Hmmmm... Touchy subject!

Okay, this subject always causes a bit of heated debate (which I like when it's intelligent!) so I'm going to just say it: Vlad is having his plums removed on Friday morning. Lee (the husband) has a couple of weeks off work so can take care of Vlad when he gets home from the vet. I know I'm going to be the neurotic anxious mum, but he is a big healthy boy so I am sure he'll be fine. It's not a decision we came to easily and it hasn't been without a little argument or two LOL.

Good luck. In my opinion too young, but I'm sure he'll be ok.

Thanks

He'll be fine, you'll be worrying more lol!

I'm with caryll too young IMO, but good luck

i'm also with caryll

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12763-long-term-health-risks-and-benefits-associated-with-spay-neuter-in-dogs

Good luck it's hard to keep them quiet and calm so they don't pop the stiches.

Vlad is definitely not an easy dog to keep calm LOL

We ended up getting extra chew toys to keep Suki occupied and she was still wanting to play.

everyone has there reasons for having their dog done at what ever age but the main thing is to make sure the dog is ok. he will be fine with his op its routine to the vet. he will be sleepy when he gets home the first day and deffinately won't want to walk he'sll still be groggy (Lemmy fell over bless him) they say keep them calm and quiet for a few days after but good luck with that one a normal on lead walk is all he can have after a week before then its short and sweet or as i called a splash and dash deffinately no off lead playing for at least 10 - 14 days and then be careful otherwise don't worry our little ones are tougher than we give them credit for ><

good luck for friday

8 month old is far to young!

Good luck - keep us posted !

Thanks

I hope all goes well and recovery is fast

goood luck! by day 2 after the op its as if nothing happened (apart from the fact you know it happened and have to keep him calm and the obvious saggy ball sack and stitches! haha)
Russell whined a lot after having it done. poor tacker.

No matter the pros and cons, I think the decision to spay or neuter is a personal one and I am sure you have not taken this step lightly.

As Julie says, he may be a little groggy and you might have to find creative ways for keeping him quite and still for a few days. He will milk you for every little bit of sympathy he can get and he will play the guilt card.

Hope all goes well

Ty wrote:No matter the pros and cons, I think the decision to spay or neuter is a personal one and I am sure you have not taken this step lightly.

As Julie says, he may be a little groggy and you might have to find creative ways for keeping him quite and still for a few days. He will milk you for every little bit of sympathy he can get and he will play the guilt card.

Thanks. I am all for everyone having their own opinion because each one is valid, however, you are correct that this isn't a decision we came to easily. We didn't just wake up and decide to have him desexed. We are making sure that we are not working (well one of us) on the day of his surgery and the weeks during his recovery so we can make sure he is okay.

I'm not criticizing, so please don't take this the wrong way, I'm interested to hear why you decided to go ahead? As I said, no criticism intended, just curious.

Caryll wrote:I'm not criticizing, so please don't take this the wrong way, I'm interested to hear why you decided to go ahead? As I said, no criticism intended, just curious.

I don't, I promise I value all opinions and don't see it as criticism . We are doing it for a few reasons, but a big one is behavioural. Vlad is becoming increasing dominant and our training isn't doing too much. He is fine with me, but is really quite domineering and sometimes too rough with my husband. We think he sees me as his. He is perfect with other people as well... just my husband. We were always going to have him desexed, I was more interested in waiting until he was 12 - 18 months, but his behaviour is beginning to get a little much. He is exercised, played with, regularly has his training and nothing is really helping. We realise this may not work and then again it might. I understand it is a highly debated topic, but because I love the information I receive on here and the knowledge I have gained from this forum, I am just trying to be honest with his progress and what happens in his life.

I just wondered cause I remember you posting a while ago about whether to or not. Just be aware that it may not help, and even if it does you'll still need to train him out of much of the behaviour!

As I said before, he'll be fine on friday - you'll hurt more than he does!

I am very nervous! I am looking at him all asleep now and just want to keep making a fuss of him! We are going to continue with training and we're booking in to have some more lead training with him as he pulls a lot. We both think it could go either way (it may help or nothing will change). Thanks I was a bit nervous when I put the post up!

What's he like with licking his bits normally? If he doesn't normally do it, then you might be able to leave the lampshade off during the doay as long as you can keep an eye on him. Night time's a bit different, he'll probably have to keep it on at night. Have you thought about the other type of collar to stop him licking/biting?

I can't remember what they're called, though.

He doesn't really lick his bits much. The lampshade, like you said will be a must for night. My husband will be home with him during recovery. I am guessing he will be wanting to lick stitches. He has a crate and we're even going to purchase bed number 10 (because he has a few old blankets and doona (duvet) due to destroying the other 9) so he has something very soft and comfy and we're putting a waterproof mattress liner incase of accidents (which we're expecting) His crate is the biggest so he has plenty of room, and he loves it because I think he sees it as his safe place. We're also getting him some new chew toys (like jstaff suggested) so he can keep his big jaw occupied! I think we're going to take it in turns sleeping with him

pixie79 wrote: I think we're going to take it in turns sleeping with him

In the crate?

LOL... nope, not in the crate... on the lounge near his crate

Again best of luck. Not sure how active Vlad is but I'm assuming he's hyperactive like Suki. You might also want to consider extra training sessions and having him seek or search for his food to provide mental stimulation to help with his energy levels.

We feed dry so we would hide Suki's meals all over the house and make her find them. We also increased her training sessions alot. We would do 10 minutes or so every hour when we were akake.

