Hey everybody, I have a semi-long story to tell here, so please bear with me. => I think I already know the answer, but I'd like some input!
My sheltie, Auggie, is just over 6 months old (by, like, two days or something like that.) We bought Auggie from a lovely breeder, mostly as a companion, but I told her I was also interested in agility. She recommended we wait until he was one year old before we neuter, just to give all his joints plenty of time to form and grow.
We took Auggie in today because he retained one of his baby teeth. I wanted them to take a quick look, and they confirmed it would have to be removed under anasethesia. We got to talking about doing the neuter at 1 year, and the vet wanted to do a quick check of his testicles to see how everything was going.
I'm not *entirely* clear on technical terms for the problem (my head started buzzing with concern, and I've forgotten most of what she said now) but from what I understand, one of his testicles either hasn't fully dropped, or might recede back up..? Basically, she said we could wait on the surgery, but if his testicle DID go back up, it would be a more severe surgery, an abdominal surgery that would be almost more like a spay.
The vet didn't tell us we should do the neuter RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE - she really didn't even come close to recommending it, she just wanted us fully informed on the situation. She told us we could wait, and who knows what would happen, there could be no problems later.
BUT WAIT, it doesn't stop there! We also took Auggie in to get a foot checked out, because last week he was limping on it one day, and ever since we've noticed he stands a little funny. There's nothing really physically *wrong,* but the vet DID say almost right off the bat - and we'd been wondering a little about it - that he has a "short toe." I thought she called it something that started with a c, or an s, but all I can find on the web is "drachydactyly." Auggie is apparently missing a bone in his outside toe that makes it shorter, on both front paws. It doesn't seem to be bothering him or slowing him down any, but I wonder if it may become a problem later on the agility course. There's no way of knowing, really... he still runs like a bat out of hell so I almost feel like it won't affect him.
So the situation is this:
The vet wasn't so concerned as to recommend immediate neutering. However, Auggie *needs* to go under to have a tooth removed (which MUST be done, and within the next couple of weeks unless the baby tooth works it's way out on it's own.) and will have his microchip done at the same time (which will make me rest a tiny bit easier!)
But if we DO neuter now, will it affect his agility future? And is that worth worrying about, since his short toe might affect that *anyway?*
My gut is telling me I should neuter him now. (Oh, and they told me he'd have to stay at the hospital overnight for that! OMG!! I've never been away from my baby longer than a few hours before! *cries*
) I also need to talk to his breeder and let her know about the short toe, and will be asking her opinion and advice too.
But I wanted other inputs (or to hear somebody else say "Do it, it'll be okay!!") What do you guys think? And do you know what the term is for his short toe..?
My sheltie, Auggie, is just over 6 months old (by, like, two days or something like that.) We bought Auggie from a lovely breeder, mostly as a companion, but I told her I was also interested in agility. She recommended we wait until he was one year old before we neuter, just to give all his joints plenty of time to form and grow.
We took Auggie in today because he retained one of his baby teeth. I wanted them to take a quick look, and they confirmed it would have to be removed under anasethesia. We got to talking about doing the neuter at 1 year, and the vet wanted to do a quick check of his testicles to see how everything was going.
I'm not *entirely* clear on technical terms for the problem (my head started buzzing with concern, and I've forgotten most of what she said now) but from what I understand, one of his testicles either hasn't fully dropped, or might recede back up..? Basically, she said we could wait on the surgery, but if his testicle DID go back up, it would be a more severe surgery, an abdominal surgery that would be almost more like a spay.
The vet didn't tell us we should do the neuter RIGHT NOW, THIS MINUTE - she really didn't even come close to recommending it, she just wanted us fully informed on the situation. She told us we could wait, and who knows what would happen, there could be no problems later.
BUT WAIT, it doesn't stop there! We also took Auggie in to get a foot checked out, because last week he was limping on it one day, and ever since we've noticed he stands a little funny. There's nothing really physically *wrong,* but the vet DID say almost right off the bat - and we'd been wondering a little about it - that he has a "short toe." I thought she called it something that started with a c, or an s, but all I can find on the web is "drachydactyly." Auggie is apparently missing a bone in his outside toe that makes it shorter, on both front paws. It doesn't seem to be bothering him or slowing him down any, but I wonder if it may become a problem later on the agility course. There's no way of knowing, really... he still runs like a bat out of hell so I almost feel like it won't affect him.
So the situation is this:
The vet wasn't so concerned as to recommend immediate neutering. However, Auggie *needs* to go under to have a tooth removed (which MUST be done, and within the next couple of weeks unless the baby tooth works it's way out on it's own.) and will have his microchip done at the same time (which will make me rest a tiny bit easier!)
But if we DO neuter now, will it affect his agility future? And is that worth worrying about, since his short toe might affect that *anyway?*
My gut is telling me I should neuter him now. (Oh, and they told me he'd have to stay at the hospital overnight for that! OMG!! I've never been away from my baby longer than a few hours before! *cries*
) I also need to talk to his breeder and let her know about the short toe, and will be asking her opinion and advice too.But I wanted other inputs (or to hear somebody else say "Do it, it'll be okay!!") What do you guys think? And do you know what the term is for his short toe..?
