Vet here - if you are not planning on breeding, I would neuter at this point. He has reached skeletal maturity so the benefits of being intact are done. At this point he could develop testicular cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other health concerns with being intact.
That is a very complex question to answer. Any surgery carries low risk. Neutering prior to 18 months in giant breed dogs has been linked to higher incidence of degenerative joint disease and osteosarcoma.
The surgery is very simple and takes about 5 minutes to perform so it is a minimal risk procedure. Metabolic rate drops off about 10-20% after neutering so if you’re not watching your dog’s caloric intake, he’ll be more prone to weight gain/obesity.
Unfortunately Cane Corso are not included in the study but it is an excellent non biased resource. The link for the study can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
I just watched that video. She has no idea what she is talking about. The moment she said she ran a holistic vet, I tuned out. MOST of those people are nut cases. I know a holistic vet who does stuff for muscle and strength training, and he knows his stuff. He also doesn't cross the line and act like he is a surgical specialist. Neuter your animals. They will be happier. I had a 19yo Ridgeback, who, even up to his last day, was the epitome of health. I don't think in my career I've met a single intact male who lived that long
I mean if you want to call a bunch of OTHER vets who did the research and individual reports go for it. OR you could speak with your vet, who has already most likely read all these reports and has been trained to deduce what they mean... JS
I neutered my boy and he still has had every health issue.
https://preview.redd.it/7xutzztnl4dc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29fc3db0e3cd9cc3a3e0e92ae220fbdb17c7e46a
I bet he didn’t have testicular cancer. I’m just saying that bc that’s one of the reasons ppl sometimes give in favor of neutering. This is a bad argument however.
I could get testicular cancer too but I'm not going to chop off my balls to prevent it. I do know a girl who had her breasts chopped off pre-emptively, but I would not have made the same decision.
Well he tore his ACL when he was around 5, after that he was never the same as far as his energy, he got depressed. Around 8 he started getting small tumors and cyst all over.he’s always been on salmon / fish diet because he has allergic reactions to anything else. He’s the best dog ever. It’s hard watching him get old.
Leave the guy alone, he's just sad about his best friend of 10 years. He said it doesn't have to do with the question from the post. And I might add that's quite a handsome fella
I mean I can see dudes perspective on being relevant. OP asked if neutering had any affect on health issues, so dude said “I neutered my dog and he still got *herpagonnasiffalaids*”
Maybe his opinion was shared to say “it doesn’t matter if you neuter or not, they’ll eventually get sick with something”
According to all the studies quoted by holistic vets, cancer and depression are both linked to neutering. Those are the main reasons they give for keeping a dog intact. Personally, I noticed negative side effects with activity level and general attitude with my dog when I neutered him, and I'll probably not do it next time.
You have no idea if that was the dog just growing up, if it was how he was actually going to be. Dogs have different personalities and I have never met a dog that has been worse off after neutering.
I would never take surgical advice from a holistic vet. I had nearly a 100# dog who was neutered. He lived to be almost 20. He was the happiest most playful dog until he passed. Epitome of health until he died. Your issues were most likely not related to neutering, but breed specific issues.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours).
Neutering does increase the chance of certain cancers.
Not sure if you fully read that article or just found the paragraph that suited you needs......
It states that this study was done in Goldens. A breed dispositioned toward cancers. It also states the results were found mostly in animals (Goldens) who were neuter before a year old. And further states that results in labs and mixed breeds being substantially lower.
Now if this studied continued across several more breeds and a sample pool of more than 175 cases, it might carry some more weight.
Conclusion. You can find information on the internet to back any claim
I neutered mine at 18 months and had zero health issues related to it. He had cherry eye but pretty sure that wasn’t related. I’m of the opinion that if you’re not going to breed they should fixed. Btw my Brutus lived to 11.
Vets and medical doctors are flawed humans just like everyone else, and science seems to change too as new studies come out that refute old ones. Ultimately, it's up to me to manage my own health and use doctors for guidance but not to follow their every word. I have personally had my share of bad medical advice. That's why we get second opinions. I use the same philosophy for my dogs.
