[photo_grapher_gurl]

I was always told that you neuter your dog, the testosterone levels will go down and your dog will calm down a bit. Now, when were these effects supposed to take place?

After Sandler got neutered, it seems like the opposite has happened with a couple of things:

1. He now growls at me when he wants to play. I didn't think that chopping his balls off was going to make him more vocal! He'll come over to me with a toy in his mouth and do this growl/bark thing that he does with our other dog when he wants to play. It's adorable, but annoying, and definitely unwelcome behavior.

2. He's gotten more ribby. It seems like his metabolism has INCREASED, unless it's an underlying issue like worms, which I've considered a possibility because he does dig and I have not yet wormed him since I've gotten him. But even then, it just seems weird that he's not maintaining weight since the operation. I'm upping his feed to probably 1/4 cup more per serving.

This is just weird. At least he's still the super lovable mamma's boy lol.

Anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[jbsmomto1]

My vet says it takes about 6 months for an already sexually mature dog to lose its testoserone levals. I know I have always had all my critters done the 2nd they turn 6 months old. The only ever issue any of mine had ever had was stress diarreah for a few hrs after coming home. Mind yoiu my one male still insists on marking and trying to hump when my aunts f/m westie is around....

 

[Spicy1_VV]

It doesn't typically happen at all. Just another myth of neutering pushed by the pro s/n people. Ask MRC on this forum, they have a male buckskin Pit (well sorta, he is like a foster and lives at the vet clinic but they take him him) who has been neutered for years who is extremely hyper. It won't calm your dog down.

As for the first thing that could just be a normal change in his behavior. Dogs neutered or left intact might start doing thing differently just because. Like any other animal they do something new or different.

The 2nd I would wonder about another health issue. Could be worms, could be thyroid (altered dogs have an increased risk) or a number of other reasons for not maintaining weight. How old? He could also be growing which would lead to him requiring more intake.

 

[ambercober]

How old is he? A dogs personality develops with age, a dog at age one isn't the same as when he was 6 months and a dog at 2 years old isn't the same as he was at age 1.

 

[BoxMeIn21]

It doesn't typically happen at all. Just another myth of neutering pushed by the pro s/n people. Ask MRC on this forum, they have a male buckskin Pit (well sorta, he is like a foster and lives at the vet clinic but they take him him) who has been neutered for years who is extremely hyper. It won't calm your dog down.

As for the first thing that could just be a normal change in his behavior. Dogs neutered or left intact might start doing thing differently just because. Like any other animal they do something new or different.

The 2nd I would wonder about another health issue. Could be worms, could be thyroid (altered dogs have an increased risk) or a number of other reasons for not maintaining weight. How old? He could also be growing which would lead to him requiring more intake.

I am with Spicy.

 

[cshellenberger]

1. He now growls at me when he wants to play. I didn't think that chopping his balls off was going to make him more vocal! He'll come over to me with a toy in his mouth and do this growl/bark thing that he does with our other dog when he wants to play. It's adorable, but annoying, and definitely unwelcome behavior.

2. He's gotten more ribby. It seems like his metabolism has INCREASED, unless it's an underlying issue like worms, which I've considered a possibility because he does dig and I have not yet wormed him since I've gotten him. But even then, it just seems weird that he's not maintaining weight since the operation. I'm upping his feed to probably 1/4 cup more per serving.

1
If this is an unwanted behavior (it doesn't sound aggro, just 'demanding') TURN YOUR BACK AND WALK AWAY ignoring him. Play is on YOUR terms, YOU initiate it, not him. (NILIF). You can teach him to 'ask' politely by rewarding when he does something you want (such as sitting and dropping the ball at your feet).

2. Depending on age, it could be a growth spurt or it could be parasitic OR a sign of an underlying health condition. What is the condition of his coat? Is it still shiny or is it getting rougher and dulled?

 

[xoxluvablexox]

Personally I think neutoring causes more problems then it helps, when it comes to health(not overpopulation).
You can do a little research about it and see the health affects it'll have on your dog.
There was a study that showed that neutored dogs actually showed MORE signs of aggression.
Personally, I think s/n really doesn't have much to do with aggression but it does seem to cause some other problems.
Oh and my dog is neutored and he's so hyper he ran right, head first, into a table. Didn't slip or anything, there was a rug, just kept running and wouldn't stop. (He's okay, by the way).

 

[photo_grapher_gurl]

I'm gonna try to answer all the questions lol.

I don't know his age. The animal shelter estimated 2, another vet said maybe a year and a half, and my vet said probably around a year or so.

I haven't really been watching his coat but I'll start. Right now he's got dandruff but he had that problem when I got him and bathing him helped, so we'll see if that changes when I bathe him, which will be in about a week. (My boyfriend and I are leaving for California early tomorrow morning so I was going to wash him when I got back)

What would the dull coat be an indicator of? Parasites?

He is a great dog, and very loving and I feel blessed I found him because he makes me happy, I just wish neutering him didn't change him.

A question about worms-- with horses, you can tell they're wormy because they look ribby but their belly is large. Is it similar with dogs?


Also, I have NO IDEA what s/m means lol

 

[cshellenberger]

If he's around a year then it COULD be teenager stage for the behavior nd a small growth spurt for the thinning.

Dull dry coat can indicate several things including tapeworm and low thyroid. It's best to have a vet check him for parasites (which will need to be done if you're boarding anyhow) for now to be sure.

 

[Lil Red Express]

Sorry if I missed it but how long have you had him ? I would think if you or your vet don't know his history then he probably should of been put on a de-worming program ? Have you checked his poop up close ?

 

[photo_grapher_gurl]

I got him late January. I didn't think about getting him wormed; I haven't really had a dog before so I didn't know that's one of those things you do (except heartworm, but the vet didn't mention it which surprised me). Do you think the stuff you get at the feed store would be good enough or should I take him back to the vet and get something from him?

 

[Lil Red Express]

IMO I would take him to the Vet , my dog gets Interceptor , its a combo heart worm preventative - de-wormer . I looked at the vet bill last time and the pills were fairly inexpensive . If you have any questions about heart worm and your dog , ask your vet . Certainly better to be prevented than dealing with it later.

I got him late January. I didn't think about getting him wormed; I haven't really had a dog before so I didn't know that's one of those things you do (except heartworm, but the vet didn't mention it which surprised me). Do you think the stuff you get at the feed store would be good enough or should I take him back to the vet and get something from him?

 

[sheltiemom]

If he's been to the vet, he should have been checked for worms, unless you specifically told the vet not to for some reason....whenever I bring in a new dog, basically the first thing my vet does is a fecal, which would tell you if a dog has worms...are you sure he wasn't checked? It may be that his fecal test came back good and that's why he wasn't wormed...you could call your vet and ask about this.

Anywho, I agree with everyone else...I don't think the problems you are seeing are related to neutering...it's a myth that neutering a dog will calm him down, just ask my border collie.

Oh, and s/n means spay or neuter.

 

[photo_grapher_gurl]

If he's been to the vet, he should have been checked for worms, unless you specifically told the vet not to for some reason....whenever I bring in a new dog, basically the first thing my vet does is a fecal, which would tell you if a dog has worms...are you sure he wasn't checked? It may be that his fecal test came back good and that's why he wasn't wormed...you could call your vet and ask about this.

I don't know when he would have done a fecal since I was there with them the entire time when he was getting neutered and vaccinated. It also wasn't in the bill's breakdown. I'll ask them about it. Thanks.