spaying your pet

[Beowolf]

has anyone noticed any behavioral changes in their dog after getting her spayed? my puppy has an appointment for monday, and im wondering what to expect.

 

[WombatWoman]

There isn't usually much change in the disposition of a female dog after she is neutered. In my experience, if anything, they usually become sweeter and calmer, since they no longer experience the chemical ups and downs of the mating cycle.

She will likely live longer as a result, too.

 

[Azraele]

Your dog will be fine , but a bit woozy after the surgery.

 

[glen]

Beowolf, you better click here to see the dangers of not spaying/neutering!!

 

[novon]

How much does it usually cost?

 

[Balt]

In my experience, it seems to calm down the dog quite a bit.

Unfortunately in the case of my dachshund she was already very timid. Spaying her really wasn't beneficial to her personality I think.

Obviously the point isn't to alter their personality (at least I had no intention of doing that), but it was a side effect.

 

[Carbo]

I gained a little weight after my surgery. And my wife says I'm more spontaneous.

 

[TerreApart]

I have a cat, but i'm sure the after-care is similar...

After my cat was neutered, he was crabby for about a week. Hiding, etc...

Keep an eye on your puppy closely for a week to make sure everyting sems well, and it wil be fine. BTW-glad your doing the right thing for your pet...

 

[nomahe]

They usually don't tend to stray as much and the males aren't as territorial as they would be if they weren't. The females, not sure about physically, but, you won't have messes to clean up.

Edit: I don't know the consensus on this, but, I've heard for females it's best to do it at 6 mos. (Before they go into heat) And for males you should do it before they find out what they're missing.

 

[Fatdog]

It sure didn't slow or calm Fatdog down(think Tazz cyclone cloud in the cartoon), she still did everything flat out. We spayed her just before her first birthday and she lived a full life of 16 years, chasing squirrels, annoying the cat, greeting friends, and once scaring off a burgler.

Boy I miss that dog

 

[Raspewtin]

there are personality changes is most dogs, both male and female, but they can be very difficult to notice. Some vets will tell you there will be no personality change; they are lying or stupid. It makes little difference healthwise for females, but can save your male dog from testicular cancer. There is no evidence that spayed/neutered dogs live longer lives (except for the cancer issue of course). Some sexual behaviors will not go away with spaying or neutering (especially established behaviors) Generally the biggest benefit (besides the reproductive aspectS) is that life will be easier for your dog socially. Non-neutered / non-spayed dogs smell different to dogs and at a dog park it's obvious which dogs are not neutered and not spayed b/c of how much they are hassled (even by fixed dog. Also it's easier to take care of a spayed female that a non-spayed female for obvious reasons. My dog is not neutered b/c he gets paid a lot to breed which makes it worth the hassle. However after his "career" is over, I will neuter him for the reasons above, unless i feel his personality could not handle it well.

 

[Moonbeam]

I did not neuter my dog because I wouldn't want the aliens I work for to neuter me. I always have him under control and fenced so I just didn't have the heart to do it and figured it really wasn't necessary. I'd rather get cancer of the balls than not to have ever had them. I didn't want him howling in alto either. He's right here by my side now looking at me with his loving trusting eyes. There is one problem. If you get up off the couch, which I really hate to do, he will jump in your place and lie down quickly. If you try to push him out he will growl and if you push harder he will bite. I have a number of scars from this. He also bites if you step on him in the dark. I have learned to suffle along at night. He's a Cairn terrier, wonderfully happy and intensly amusing as a breed, but born to kill. In Scotland they flush game from cairns and will die in a hole digging for the quary. You have to dig them out yourself. They want to be with you, but don't like to be cuddled and loved. They're looking for action.

 

[TerreApart]

ROFL... great story.

 

[WombatWoman]

He's a Cairn terrier, wonderfully happy and intensly amusing as a breed, but born to kill. In Scotland they flush game from cairns and will die in a hole digging for the quary. You have to dig them out yourself. They want to be with you, but don't like to be cuddled and loved. They're looking for action.

Hmm. Looking for action, are they? I always had my suspicions about Dorothy and Toto.

 

[Moonbeam]

LOL, WW, you might be right. I thought about and completely forgot to mention another reason I'm glad I spared him. When I'm properly esconsed on that same couch and he's deposited himself on the rug besides me to get his tummy scratched, he will often jump up and climb on top of me and kind of hunch up lick and grunt and groan over me. It's wonderful to be loved.

 

[kyutip]

I have 3 female rabbits live with me at home. All of them have been spayed.
The thing that I've noticed:
1. They are litter trained faster and their habbits have been flawless.
2. They live happier since no hormone raging, meaning not chewing hole
at anything and everything.
3. No more the threat of ovarian cancer, meaning they live up to 12-15 years old.

I also currently fostering a male bunny since he has been neutered he does not
hump the stuff animal anymore

I think spaying and neutering your pet is a responsible thing to do.