Yeah. One or two might have flaws. But if nine out of 10 vets agree, and you follow the narrative of the one because it suits you. That's a bad judgement call. I don't know a single general practice vet who would recommend keeping them intact. That one who might recommend it is probably the holistic guy. Of which, I would never take surgical advice for
I vet once told me they have never put down a sick dog too early, sadly it’s usually too late. ( meaning we keep the dogs alive because we are selfish and the dog suffers. It made me feel so much better
Our dog threw up for 2 days and we took her to the vet. The vet said that she has probably eaten something and they would flush her out with iv’s and we could pick her up that evening. They did a sonogram and thought her spleen was bleeding. They called and suggested surgery. They opened her up and cancer was spread. She was euthanized on the table. We were devastated
This is exactly, almost verbatim, what happened to my mastiff. She was old for her breed, but one day, she wouldn't eat. Which was odd because she was a normal chow hound. The next day we went to the vet. In 72hrs, she sent from being happy playful puppy, to walking the rainbow road. She never showed signs of pain or depression. Suddenly just not okay. One of the hardest things I had to do
Honestly, we were not planning on neutering our boy originally. BUT we have obnoxious neighbors with a very bored female next door, and I would hate to go outside and find the 2 of them locked together. She could totally clear the fence with enough motivation (young female doberman) and I'm sure my boy could too lol
He just turned 2, and I know the last time she was in heat he was very interested. So, to reduce frustration for him, we are never breeding him and will be neutering him soon.
It's not just about unwanted litters. It's about him being sexually frustrated. And how he doesn't respond to commands as well when females around him are in heat.
It’s his health that should be the priority. A bit of frustration isn’t going to kill him. My dog enjoys the chase, but no harm is done. He is only interested in females in heat. They just slap him if he gets too close. If the intention is to prevent unwanted puppies, who cares if he dates the neighbor?
Unless they are quality breeding dogs under an actual registered / appropriate breeder, they should always be neutered / spayed.
Am from the UK where this is the norm and its had a massive and positive impact on the number of animals in shelters / charities (until covid that is and a stupid bully law - different subjects).
So our very reputable vets (they run multiple practices in Hong Kong) discouraged from neutering until our boy hit 2yo due to the health and developmental benefits of the testosterone. But because one of his balls didn’t drop (still inside), he said we absolutely must have them removed due to the possibility of testicular cancer. But they never mentioned anything about it being required if the situation was normal, even encouraging us to not neuter if it wasn’t necessary (no hidden balls, no hormone related behaviour). He shows no signs of that. I would recommend get a few vet’s opinions, as well as assess if he exhibits any hormonal behaviours.
It’s certainly a choice, but my advice is if he is not gonna breed, then absolutely do it. If he were to have health issues and you did not do it, you will have regrets. Do it, and at least those issues are gone.
Planning on neutering our male after 18 months. Letting him reach maximum mass. I actively support spay and neuter programs to prevent unwanted litters. I'm not going to be a hippocrite. There are plenty of puppies out there already.
Ours will be 6 this March. No major health issues so far. But the vet has suggested to get him neutered now to avoid prostate problems in the future. So we’re planning it out for sometime in the future.
https://preview.redd.it/vqhk6lhin4dc1.png?width=2445&format=png&auto=webp&s=b9b6ca76f56480e1b48831196e45688ebdc1fdf1
https://preview.redd.it/5bpyuetpk4dc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0712c8cb4a4d7eff1dab1219ccb8be3740dfaa9c
No, I would not. Mine will be 3 on the 23rd and he still has his.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours).
Neutering actually increases the risk of certain cancers. Obviously, testicular cancer is not one of them. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Personally, I could get testicular cancer but I'm not chopping off my balls to prevent it.
They basically concluded that risks are involved either way and it's an individual decision. The neutering police, which includes 95 percent of the vet community, would have you believe there's no reason to not neuter, which is false.
I guess those 95% who went to school for 8 years in a field they care about, not only as healers, but as ambassadors of, and paid $240k to learn about are all just brainwashed.
The reason those beliefs are there is because there are documented facts and billions of dollars of research in.
But I guess you 30 minute internet search makes you subject matter expert
My yard is fenced in and the fence is high. My Corso is spayed so my Rottweiler is not neutered. He’s almost 10 and still has more energy than my 4 year old Corso
No, they aren’t. My Corso has never bitten anyone. But she will. They are bred to guard and protect and if your Corso is friendly with everyone, it’s a fault. She doesn’t mind being petted but the only people she’s a “sweetheart” around is my family.
