Adult neuter question

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Adult neuter question

Posted : 1/9/2007 9:41:10 AM

My husband and I just took in a new foster boxer on Saturday. He's 3 years old and was just neutered by the rescue on Friday. He seems to be doing fine in terms of healing, and is getting more perky and energetic by the day. He doesn't seem phased by "what's missing". I've never had a male who was neutered so late, so I guess I don't know what to expect in terms of behavior. He has been marking all over our yard, but my other male was neutered at 9 weeks and he still marks, so I don't see that as very abnormal, especially for a dog in a new place. He's house trained and has not marked in the house.

Will my other two dogs (both fixed) sense that he still has the male hormones in his system, and if so, will that affect how they react to him? So far we have kept them separated with crates and baby gates and they are still sniffing and getting used to each other. Could the fact that he was neutered so late make him more likely to try to be dominant? It's hard to tell at this point since he's just starting to show his personality.

Also, is it normal for it to be uncomfortable for him to poop while he's healing? The poor guy has been doing kind of a "squat-walk" in a circle while pooping, and it looks like it hurts a bit. He didn't poop at all the first 24 hours we had him but that could have just been a combination of being in a new place plus the effects of the neuter.

Any insight is appreciated!

ron2

Posted : 1/9/2007 8:10:23 PM

Shadow was neutered at 2 years 5 months. He still marks bushes and trees on a walk. He doesn't mount after the neuter. He still can be guardy.

Neuter will sometimes reduce dog-dog aggression, since the drive to challenge other males for breeding rights is reduced by no longer having the incessant drive to mate. A neutered dog can still be an excellent guard dog. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not gain weight because of the neuter, per se. Cessation of hormones may cause some adult characteristics to appear and a dog can still grow and gain weight in growth. But dogs gain additional weight if their caloric intake exceeds their energy demands.

There is some thought that it is better to wait until at 1 year to 18 months to neuter a large breed, for proper growth of bone plates, etc. By large, that means taller than 24 inches at the shoulder and adult weight greater than 50 to 55 lbs. Such as Great Danes, Mastiffs, even some think Labs qualify, especially if they are from a large line.

And yes, a neuter at 3 years should be just fine.

ETA:
"Could the fact that he was neutered so late make him more likely to try to be dominant?"

There is no evidence to support this idea. As above, with the hormonal drive to mate reduced or gone due to neuter, that is one less reason for dogs to fight. Cesar Millan brought in a rescued Akita. He started marking and challenging other males. So, Millan had the Akita neutered and it changed the pack dynamic and made the Akita a little less "dominant."