My dog is getting neutered. How to avoid weight gain and muscle loss?

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Neutering will do very little to his build as long as he remains active & has an age appropriate diet. Neutering early, at 5-6 months can result in a leaner build, & generally a slightly taller dog as the growth plates in the legs stay open a little longer, but at this point in Tux's life you will see very little change in his build. Hope this helps. Take care.

He will be just as active as before the castration. You just have to watch his weight as he does not need as much food any more (being an entire boy takes more calories). He will be just as happy as he is now and just as lively. Just feed him less than you have been feeding now. If he gains weight, reduce his feed further, and if he loses weight, feed a little more, until you have found the correct amount to keep him at his present weight.

You can try any food that mentions weight loss. Most of them will simply instruct you to feed less food than you are currently feeding, so another option is to simply decrease his current food intake. If he gets 2 cups a day, then start with 1.5 cups per day for a month and see what weight loss occurs. If you don't see results with that plan, discuss a prescription weight loss food with your vet. They are higher in fiber to keep dogs full while still decreasing caloric intake.

The pining for females and going on a search for females takes a lot of energy and many male dogs stop eating during that time. Having him neutered will stop this and also keeping him inside and feeding him good quality food may make him gain weight again. However, having him neutered will be best to avoid him getting skinny.

Good on you for neutering Damon! It's a very responsible decision to make, and will have many health benefits for him. He will be fine without being fed for one morning. It's imperative he is not fed or surgery cannot happen. All dogs must be fasted before surgery to prevent them from potentially regurgitating their food while under anesthesia. You may just have to deal with his barking for one morning, and it will be ok. It's temporarily. No, it's not true he will gain weight after surgery. As long as he is fed a healthy diet of dog food, doesn't get excess treats or any human food, and gets plenty of exercise, he will stay a normal weight. All my pets are spayed and neutered, and none of them have gained weight after surgery because I feed them a healthy diet and exercise them. Intact dogs can just as easily gain weight as neutered dogs if you feed them too much and don't exercise them. Dogs who are neutered are not dull afterward. I have a Basset Hound that was a former show dog, and he was about two when I first got him. He wasn't neutered at the time, and I neutered him. He is just as lively as before. You can expect that Damon will not want to roam for females to mate with, and any aggressive behaviors that are linked to hormones are usually typically eliminated with neutering. Damon will still be the same dog you had before surgery. I hope this helps :-)

Most pets lose weight for an underlying reason that should be found out and treated for directly. In puppies that reason is often intestinal parasites, so I would suggest starting with a proper fecal exam through your vet. Most pets, even unneutered males, will still eat an appropriate amount of food, regardless of hormonal influence. At this weight, he should be eating around 2.5- 3 cups daily, and he should still be eating puppy food which is high in calories and ensures proper weight gain in an of itself. Some good food brands to consider for picky eaters are: Royal canin, Eukanuba, Victor, or Fromm. You just have to find a brand he likes. Appetite stimulants are only necessary for sick pets, and also arent' guaranteed to work on pets, especially ones that are just being picky. You can also try adding in canned wet food to see if that encourages him to eat better. : ) Post neuter, he should have limited activity for 10-14 days, wear an e-collar during his recovery to discourage licking of the incision site, keep the incision clean and dry, and close monitoring of the incision site for any discharge or opening of the incision. If you do feel that Leo is ill, then its best to get him seen by your veterinarian right away for proper care. However, most Siberian Husky breeds are on the leaner side, so it is very possible he is of proper weight already, check with your vet who can do a proper physical exam and determine this for you. Best of luck with your puppy Leo moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Hello. It is possible that the neutering has slowed Jack's metabolism allowing the weight gain. Feeding less, increasing his exercise, switching to a senior diet, or weight reduction diet will all help him to feel better & lose weight. But also consider having Jack examined by your veterinarian. Some metabolic conditions common in older pets, such as hypothyroidism may be at play here. I hope he is feeling better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.