I am in a dilema as to whether I should get my 2 springers neutered or not, we are unable to use them for breeding due to retinal dysplasia in one of them and as the other is from the same litter he may be a carrier, the only worry I have is I dont want them to put on weight which seems to be a big problem with neutered or spayed dogs.
Do you think we are likely to have many problems with them if we dont have them done.
Sandie.

I personally can't see a problem keeping them intack just as long as they don't breed.

I have 3 fixed dogs (boston terriers) of both sexes and neither of them have put on weight. I would think if u watch what they eat and exercise them properly u should not have a problem with weight.

Sorry couldn't of been more helpful :(

ttfn :)

I had my Lab done when he was 2 years old, and we were expecting him to put on weight, but he has not changed at all! The only reason that they put on weight is because the castration obviously removes the male hormones and that lowers their metabolism so they do not burn as many calories, so all you have to do is decrease the amount of food you feed them! (My vet told me this).

But my dog eats just as much as he did before, so his metabolism may have remained the same?!?. I wonder if getting your dog done like I did at approx 2 years is better than when they are younger, as I think it may sometimes effect their development, and that may effect their metabolism maybe?

My dog is neutered and he hasn't gained an ounce -- I think that's an old wives tale.

Our oldest labs was spayed at the age of 5, due to pyrometra (sp?) after her one and only litter. She is now nearly 13 years old, and still has a fairly "youthful" figure - you can still feel her ribs! We did put her onto a "light" kibble which she eats with great gusto - along with anything she can steal - being a labrador she is a champion bin diver!

It isn't an old wives tale, most dogs metabolism will slow down after neutering. They usually reguire between 15% and 25% less food. So if you continued to feed the same amount the dog would slowly but surely gain weight, as the appetite is rarely reduced, and can be a big problem with a foody dog, but then there are plenty of those in many breeds that are entire.

My Springer and my Springer cross were both spayed last year - the Springer cross still has the 'matronly' figure she had before hand, and the pure bred Springer is as svelt as she was previously - their diet has been adjusted downwards to maintain their 'normal' weight....

I'm not doubting that some dogs' metabolism will slow down, but definitely not all. We have actually increased our lab's food since being neutered, and he's kept his weight to a nice slim, muscular body. I checked with the vet to make sure he didn't have worms or anything (I thought doubling his food would surely make him put on weight), but several vets have checked and said that he's perfect. Some dogs just don't gain weight.

Hi Sandie
Why are you concerned about getting your dogs done now? Are they likely to come into contact with bitches and that makes you worry?
We never really considered getting Salem done - never thought it was necessary. He is a pet and had never been in close contact with any bitches (all our families have dogs) so it was never really an issue until we got our second pup who is a bitch. We started to talk more seriously about getting it done because we hoped to show Diz. Anyway, we left it and left it until we knew that Diz enjoyed the show side of things (or else we would have had her done - no more heats and girlie hormones :D ) and then we actually found that our neighbours bitches (who are 10 & 11 and we thought they had been done!) went into a late season - and he went mad! He kept trying to mount our poor pup and he just drove us mad trying to get through the fence (the thought of a Dobermann trying to mate a jack russell cross made our eyes water :D). He had never behaved like it before so we decided better to be safe than sorry and we took him on his fateful trip to the vet! We couldn't imaginge the disaster of Diz getting pregnant at her first season.
He came home feeling very sorry for himself (hubby spoilt him rotten whilst we girls all just rolled our eyes :D) but since them he has been absolutly fine. He's not put on weight, not lost any of his shiny coat and it hasn't changed his personality at all. He was 2 1/2 when he was done so I don't know if his age meant he dealt with it better. Anyway, for us it was the best thing we could have done - and I'm sure he really doesn't care at all!! :)
The advice we got was numerous but it boiled down to what was best for us in our circumstances - you do what is best for yours
Good luck!
Sharon

Hi Sharon, We dont really want to get them done but one of them has retinal dysplasia and the other his litter brother also has problems but not so bad. we was advised by the vet to get them done as we are unable to breed from them. The other worry we have is if the one with retinal dysplasia runs off we worry about him coming back because he is virtually blind and we would hate anything to happen to him as he is so adorable even though he cant see very well. They are off lead alot and we were told that if we had them done it would prevent them charging off if they get a whiff of a bitch in season.
Is this not true then this is the first time we have had boys so its all new to us,