Help me decide!

[StevePax]

'Morning, folks!

Here's the situation. Yesterday, Leo got his third round of shots. Yeah for being done! (Except in 3 weeks, he has to go in for a Bordatella booster shot - his puppy class requires bordatella vaccines.) Next week, on Monday, the big state traveling spay/neuter clinic is coming to my town. This doesn't happen all that often - our small town is not on the schedule for September or October. But, the vets in that clinic literally perform thousands of speuters every year, and are very experienced. To top it off, they are quite inexpensive, as well - a neuter will be $45 for a male dog, and a they can do a microchip then too, for only $20. These services at my regular vet are much more expensive.

Leo will be 16 weeks old by the time the surgery is performed on August 27th. I know that's a bit young, but if we waited until another month or two to do the surgery, he'll be right in the middle of his puppy class session, and I'd hate for him to be recovering from surgery when he goes to puppy class. So I'm leaning towards having the surgery done next week. What do you guys think?

Also, what kind of recovery is necessary?

 

[HoundedByHounds]

If your boy were a small breed I would do it...if not...then I wouldn't.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

OOps forgot your other ?...neuters are usually no big deal recovery wise. They might give you pain meds..I never use them, makes them feel TOO good then they get to jumping around and bust a stitch lol.

My boys (girls too actually) were usually up and around the night they came home or the morning after...never had an issue here.

Watching for infection and messing with the incision is important.

 

[FoxyWench]

my male was running round liek insane after 2 weeks...

i know most shelters and vets will now spay/neuter as young as 8 weeks...so it shoudlnt be a problme or a health worry...

 

[SummerRiot]

Actually, if you spay/nueter too soon they KEEP puppy traits..

Ex. before I met Tim, he had Tyr fixed at 4 months old.. he is now 1.5yrs old - no medical problems other then the fact that he has PERMANENT puppy brain..

Fixing too early upsets their natural hormone cycles.. 6 months or later is the earliest I'd get my animals fixed for fear of that.

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Lol I have Beagles...so a puppy brain at age 14 isn't really unusual...LOL! "Beagle=Eternal Puppy"

 

[StevePax]

Leo is a small breed - Chihuahua X Shih-tzu. He's 7.5 pounds right now.

So, some say go for it at this age, some say wait a couple of months?

 

[HoundedByHounds]

Gosh ya didn't think we'd all actually agree? LOL...
S/N age is a topic with many varied opinions on it...in the end I think you need to do what is going to work best for you and your pup!

 

[lubspaniel]

I agree. do whats best for you and your pup.

 

[SummerRiot]

Lol I have Beagles...so a puppy brain at age 14 isn't really unusual...LOL! "Beagle=Eternal Puppy"

Ahh, I can see why yours doesn't really matter lol

BUT. for a 28" Alaskan Husky.. it can get a bit like a tornado in the house..

especially when he has NO concept of when hes actually P.Oing another dog off.. he just keeps going back..

Poor Riot lol

 

[StevePax]

Well, I think I'm going to do it. I think I'll take that day off of work, so my wife doesn't have to transport the dog back and forth to the clinic with our two kids in tote, and I'll just go ahead and have it done. I read a bunch of articles, and may vets (including the AVMA) recommend having it done this early because of easier recovery and healing, too. So, I'll go for it. By this time next week, I'll have a neutered puppy.

 

[StaceyWebb]

All my pets have had pediatric spay/neuter, and I have had no issues. In fact, they seem to heal faster.

That's a fantastic price for a neuter, I'd be taking advantage of it too! Good luck to your baby!