Pros & Cons to neutering an older Newf

[Newfobsessed]

Hello!! I need the advise of my fellow Newf Net people. My boy is almost 8 years old and I am considering neutering him. He does not mark and has calmed down around the ladies, so my reason is not behavioral. I have been told that this will lessen his chance of getting some cancers, which means a lot to me. I just would like to know if anyone else has neutered their Newf later in life and how he tolerated the operation, recuperation, etc. The reason I waited was that he was a show dog. He got his championship, and his breeders would have liked him to get his Grand Championship, but he only did well in the ring because he loves me so much - as one breeder watching him told me. He is everything to me. He does not like to be shown, so I am not continuing with it. We will do many other things, as we are carting, he has tried water work and we are taking obedience classes. Your experiences and suggestions are, as always, greatly appreciated. Thank you!!!

 

[BLCOLE]

Calza died of a type of cancer that is made MUCH more likely by spaying and neutering.
5X higher risk in spayed females and 2.5X higher risk in neutered males.

I now have her 8 year old son whom I have NO PLANS to neuter.

 

[Angela]

Evan is 11 years old and not neutered. No behavioural issues.
Nicholas was neutered at 10 years due to hormonal alopcia and did well for a year until he died from complications of bloat

 

[victoria1140]

Max wasnt neutered and we still lost him at 26 months old.

Beau was neutered and we lost him at 4 1/2 years old.

Both were lost to cancer so l think its a case if they are going to get it they will and at 8 l dont think l would want to.put them through the stress of it all.

 

[R Taft]

Lukey is not Neutered and won't ne at 8.5 years

Harry was early in life as he was thought to have testicular cancer, but they were haematomas from the previous owner kicking him... I think i will hav issue with him due to doing it .... I wont neuter my males, I have had many elderly entire males. I do spay females after about 6 du to pyometra risk, more so than cancers, it is so common

 

[Newfobsessed]

Decided not to neuter my Newf

Thank you so much for your advice. I have decided, thanks to you, not to neuter my boy. I adore him and do not want to stress him anymore than I must. THANK YOU!!!!

 

[Newfobsessed]

Thank you so much!! I was on the fence, and thanks to you, I am not neutering my precious boy!

 

[Bailey Boy]

Bailey was neutered at 6 months and lived to be 14 yrs old. Coleman was neutered at the age of 4/5 yrs when he came into rescue and passed away at 10/11 yrs old from cancer.

Given the chance I am one of those people that will always spay and neuter by age of 6 months, both feline and canine.

 

[Darwinsnewfie@1855]

I am trying to make the same decision, but with my 5 month old female. My vet wants to spay her at 6 months. However, I did some research that claims if large breed dogs are spayed/neutered before their bones develop they have an increased risk for ligament tears. Some research also claims that it is better to let a female go through 1 heat cycle before spaying. My vet feels differently and strongly suggest that I spay her right at 6 months. I was wondering what other Newf owners think about this?

 

[shellyk]

I am trying to make the same decision, but with my 5 month old female. My vet wants to spay her at 6 months. However, I did some research that claims if large breed dogs are spayed/neutered before their bones develop they have an increased risk for ligament tears. Some research also claims that it is better to let a female go through 1 heat cycle before spaying. My vet feels differently and strongly suggest that I spay her right at 6 months. I was wondering what other Newf owners think about this?

I think you should wait. We are two TPLO surgeries into our male Lab who was neutered as soon as his testicles descended at our Vet's (former) advice. We have a female Newf who we waited two heat cycles before her spay and she still has spay incontinence. It might have been worse if we had spayed her earlier. Even if you never intend to breed her you can still allow her to mature/grow naturally . A responsible pet owner can handle heat cycles. All the horror stories about how hard heat cycles are just stories.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

You can read up of spay/neuter but most vets push at 6 months, (they are spay/neutering puppies here, it's insane!!!) as per my contract with my breeder we waited. Please search & read in here!

 

[lmfoltyn]

I know when you buy from a breeder they make you sign a contract that you will not breed your pup...but mine didn't say you had to spay...Belle is 21 months and I had planned on spaying her the first of the year...now I think I will still wait...no reason to as there are no males around us that aren't neutered...and yes, when she is in season it can be messy but the diapers work well...

 

[Senea]

The contract I got with my girl stated I was not to spay her before she was 18 months old. Aside from my neutered boy turning into sir humpsalot, and having to take some time off from training classes her heat cycles have been pretty much a non event.

The health issues from early sprays are real, it's not just ACL injuries. I would absolutely wait.

 

[Darwinsnewfie@1855]

thanks for all the knowledge and advice. We decided to wait or simple not spay her at all. I don't have any male dogs and don't plan on getting one anytime soon. I was just wondering why vets think that 6 months is the right age to spay/neuter? They are still puppies at this age and haven't even finished growing yet. Would you consider switching vets?

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

thanks for all the knowledge and advice. We decided to wait or simple not spay her at all. I don't have any male dogs and don't plan on getting one anytime soon. I was just wondering why vets think that 6 months is the right age to spay/neuter? They are still puppies at this age and haven't even finished growing yet. Would you consider switching vets?

Yes good idea to wait. You can spay her after the first or second heat cycle. Vets are always in a rush to spay/neuter, as some people are not responsible pet owners. You don't have to switch vets, just do what you want as she is your dog and you make the decisions.

 

[hsemko]

My male is 4 years old and has started marking. I was wondering if neutering would help. I can't have him marking and don't know what to do about it.