Boxer Breed Dog Forums banner

Neutering at 6 months questions

6K views 44 replies 11 participants last post by  BiggFeets 
#1 ·
I just had my boxer neutered at 6 months exactly. Part of me feels like I shouldn't have neutered and kept him natural. Some websites say neutering early prevents him from growing a muscular body and prevents him from being a guard dog or protective over his family. Some say opposite. Does anyone have any advice or experience they can share about neutering their boxer and how they grew/and behaved afterwards? Thank you very much.
 
#2 ·
What is done is done. I am sure Tucker will be just fine. Seems a lot of opinions out there, have seen Boxers done at 6, 8, 12, 18, etc.

I am of the opinion better to get done before they start some of the habits that puberty will bring. I am having my boxer done this Friday, he will be 8.5 months old.
 
#3 ·
My husband and I disagree about this, though he says it's my dog so my decision. He worries that it will make him weak and timid and stunt his growth. I love his personality and want him to be big, so I've done a ton of research. The upshot is that Uhtred (who was 7 months on June 24th) is going to get neutered next week. He's starting to hit puberty, so I figure it's time. I waited as long as possible, though.

I've read a ton about this, and here are the things that decided me. (1) I read a study (I can find it if you want to see it) done on a large number of dogs that showed that neutering drastically reduced marking, dog on dog aggression, and roaming. It reduced aggression toward dog and human family members in 25% of the dogs, but only reduced intruder (dog or human stranger trespasser) aggression in 10% of dogs. (2) I read another study that showed that there are only fractional differences in height, but that they will develop more breadth in their chest if you wait longer.

Now... (1) sounds like it eliminates the things I want to eliminate. (2) makes me want to wait as long as possible. So, I waited as long as I could. I might have waited a bit longer, but I wanted to do it in the summer while I can still be with him while he's recovering (I'm a teacher) and I wanted him to recover before we travel in August.
 
#5 ·
Neuter

Thanks for the information. I just didn't want it stunt tucker's growth. He weighed 50 pounds on his six month birthday, so I feel that he already has some size to him. His father was 75lbs. Anyway, Tucker is calm at times but he already tries to jump and bully other dogs and tries to play rough with me often. We have been going to a trainer and he has been learning a lot. So maybe it was the right time to neuter him before he became too aggressive. The vet told me that now he will be more focused on food and might actually put on weight quicker now that he isn't full of testosterone. Who knows. This is my first boxer so I am learning as I go.

After he came home yesterday he was completely out of it and was just wandering the house with no direction. Today he is a lot better. He seems happy again and started eating which is a relief. Last night he laid across my face and slept all night. I look forward to seeing how he recovers and if there is any change to his personality.
 
#4 ·
My vet told me that I should wait until around 7 - 9 months to do. So I am going with her advice.

Now, what I am going to do is ask the Vet to let me keep the neutered testicles so I can put them in a jar. Then when Hank misbehaves I can take out the jar and show to Hank and say, "Hey, Hank, remember what happened last time you misbehaved". That should stop misbehavior. LOL ; ) JK.
 
#7 ·
Our vet advised us to wait until he's about a year-a year and a half simply because boxer's have a very square head and muscular body and you want them to fill into it all appropriately. A lot of people say that having a dog that's intact makes them more aggressive and dominate and that may be the case with some dogs but its not even remotely the case with my dog. Neil is a LOOOOOVER. literally has not one mean hair on his head and is always the passive dog when out in the dog park despite not being neutered yet. He's a year and 3 months and we have a scheduled vet visit July 11 to have him finally neutered. Unfortunately, he's chriptorchid do it's going to be pricey.

I think it's up to your discretion to be honest... I don't think it makes a huge difference. I do think they won't be AS BIG if you neuter early but the size difference is very minimal. I do also agree that it will stop some of the bad behavior that comes with puberty... my dog is an ass lol.

Best of luck with your furbaby!
 
