What are the health and behavior risks of an unneutered male dog?

The main reasons that most dog owners opt to neuter male dogs are behavioral - urine marking, roaming in search of females, and not getting along with other male dogs are all common problems for many intact males. In terms of possible medical issues, as they get older they often develop issues with prostate enlargement, prostatic cysts, or infections. Testicular tumors can also be an issue. And of course, you have the lifelong responsibility of making sure that your dog does not contribute to the pet overpopulation problem by fathering any accidental puppies. If you don't mind the behavioral issues and are prepared to keep your dog safely confined to prevent roaming, then you don't necessarily need to neuter unless medical problems develop. It's definitely a personal choice, not a one-size-fits-all recommendation :)

Hi again! Thanks for your question. Negatives of having an unsprayed female (intact female) are uterine infections (pyometra) which can be fatal, mammary cancers, ovarian tumors, and a shorter life span because of the development of these issues. One other negative is an undesired pregnancy. Hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your question. There are certain health benefits for neutering dogs. Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and certain testicular tumors can be prevented by neutering dogs. However, dogs can also live happy and normal lives intact. Behavioral problems such as territorial aggression and marking may be reduced by neutering dogs as well. Once neutered, Dante will not behave more like a female, this is a misconception and does not happen. He may become more calm and not as hyper or aggressive once he is neutered and this is due to the reduction in circulating hormones following removal of the testicles. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Castration will have the following benefits: No more icky discharge from the penis or prepuce, no incentive to roam and look for females, if the dog shows some aggression, castration will usually lessen aggressive behavior. A lot of entire males are constantly upset and excited if they smell females in heat ( and the smell can travel for a mile and more), No chance of making babies. Here is more info by the ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/spayneuter-your-pet

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Popo. Neutering him will help to prevent against certain types of prostate diseases and even some forms of cancer. It will decrease his desire to roam looking for female dogs. It does not affect personality. Every surgery carries the risk of anesthesia. He could experience post-operative swelling or infection. Some adult dogs can gain weight after the surgery. So his calories need to be monitored. These risks are minimal in most cases though. I hope this information helps!

Great question! There are both health and behavioral benefits to neutering Buster. If you neuter him, you will eliminate the chance of him developing testicular tumors later in life, and you decrease the risk of prostate problems later in life as well. In terms of behavioral benefits, it will stop him from wanting to roam to find females to mate with, decrease and possibly eliminate territorial urine marking, stop him from jumping on your Akita, and can lead him to be better behaved. I would highly recommend having him neutered if you aren't planning on breeding him.

Great question! There are pros and cons to neutering at different ages, so ultimately it comes down to your personal preference. The biggest advantage of neutering around six months or so, is that this will normally prevent the development of problematic "boy behaviors" such as urine marking, wanting to mount other dogs, not getting along with other intact males, and wanting to roam constantly in search of female dogs. There is some evidence that early neutering (before the dog is finished growing) can increase the risk of certain orthopedic issues like hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures later in life, especially in large-breed or very athletic dogs. So, this is something to take into account as well. Personally, I have always neutered my male dogs at around 10-12 months of age, when they're still fairly young but finished growing for the most part. Most of my clients choose to neuter around 6 months of age to avoid the behavior issues mentioned above. But ultimately, the choice is up to you :)