Neutering a 4 month old German Shepherd - Page 2

ok i have to add, i've worked at a vet clinic that didn't try to spay and neuter everything that walked in the door. But the animals that were early spay-neuters for the local shelter did NOT seen to suffer boat loads of heath problems either. No one was dumping dogs for any of the above mentioned things. Like lack of development, under developed organs, mental deficiencies.
Seem some people just like to scream either Fix that dog NOW, or For god's sake don't ever fix that dog! 
I've seen more females from breeders with breast cancer, than pyos. I've seen more small breed male with testicular tumors and large breed males with prostrate problems. Neutered dog? humm can't remember any serious problems coming in.
I don't think neutering a normal healthy pup is a great idea, but i've neutered a deaf dog at 3 months because it was a stipulation of the rescue. He's fine and living the good life. He just doesn't come when called. :p

Joanro i guess the problem is not exclusively ours then hua? 

But i think the push to spay and neuter is in our day and age a reasonable one. Most people barely have time for their kids, let alone a dog. So many dogs are dumped due to general boredom/destructive behavior. Plus it seems less and less people have prior experience with pet dogs and then run out to get one. Later they ask interesting questions like how long will my dog's period be? 4 weeks! OMG
Or who does my dog hump stuff, bite my hands, destroy the couch? That's crap is why dogs get dumped. Lack of education. You would think the internet would make us smarted but for a lot of people it seems to be making them dumber. :p
Fry
 

No,Joan, seems to be an international problem..

Joan & Susie:  just in case our UK shelters aren't already
over-stuffed enough, with mainly Staffords / Staffie crosses,
huge numbers of dogs are being brought in from Ireland
(Nthn & the Republic), either as rescues, or for sale ...
agreed, its an international problem - and there's little rhyme
or reason for it.  s.m.h.

If rescue groups are created to bring in animals from other goverments, there is a money trail... Always a reason for it and not like we dont kill enough of them in our country daily to need to bring in more from other countries to!  I have done fostering and rescue for many many years and it would shock so many for them to know some of the crooked ways money given to take care of animals is misued by the people at the top not even helping the animals in most groups. What better than a rescue that begs stars to help with their contributions to help animals from other countries and to also get money from the goverments doing it? Many rescues doing this type of thing are registered as businesses not non profit. 

IMPO:  If the owner is responsible (locks up the female when in heat/Keeps the male in control), one can wait at least until 18 or even 24 months of age.  By then, most of the growth and emotional development is done with, except maybe some bulking up, but early spay/neuter would seem to invite a number of potential issues.

Bringing in animals from other areas is just a reward for their country's/cities bad policies.  We should take care of our own problems rather than try to solve the world's while ours are aflame on the stove.

 

wake up people!  I live in Ohio 2000 dogs were put to sleep last year at our county shelter!  When was the last time you guys took a walk inside your local shelter?  My GSD has hemangiosarcoma it is genetic.  He also had to be neutered, only one testicle came down also genetic.  Breeding GSDs in the good old USA is a joke.  Careful and selective breeding is so important.  Spay and neutering is also important.  I do not agree with young spaying or neutering  as I  bought a 12 week puppy and the breeder altered the whole litter, they all died within a week of going to their new homes from parvo.  The vet he used infected the whole litter.  My vet said it was the worst case of parvo he had seen in thirty years of practise. Visit your local shelter and come away  with a whole new outlook on dog breeding. Make sure your GSD  you buy or breed is free of disease,has good tempermant, and good bone structure.  Dawn   From Ohio
 

Gee, thanks, Dawn. We're sure lucky you joined to give us that breaking news.

http://www.caninesports.com/uploads/1/5/3/1/15319800/spay_neuter_considerations_2013.pdf

http://www.akcchf.org/news-events/multimedia/podcasts/early-spay-and-neuter.html

It seems that there is a serious risk when getting older.
 

During my growing up years, most people didn't bother neutering males. They didn't let them run loose, either (the good owners.) So, when I adopted a 3 year old male GSD, I was in no hurry to get him snipped. My backyard was fully fenced, and there was no problem with him getting loose and roaming the neighbourhood.

Then he developed a severe prostate infection. As he was a rescue, and had no pedigree, neutering him was a no-brainer. The only change it's caused in his behaviour is he no longer pees on the counter at the vet's. He still can be a bit of a stubborn blockhead, and if another male dog challenges him, and gets in his face enough, he WILL fight. He will also mount AND tie with an in-heat female! (Though now that he's nearly 12, and his rear is weak with arthritis, I'm not sure he's up to that anymore, though I'm sure he'd make an effort at it...)

When dogs come in here to board, I've noticed some of them seem to have really, really small penises, obviously from being neutered at a very young age. I've often wondered if this could cause issues with urination, and now Fry has confirmed early neutering can do exactly that. I already knew females can develop incontinence from being spayed, so I'm not surprised. Sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander...

It's best to wait until a GSD is at least 9 months to a year old at least before neutering.  A male neutered before sexual maturity will never develop the masculine head that is the hallmark of the male GSD.  He will end up looking like a perpetual puppy with a puppy head and genitalia and end up taller but with less musculature than a dog neutered after a year of age.