[Tank040415]

Hi all. Newbie to the forum! Our 6-1/2 year old German Shepherd Tank is believed to have an enlarged prostate. He has dribbled bloody urine a few times over the past few months, once last year and MAYBE having a small amount of trouble pooping but not much. The vet did a clean urine catch when I took him in to address the problem and no infection, stones, blood, bacteria, etc and normal temperature. We have pre-op bloodwork scheduled for next Tuesday and his neuter scheduled for 9/22. I'm a nervous wreck. He has never been under before and he is my first/only dog I've ever had so I'm worried about the recovery. He will not be having a scrotal ablation and he will be having abdominal, chest and hip x-rays done while he is under (prior) just in case it's something else causing it. Has anyone else had their older guy fixed? Old or not - how was the recovery? I'll take any stories - even if they're horror stories as I'd like to be prepared. I know to keep him calm for 2 weeks (he's a pretty calm dog to begin with thankfully outside of the buttwiggles when we get home and fetch which we won't be doing) and I'm aware of the risk of swelling or a seroma/hematoma. Thank you in advance <3

 

[storyist]

During the years I did rescue I took in several recently neutered dogs in the 3-4 year old age. None of them had any more trouble with the surgery and recovery than the younger ones.

Also, since I compete in dog sports and did have my dogs shown in the breed ring some when young, I know quite a few dog show people. Of those several have had to have older dogs that had been left intact neutered. A close friend had her 7-year-old male Rottie neutered after she went through one heat with new female puppy and the old dog in the same house. He was fine. She wept for having to do it. Others have had to do it for different reasons after the dog's show/breeding career was over, sometimes just to make it easier on the dog when females around him were in heat. I never heard of any problems.

These days anesthetics are much better than when I first had dogs over 50 years ago. Also vet clinics are no longer doing these surgeries with a vet alone doing it all. Some of the larger hospitals actually have anestheseologists. Smaller clinics still will have a tech monitoring the dog and anesthetic during the procedure. Inquire about those things if you're worried about your dog's first time under.

 

[Tank040415]

During the years I did rescue I took in several recently neutered dogs in the 3-4 year old age. None of them had any more trouble with the surgery and recovery than the younger ones.

Also, since I compete in dog sports and did have my dogs shown in the breed ring some when young, I know quite a few dog show people. Of those several have had to have older dogs that had been left intact neutered. A close friend had her 7-year-old male Rottie neutered after she went through one heat with new female puppy and the old dog in the same house. He was fine. She wept for having to do it. Others have had to do it for different reasons after the dog's show/breeding career was over, sometimes just to make it easier on the dog when females around him were in heat. I never heard of any problems.

These days anesthetics are much better than when I first had dogs over 50 years ago. Also vet clinics are no longer doing these surgeries with a vet alone doing it all. Some of the larger hospitals actually have anestheseologists. Smaller clinics still will have a tech monitoring the dog and anesthetic during the procedure. Inquire about those things if you're worried about your dog's first time under.

Wow! I truly appreciare your response on this! I'm not getting him done at a clinic - it's at the vet's office and they have vet techs, but I'll make sure to ask that he'll be monitored. It's so good to hear of someone who has experience with older dogs. I unfortunately am a googler and I think all I read are horror stories - nobody ever comes back to say it was fine! I think I'm more worried about the recovery than anything - swelling or a hematoma or him not coming out of anesthesia well. I don't even know!! I'm sure chances are he will be fine, but hearing others' experiences seems to calm me lol

 

[LeoRose]

Neutering is the recommended treatment for most prostate problems in older dogs. Most of them do fine.

My nine and a half year old GSD just had surgery to remove a foreign object wrapped in a wad of hair from her stomach this weekend. They knocked her out with Propofol, and then used isoflurane to keep her under. Both drugs have a pretty fast reversal time, plus she was hooked up to all kinds of monitors. They finished her surgery around 1:00 AM Monday morning, and I picked her up around 6:45 AM Tuesday morning. Other than being a bit loopy from the painkillers (gabapentin can cause dizziness), she is doing fine. In fact, she is very put out over the fact that I am keeping her on a leash, and not letting her chase critters and fence fight with the neighbor dogs.

 

[Tank040415]

Neutering is the recommended treatment for most prostate problems in older dogs. Most of them do fine.

My nine and a half year old GSD just had surgery to remove a foreign object wrapped in a wad of hair from her stomach this weekend. They knocked her out with Propofol, and then used isoflurane to keep her under. Both drugs have a pretty fast reversal time, plus she was hooked up to all kinds of monitors. They finished her surgery around 1:00 AM Monday morning, and I picked her up around 6:45 AM Tuesday morning. Other than being a bit loopy from the painkillers (gabapentin can cause dizziness), she is doing fine. In fact, she is very put out over the fact that I am keeping her on a leash, and not letting her chase critters and fence fight with the neighbor dogs.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope your pup heals quickly and well! <3

 

[Uncle Foster]

With a name like Tank, he will conquer all.
Seriously, don't worry, he will be fine.

Luck,
Foster