The Vet convinced me not to neuter my puppy. Is he right?

Question

I made an appointment for my six month old male chihuahua to get neutered. While I was in the waiting room, the vet gave me a copy of an article about the pros and cons of neutering a small breed dog. The article focused more on the cons. I didn't understand why the vet was trying to tell me... I thought that neutering was a must! The vet then tells me that it's up to me if I want to get him neutered, but that the health benifits are not significant. He said that there is only a very small chance that my dog could get prostate cancer later in life if he is not neutered. On the other hand, the vet said that it is a very good idea to spay a female dog due to avoiding major health problems like breast cancer. He said that the probability of my dog getting another dog pregnant is very small as well (my major concern was that my dog didn't father any puppies). He gave a few reasons for this. So I left without neutering my dog, and the vet didn't charge me for the visit.

Answer 1

He is totally wrong. Get your dog nuetered... it's only responible. I you are not going to breed or show, get him fixed. It's the right thing to do.

Answer 2

I think your vet was slated to not want to do neutering though I don't understand why.

The likeliness disease a dog will get is cancer, and the most common type is reproductive organ related whether male or female. A dog of either sex should be fixed so as to reduce the chance of cancer and accidental pregnancy. It takes but a few seconds for a dog to become impregnanted.

Did the vet mention that a neutered male puppy will stay puppy-like and playful longer into it's life than those left unaltered? Also, male dogs left intact will likely mark and have a higher want to roam/escape a yard and be more aggressive than if not neutered.

I think you should consider getting you dog neutered and possibly consider a new vet overall as I would be concerned why he would give you material that you saw was obviously AGAINST neutering without giving the full view of both the pro and cons.

PS. You'll save money on your licensing fee if the dog is fixed too.

Answer 3

ok im not goign to yell at you, but you need to understand a few things.
1. prostate cancer is Very common, especially in the more well known breeds such as chihuahua's. now im not nocking them, but its a fact. the more well known the dog, the more health problems show up in them. and prostate cancer can and will kill him.
2. males will go Miles away from home if they smell a ***** in heat. again another fact. we have had dogs come through wood fences, jump over chain link, break into cars with a female inside, Go thorugh a Glass window, and even hurt someone to mate with a female. yes yorus is a little guy, but he will still do it, he may not be able to hurt anyone but he Will hurt himself.
3. Also temperment if you neuter your puppy as soon as a vet will do it, it can stop a Lot of temperment problems, Marking being number 1. because testoserone doesnt go through the body... unlike if you let him mature then fix him, though even then it lowers it. my show doxie, is 4. we just fixed him. we used to mark, and now its stopped. he was also very possesive. i know im corting problems in a later date, with his health but im keeping a very tight watch on him, with everything. but it does help with temperment.

All of these are facts if you can find the right people who will tell you. a lot of people dont want to. or they may not care, but there are others out there who will. this vet sounds like a unresponsible vet, who you need to stop seeing. atleast in my opinion. and if you dont belive me, go to another vet, even more then just 1 other. look till you find one who you feel is right for you and your dog. but do get your dog fixed as soon as possible. Please. its just all around better.

Answer 4

I would be VERY concerned about this vets credentials!!!! Sure the rate of prostrate cancer is not extremely high but other prostrate issues are as are anal fistulas/tumors in intact dogs of ALL sizes. I persoanly have seen many of these issues..Go find another vet and get your guy neutered..he'll live longer & be healthier for it.

The probability of your dog getting another dog pregnant also isn't that small ..if it was there wouldn't be so many small dogs as well as big dogs in rescues & shelters.

Answer 5

besides the most obvious reasons TO neuter your dog, there are the behavioral ones to think about as well. Intact dogs are usually more aggressive and territorial and will most likely mark their territories (INSIDE) far more often than neutered. I had my pug neutered when he was a year old, and his marking tendencies almost completely dropped off.

All the vets I've ever taken my animals to have always stressed the importance of neutering.

I would go get a second opinion. You can always talk to your local shelter for more facts.

Answer 6

Wow! what a vet. That's crazy!! That's one of the first things my vets recommend.The health benefits are enormous!
1.) They live longer!!
2.) Prostate cancer and testicular cancer is not that uncommon..
3.) impregnating another dog.
4.) Prevents marking indoors.
5.) Decrease aggression.

There are no benefits to leaving your dog unneutered unless you plan to breed them.

Answer 7

OMG!!! That was very wrong of him. Neutered dogs do have a lot of health benefits and they also end up in shelters way less. I can't believe he told you that. Go to another vet. It doesn't seem like this one has your dog's interests at heart.

Answer 8

I think you need a new vet. Having your dog fixed when he/she is old enough ensures no unwanted puppies for yourself or others and reduces, if not eliminates, the possibilities of illness later on.
My Dad never nuetered his dog and as soon as he started aging (over 10 yrs) it was nothing but problems, which our vet told him could have been eliminated had the dog been nutered earlier in life.

Answer 9

I would seek another vet's advice. And who would want a male dog marking everything. And whining when neighborhood female dogs are in heat.

Answer 10

Well I'd get another vet and have him neutered. It is not wise to allow your dog to go un-neutered at all. The most reported dog bites are from intact male dogs. They also tend to be more territorial and will mark their territory in your home. The happy dog is a neutered one.

Answer 11

Did you ask the vet when he starts to lift his leg to mark (pee) on everything was he going to come to your home and clean it up?
If you catch a male pup before he learns the habit of marking his trail he will pee like a girl and never mark your couch the chair the wall or anything. But if you wait until he is picking up that leg and has learned how....He will mark forever. Millons of un-wanted pets are put to sleep because of opps! And one nite stands (LOL0 please reconsider!