#8 · (Edited)
I am of the belief that it is an unnecessary ritual that was brought about as a reactive measure to reduce the explosion of stray animals that arose in years past. I was raised with intact dogs and have owned four intact Boxers with no incidents. THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY so save the flames please. As far as size I believe it makes a small difference neutering before the animal has been given the time to reach its potential.

https://naturaldogtraining.com/blog/the-debate-over-neutering/
 
#9 ·
I see your point. The knowledge that politically correct goody-two-shoes will be tsk-tsk-ing if I don't neuter makes me less inclined to neuter, just right off the bat. I like to have reasons if I'm going to do things. I can't even take my dog to doggie daycare around here unless he's neutered.

On the other hand, I'm a slightly built female. I do all the walking/socializing of our dog in our house. We live near an area where people deliberately train their dogs to be aggressive. (Seriously, some little kids asked my friend when she was going to "beat the fight" into her new puppy)

I'm doing a lot of obedience work so I can control *my* dog, but I don't think I'd have much luck trying to stop a dog fight. If (as the literature claims) intact dogs are more likely to be treated aggressively by other dogs, then for me that's reason enough to neuter. The non-roaming/marking are plusses too. FOR ME. I agree it's not right for everyone.
 
#10 ·
If (as the literature claims) intact dogs are more likely to be treated aggressively by other dogs, then for me that's reason enough to neuter. The non-roaming/marking are plusses too. FOR ME. I agree it's not right for everyone.

Yes I agree,we have been holding off getting Kai done, he is 9 1/2 months now. He is still very calm, non aggressive, no marking, we don't do dog parks and seldom meet up with other dogs and when we do we continue our training to ignore. We will get him neutered as I don't want to see these behaviors possibly develop, and there are some health benefits they say too. But I've read that not neutering until later helps prevent certain cancers and allows the growth plates to fully develop. So we hope to wait until he is at least 12 months old.
 
#12 ·
Well, yes, we alter our dogs for our benefit. And maybe they get some benefit as well. That is why they are called "pets" and not "wildlife".

As for Boxers without docked tails, they just look strange to me. Plus, I have read that Boxers are prone to "happy tail" and if not docked, can easily be broken - which many times results in a very painful surgery to correct.
 
#14 ·
Hanks surgery went ok today. So it is done for him. Of course a loose sack hanging now, that hopefully will rescind over the next month or so according to the vet. Biggest problem is no strenuous exercise - jumping and running for the next week.

Good news also! Couple months ago, if you remember Vet told me he had a Level (out of 6 heart murmur) and I should go get a ultra sound for him. $400. I passed. I figured what is done is done. Well, today, I asked after the procedure how his heart murmur was, if it caused any issues or was still even there. Vet was happy to tell me that in the pre-surgery exam, she could no longer hear a murmur, the tech could not either, and nothing was showing up in the machine as well. So guess it was just a puppy murmur after all that he grew out of - and I am glad I did not fork over $400 for a ultra sound.

BTW, no ACE used during today's procedure.

Hank got some extra Peanut Butter tonight as well.
 
#16 ·
Have the "Cone of Shame" on him now. Did not think I would need one, and the Vet Clinic did not either cause he was not licking or picking at his sutures. But, after a couple of hours at home, he started to keep on wanting to lick down there and had to stop him. So went to Ripoffmart (petsmart) and bought a cone for him. I think wearing the cone has actually has calmed him down a bit.

He did go for his monkey and want to start swinging it around as well, before he had the cone, so had to stop that.

Vet says also to limit his daily walk to only 15 minutes for the next week. (we usually do a 35 - 40 minute walk everyday)
 
#20 ·
Honestly - it's only important to keep him calm for a couple days after surgery - as long as it was a normal neuter where both testicals were descended. Without normal- not excessive- but without normal exercise, the sacs will begin to swell & fill with fluid. It's the same reaction as if we were to cut ourselves - a clear fluid runs out of the cut to try and prevent infection, & heal the wound. It's a normal function. Normal exercise keeps swelling out of the sacs and less pressure the better- less feeling uncomfortable and less redness & tenderness. Moral of the story - normal exercise is ok, just don't overdue it and keep an eye on the suture area. This is coming from my mom- a vet- whom gave this recc to us and has practiced for 30 yrs.
 
#21 ·
Right now he is wearing the "cone of shame". Have taken it off of him for when he eats or to go out to the yard to go potty. Tried keeping it off on him, but he then goes for licking his surgical area, so back on the cone goes. The cone is almost like magic, in that it does seem to instantly calm him and he then just goes to sleep. Probably take him out on a 15 minute walk this afternoon.