My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

With overbreeding and the pound full of unwanted staffys I think it's the responsible thing to do to avoid adding to the problem. I can see why you wouldn't want a pedegee done, but my diesel is a staff x rottie x pit bull so not a pedegree or valuable bloodlines.

eddypeck wrote:My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

It's all a matter of when your dog is mature enough that neutering doesn't affect him/her adversely.
https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t12763-long-term-health-risks-and-benefits-associated-with-spay-neuter-in-dogs

eddypeck wrote:My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

With overbreeding and the pound full of unwanted staffys I think it's the responsible thing to do to avoid adding to the problem. I can see why you wouldn't want a pedegee done, but my diesel is a staff x rottie x pit bull so not a pedegree or valuable bloodlines.

My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

With overbreeding and the pound full of unwanted staffys I think it's the responsible thing to do to avoid adding to the problem. I can see why you wouldn't want a pedegee done, but my diesel is a staff x rottie x pit bull so not a pedegree or valuable bloodlines.

Your vet is wrong. Vets and rescue centres push neutaring to prevent unwanted litters, what they should be pushing is responsible ownership but that is too complex a problem with many causes. You should not neutar a dog before twelve months, the sex hormones play a very important role in mental and physical development, particually skeletal growth. Anyway i'm not getting into a whole spiel now, there are plenty of reports you can read.
If you do decide to neutar it is best to wait untill they are at least a year old.

shakespearesdog wrote:

My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

With overbreeding and the pound full of unwanted staffys I think it's the responsible thing to do to avoid adding to the problem. I can see why you wouldn't want a pedegee done, but my diesel is a staff x rottie x pit bull so not a pedegree or valuable bloodlines.

Your vet is wrong. Vets and rescue centres push neutaring to prevent unwanted litters, what they should be pushing is responsible ownership but that is too complex a problem with many causes. You should not neutar a dog before twelve months, the sex hormones play a very important role in mental and physical development, particually skeletal growth. Anyway i'm not getting into a whole spiel now, there are plenty of reports you can read.
If you do decide to neutar it is best to wait untill they are at least a year old.

Do you have an advanced degree to dispute a vets advice or just stating an opinion?

Come on lets not let this get into who is right or wrong please!

eddypeck wrote:My vet has recommended 6 - 12 months, so I guess 8 months isn't too young. As my Diesel is only just 10 weeks I won't be worrying about it just yet. But when the time comes I will get him done.

With overbreeding and the pound full of unwanted staffys I think it's the responsible thing to do to avoid adding to the problem. I can see why you wouldn't want a pedegee done, but my diesel is a staff x rottie x pit bull so not a pedegree or valuable bloodlines.

i dont disagree with that

Do you have an advanced degree to dispute a vets advice or just stating an opinion?

Do you have a stick up your *?

Not getting into a right or wrong debate and feel it is a personal choice. However, if someone is going to say that a medical professional is wrong then they should have some sort of evidence and qualification to support it. If someone has consulted a vet and been given qualified and professional advice they have done their due dilligence.

This topic was only going to go one way.

Got to love the internet

Good luck with it anyway, I'm sure he will be fine.

shakespearesdog wrote:

Do you have an advanced degree to dispute a vets advice or just stating an opinion?

Do you have a stick up your *?

Not at all but to contradict advice given by a vet and state that they are wrong and simply trying to further an agenda and not giving proper medical advice sounds like a fact. If you want to say that you feel differently that is fine but if someone has consulted a qualified professional they have done their research and made a decision.

Just because someone has a degree doesn't mean their opinion is always best. I've already started why his advice may not be best.

Anyway........lets leave it at that please everyone!

And to the original poster........good luck lol

Okay, I can see how my original post could have seemed insulting and if that is how you took it I apologize as it wasn't meant to be so. IMHO if someone has consulted a vet and been given advice they have every right to make a decision based off of that advice. Vets have gone through years of school and are professionals with the most current and accurate information available to them. I'm not a vet so I would never say that their opinion was wrong and that they were simply trying to forward an agenda which is what I took issue with.

Okay, I can see how my original post could have seemed insulting and if that is how you took it I apologize as it wasn't meant to be so. IMHO if someone has consulted a vet and been given advice they have every right to make a decision based off of that advice. Vets have gone through years of school and are professionals with the most current and accurate information available to them. I'm not a vet so I would never say that their opinion was wrong and that they were simply trying to forward an agenda which is what I took issue with.

Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.
Albert Einstein

shakespearesdog wrote:

Do you have an advanced degree to dispute a vets advice or just stating an opinion?

Do you have a stick up your *?

That was rude & uncalled for - an apology wouldn't go amiis.

shakespearesdog wrote:Everyone should be respected as an individual, but no one idolized.
Albert Einstein

Nobody has mentioned idolising anybody. Please don't twist things, even if it's just by quoting somebody else.

blaze wrote:Anyway........lets leave it at that please everyone!

And to the original poster........good luck lol

I quite agree. The decision is made - good luck with the operation on friday - I'm sure everything will be fine!

I personally don't neuter, I don't plan on breeding harv ever, but the health benefits of keeping him entire FAR out weigh those of neutering.

However like i said good luck!

all the best for the little man for his op.. and to mummy too !

Jethro was done at 6 months... Winston at 9 months.. the best thing I ever did! It is such a simple operation for a boy...

be brave Vlad !!

very wrong in my eyes

I wish Vlad the best with his op
I however never had my gsd boy done and will see how buster develops before looking into getting him done but it wont be before hes a year

Vlad is much too young IMO, but I hope it all goes well for him and for you.

Good luck Vlad

Thanks everyone I knew it was going to be a hot topic, but the last thing I wanted was people getting heated with each other. I am fully appreciative of everyone's view points and respect them equally. This has nothing to do with Vlad being a pedigree or not (he is, we have papers and he is registered with the kennel club over here) it's what we believe is best for our family (and by my family I am mean my husband, myself Vlad and Dita). But thank you again for the support and well wishes... even those that don't agree... it's nice to know we can all have different opinions and still respect each other's view points