How much to neuter my 7-month-old dog? Can I just walk in?

Most veterinarians wait until at Least 6 months of age prior to neuter. As far as cost, all veterinary hospitals have their own pricing and it can vary based on location as well. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by a veterinarian soon to start vaccinations and deworming. The veterinarian you choose can give you an estimate for neutering at that time. If you don’t have a veterinarian chosen yet ask your friends and neighbors who they have used and would recommend. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

The cost depends on your area, and it can vary from clinic to clinic. According to the Ontario SPCA, their cost for a dog neuter with their spay neuter clinic for a dog who is 70 pounds is $120. Private clinics may charge up to $200 for it, so I would call around local clinics to see how much they charge for a dog neuter.

The cost of a neuter is dependent on your location - if there is a full service veterinary hospital in your local Petco you could call for an estimate. Vetco vaccine clinics do not provide this service. Influenza is recommended for dogs who are boarded, groomed or frequently around other dogs. Your therapist would be a better resource regarding registering Benji as an ESA - this designation does not involve veterinarians. I would be very cautious - Benji is quite young and it is probably too early to tell if his temperament would be ideal for an emotional support animal.

It sounds like your vet is recommending having Victor neutered. When combined with training, this procedure can help reduce unwanted behaviours such as humping. Please see the links below for more information: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/benefits-of-neutering-your-male-dog

Spay or neuter costs can vary based on geographic location, clinic and size/age of the pet. Your best option to get an accurate answer would be to contact local clinics directly and request an estimate. Most will provide one as a matter of hospital policy.

By convention, the general recommendation often 4-8 months, though early spy/neuter is common especially in shelters. A male dog who reaches sexual maturity before being neutered will grow into a “stalkier” build typically. There are also studies suggesting that waiting to neuter decrease the risk of knee problems and some types of cancers. However, he is also more likely to develop behavioral problems. With ages over 2, unneutered dogs are at a MUCH higher risk of overall health problems. I’d recommend talking to your vet about what their thoughts are. I don’t think there’s any significant difference in early neutering and neutering at 6 months of age. Here’s a couple of articles to consider: http://www.vrcc.com/oncology/does-early-castration-increase-the-risk-of-cancer-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/early-spays-neuters/ For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s wrong to do it at 6 weeks and I don’t think it’s wrong to do it at 2 years. I DO think it’s wrong to just decide to NOT do it all together. I hope that’s helpful... I realize it may just muddy the waters more for you, and I apologize! Talk to your vet about what he or she recommends and the two of you can come up with the best plan for Diggy.

If you do not plan to breed him then it is best to have him neutered. He is a small breed dog so his size and proportions will not be altered by getting fixed at his age. Getting him fixed early decreases the chance of prostate problems and behavioral problems such as marking and aggression. There have been new studies in golden retrievers that seem to support an increase in ACL ruptured and bone cancer but the studies are newer and we are still learning about it and there are no results published in small breed dogs. However small breeds dogs are not prone to that injury to being with so you will have less to worry about. Based on this research, I would recommend getting him neutered now as the benefits are greater for your small breed dog