit bigger dog and they don't like that. Find a vet who will listen to you and agree to spray and neuter you dog when you think it is right, not when it is easiest for them.
Now during this time you have to be a very responsible owner and make sure that your female doesn't get away from you and get pregnant or that your males doesn't impregnate someone Else's dog. My biggest dissapointment as a breeder was when my client didn't listen to me and were dissapointed in how the look of their dog didn't mature as they had hoped. I couldn't control that

Answer 4

No, it's NOT a myth! I raise rottweilers and have a male that I had neutered at 6 months old and one that is 10 months old and will not be neutered. The young dog looks more like his very large father than the older dog. When a male dog is neutered, their testicles are removed. Males produce much of their testosterone in their testicles. With less testosterone, they will not "fill out" the way they do when they are in tact.

I have ablsolutely nothing against neutering a young do. My father has labs and his neutered male is a big beautiful dog, but I have no doubt that he would have been larger if he had remained in tact.

Answer 5

no. The only thing neutering changes is the fact that he will not want to run off everytime he smells a female in heat. He will be a better more attentive dog and easier to train. The other thing it changes is that he won't be marking his territory by lifting his leg. This is a big plus.

Almost forgot neutering nearly wipes out his chances of having prostate cancer. It also wipes out him fathering more unwanted puppies.

Make an appointment Monday.

Answer 6

Neutering early can lead to longer limbs as the growth plates don't close when they are supposed to. It can also lead to a narrow chest. In most dogs, this isn't an issue to really be worried about. The time you need to think about it is if the dog is going to be an athlete (like agility) because the dog doesn't have as much lung capacity as he would if he were left to grow up completely before neutering (and it isn't sexual maturity, it's full growth for the bone structure, remember threre is growth after pueberty).

It's just like in humans. Years ago people used to do the same thing to young boys to preserve their voice (Venia Boys Choir) or to be guards in harems etc. They are/were called eunichs. They typically had long limbs and narrow chests. And a friend who raises/ shows horses told me that male horses who are 'fixed" (geldings) before they are done growing have the same features (long limbs and narrow chests).

Answer 7

No, it won't make any difference, he will grow as big as he is going to grow. Mine have all been neutered at 6 months, with no effect. The sooner you do it, the better. And it will help to prevent some types of cancer.

Answer 8

My 1st cat was like that, but he goes for stuffed animals. My dog was like that growing up as well. Once they learn the behavior and learn that is feels good, it's a lost cause.

Answer 9

well why dont you just play safe and wait till its matured before you do it
you never know
maybe its true
doesnt hurt to wait

Answer 10

Nope....that's CRAP!!!!

It will ONLY effect the "look" of "stud dog"! Which your pup OBVIOUSLY is NOT!!!
NEUTER IT TOMORROW!!!!

Answer 11

no i dont beleave it will i bet he is really cute