Figure have him wear the cone just thru the weekend. Next 2-3 days, just a 15 minute walk, then will ease back into things. 10 days no playing with the ball does seem a bit excessive to me. I say about 5 days or so taking it easy/moderate exercise, then back to normal if all goes well.
 
#22 ·
I got wyatt the inflatable tube thingy and it was so nice! Since then I've had a few people borrow it. The cover is washable and stores easier than the lampshade! Wyatt had to wear his for a few weeks bc he's a licker! He had one testicle not drop so his surgery was a little more invasive. A week after he developed a Suture infection but cleared up in a few days, didn't seem to bother him. Dog Mammal Canidae Dog breed Carnivore
 
#23 ·
Hey, so what is the deal with the "sack"? Vet says it will shrunken, rescind over the next two months.

I actually thought they cut the whole sack off, testicles and all, and then stitched them up. Instead, as I learned, they make an incision in the sack, then remove the testicles - thus leaving an empty sack intact.
 
#29 ·
Neuter

I'm glad everyone is doing well with their surgery. Today is almost a week for Tucker. He did not have to wear a cone, we just had to keep an eye on him. Day 2 he had all his energy and wanted to run,jump, and rough play. The biggest struggle was trying to keep him calm.

I am curious though, will bring neutered reduce his muscle tone?
 
#31 ·
I'm glad everyone is doing well with their surgery. Today is almost a week for Tucker. He did not have to wear a cone, we just had to keep an eye on him. Day 2 he had all his energy and wanted to run,jump, and rough play. The biggest struggle was trying to keep him calm.

I am curious though, will bring neutered reduce his muscle tone?
From what I have seen in other dogs, the effect would be very minimal if even noticeable.


To be honest, at 8.5 months Hank is 57 pounds (well, 56 pounds after the surgery. LOL :clap2:) And I kind of all most wish he would not get any bigger at all - he is the perfect size right now IMHO.
 
#36 ·
Well, it's done. I very nearly chickened out, but I went through with it. He's fine but not at all happy to have to wear a life preserver around his neck. The eyes and the whining are breaking my heart. He's looking at me like "how could you do this to me??"

Here's a question, though: do you guys leave them in the crate with that cone thing on? And for how many days do you do the cone? The instructions say 7 days; the vet tech said 4 would be awesome... He definitely wants to lick, and I'm sure he will the minute the cone comes off.
 
#40 ·
You did the right thing. He will be fine. They really have no idea what happened. If they act like they are sad, upset, or lethargic - has more to do with the "experience at the Vets", the medications wearing off, and possible pain.

The day he came home from the procedure he was pretty much back to normal is seemed by evening. But, the next day, don't know if some pain came back, but he was pretty down, lethargic, barely wanted to walk anywhere. By the 3rd day, he was ready to take on the world again. That has been the hardest part, trying to keep him calm. He lives for chasing soccer balls, doing boxer burn sprints and jumping up in the air with his sock monkey in tow.
 
#37 ·
Thats a good question, I'm following this thread since soon Kai will get done, trying to hold off to his first birthday. Ha what a birthday gift...:(
I know Kai will be a licker, any dogs I've had spayed or neutered in the past were done at 4-6 months and never needed a cone never even did they notice that anything was done to them. However I think things will be different having him done at a later age.
Personally I'd keep the cone on for the 7 days when he is in the crate as that is when I think he would lick more.
 
#39 ·
I had the cone on and off for about 3 days. Usually just when i was not around, or if I noticed him starting to lick in that area. It has been 6 days now, and Hank is back to his normal self.

Today at the park we encountered a female dog and he was pulling so hard on the leash I was thinking, "Did the vet miss one, or he had 3". LOL
 
#44 ·
My Vet said 15-20 minute walks. So did that every day this last week. He would play a little bit with his raccoon or monkey, I kept it at a minimum though.

He is at 7 days this evening and I just finally let him go. It was like he was realizing all that energy from the last week - he ran and ran and ran and grabbed sticks, got his ball, attacked my friend (LOL in a playful way) and ran and explored some more. He let it all out!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top