Need Advice about Neutering my Cavy Pup

[Litgirl01]

After years of waiting, I have FINALLY taken home my first Cavalier puppy. I was lucky enough to get him though a reputable breeder (friend of a friend). He is perfect in every way! Okay, well he is a bundle of energy, but that's just puppies right? My issue is that I have heard that Cavaliers are prettier when you wait until they are one year old to spay or neuter them. Is this true? A friend of mine says that her cavalier got leggy (tall) because she neutered him at eight months. I really want what's best for my baby. Please help!

[cy1266]

There's a whole section on spay/neuter here: http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showth...327#post316327

People have different opinions on this topic. Personally, I wanted to wait until mine were older to neuter them, if I was going to do it. Miles is over 2 years old and is still not neutered. Truman is 19 months old and was just neutered last month. I wanted to wait until they were at least 18 months old to neuter them for various reasons. Many people prefer to do it when they're younger for many other reasons, marking/humping being one of them. Since Truman's neuter he is calmer and doesn't hump Miles. He's also squatting when he pees, which I actually like I hope his coat does not change, but only time will tell. Just make sure you always have him on lead and that he's never around any intact females if you decide to wait. This has never been an issue with my boys, but you really have to be careful so "accidents" won't happen. I wanted my boys to have the chance to develop as much as possible before neutering them, and I felt like it could affect their growth if it was done when they were too young.

I'm sure many more people will respond, as most people have strong opinions on this topic.

[Litgirl01]

Thank you so much for your reply Cy1266! My boy's name is Miles too! The breeder was right in line with what you are saying, although she made the decision all mine. Eeek! I just want to do it right! I don't want my baby to hump anything! LOL

[Tabby]

I left Scooby intact until marking and humping meant that I had to have him castrated. He was 12 months old and I would have waited a little longer if I could have done because hormones have so many important jobs to do in a growing animal.
I always intended neutering but I think it was the right choice to wait until Scooby had stopped growing.

[chloe92us]

Ollie was done at 6 months, and Winston at 3 years. Neither of them mark in the house. I don't think I would do it @ 6 months again as none of mine are *ever* off-leash.

[newshoes]

Trisha,

Why do you say you wouldn't do it at 6 months again? Are there noticeable differences between Ollie and Winston? I'm especially curious about their coats - did either of theirs change after neutering?

[lorebringer]

My lady was done young, 6 months, and isn't leggy at all (plenty of people believe that this is usually caused by over excersising them at a young ages). My boy, who is now 9ish months, was done at 6 months and is leggy. He's very teenager like and hasn't quite gotten the hang of where all him limbs are. He was leggy before we got him (he's a rescue) and I have a feeling that once he fills out he won't be so gangley.

As far as cost goes, neither of my Cavs coat changed when they were done - she has always had a thick, fluffy coat (even before she was done) and his is finer but has stayed the same as before also. I have heard of dogs coats texture changing after they are neutered but I have no experience with this. Years ago, we had a Cav and after she was neutered her ears lightened from a rich brown to a much lighter brown than the rest of her body.

I always recommend to get dogs neutered as young as the vet advises, which usually works out at about 6/7 months. In females, if they are done before their first heat, it reduces certain cancers to nearly nil (spacifically breast) and pyrometra is always a risk with bitches who are not spayed. With boys their bad habbits are easier to control, that is if they start at all, and (if left intact) they risk prostate probs when they get significantly older. Quite a lot of people wait until they are more grown up - it'sa very personal choice.

Good luck with you choice

[harleyfarley]

prettier, thats rubbish, harley was done at six months of age and he is gorgeous, i think the only thing i have read is neuteured dogs need less calories so feed accordingly. di

[Mindysmom]

Mindy was neutered at just under a year. We got her at 8 months and she immediately went into heat (I already had the neuter appt made). She was all legs when we got her but I think that was just her age. She's grown into herself. Although the plan was to have her neutered before her first heat I didn't find her heat difficult to deal with (I had visions of having to beat dogs off with a stick when we went out but I never had any issues). We didn't have a fenced yard at the time so she was never off leash when outside and never out without me.

Max was neutered at just over 6 months.

Both of them have fairly fine coats and I didn't notice any difference after neutering.

[chloe92us]

After researching the benefits of neutering males, the main benefit is behavioral (reduced marking, humping, aggression, etc) and of course keeping him away from females in heat. Next time, I would wait until around a year I think so he could mature more before being altered. My biggest fear in having a male dog was the marking. However, Winston, who I adopted as a rescue but wasn't altered until just before I adopted him at 3 YO, doesn't mark at all. So, I guess my point is marking does not have to be acceptable in a male dog that is altered later. For most people, I would say it's better to alter early so there are no accidents- but with Cavaliers it's pretty difficult to have them outside without a leash so that chance is minimized since they are always under close watch. FWIW- I am NOT saying not to alter your dog- I highly believe in spay/neuter!

PS/ All of my dogs have different type coats, so I would never contribute that to being altered. Nor weight gain. All of mine are trim. The one thing I will say is that Ollie, who was altered @ 6 mos, is very leggy, weedy, & gangly. I don't know if this has anything to do with the neuter. I think it has more to do with bad breeding!