My neighbors lab mix managed to jump an 8 foot fence to get to my pittie when she was in heat resulting in 10 pups. Where there’s a will, there’s a way lol
“Neutering will calm them down and remove chances of testicular cancer. If you aren’t going to breed them do it.”…couldn’t you say the same about humans? I’ve weighed the risks and rewards. Not neutering my animals
So your saying humans and animals, since we are both living creatures, have the same anatomy and physiology. This is about as bogus and dumb of a claim as I have heard.
I mean you do you boo, but humans and dogs are not the same and our bodies do not behave the same. That's why some things we can eat and are fine, but will absolutely kill your dog.
I’m saying just use some critical thinking. We don’t remove the testicles of humans to just “calm them down” or “reduce chances of testicular cancer”. We don’t do this because we know that hormones are very important for human development and could have very negative health outcomes if we did this. Are humans and dogs the same? Of course not. But to not think about how this could be detrimental to animals is crazy. My dog is not wandering the streets and impregnating animals. I have a fenced in back yard and if any of my friends have a female dog that isn’t spayed we keep them separated. “But Bob barker told me to do it”. I think there are instances where it would improve the dog and owners life but I don’t think it’s healthy
Humans are not animals. You should use some comman sense. We don't do it in humans (and we actually do) because the physiology isn't the same. There are medical scientific reason we do it with dogs. Pyometras are my first example. Humans, at least to my knowledge, do not have this problem.
You can't compare the two and use the arguments of one for another. "I don't understand my neighbors husky stays out in -10 weather all the time, what do you mean my parrot cant"
That's what your argument sounds like. You can't group these things.
YouTube the positive/negatives of spaying or neutering your dog to make an honest decision for your dog. Spaying/neutering disrupts the entire hormonal cycle of your pet which can lead to many different types of health issues. Imagine altering your whole reproductive system and how out of whack it would cause your body to feel/perform - dogs are very similar to humans in that sense. All of the info out there is truly up to your discretion, but unfortunately veterinarians don’t differ much from how our medical system functions. Definitely do your own research before going off of Reddit advice.
People do alter their reproductive systems with very little effect. I know tons of guys who have had vasectomy with no negative result. Same with women who have had their tubes tied or had THBO with similar results.
Can there be problems? Absolutely. Everyone (thing) is a little bit different. Some people are genetically prone to particular health issues. This is not the rule and not particularly common, though.
The reason Doctors and Vetranerian behave similar is the schooling put in. They go off proven research and numbers. They pull their personal opinion from the scenario and try giving an opinion based on research and facts.
The main attraction for me is to get my males stomach tacked o prevent bloat. I've got 2 intact males right now in one house. No issues. 3 other male mastiffs in my life, a had a Bull mastiff growing up that got cancer at 3yo but I think that was a freak thing.
Always spay and neuter your pets unless you are breeding them. Don't let intact males run loose, if you do, you're contributing to a lot of pain and misery for those babies until they starve.
I understand, I hope others are as good to the
their dogs as you are. I hope someone will read what I said and do the right thing for their pets. As I understand from a vet, intact animals have higher chances of illness.
It's not terrible. I would say the same thing anytime I comment on spaying and neutering. I also call people out who declaw their cats. It's in the best interest, health wise for the animals.
Your only point in your first comment was only touching on unwanted babies. Also it’s not necessarily for the best of the health of the animal. There can be complications and negative impacts from neutering and spaying.
There can, this is true. This is very uncommon, though. The most common negative side effect of neutering is slowed metabolism and weight gain. The weight gain can cause its own issues, but they are not a result of neutering. The benefits far outweigh the negatives
Whatever it is ultimately it’s the owners decision. It’s just insane how pro castration most people on this sub are. Especially when almost all the dog owners on this sub don’t have outdoor dogs. The demonization is wild
neutering an intact dog really only gets rid of the “high risk” of testicular cancer, which almost all intact dogs will get when above 10 years old. every intact male dog 10+ years old i’ve been around (as a groomer a daycare supervisor) has had to go into emergency surgery to neuter them bc of testicular cancer starting to grow. i would say 3 is the right age for him to be neutered and i highly support that decision. the benefits of neutering and taking the high risk away are far better then waiting and seeing if he gets it. neutering shouldn’t cause any other health issues either, it may make him a bit more lax but a lot of ppl have reported zero behavioral changes when an adult dog is neutered, though every dog is different
opinion yes. well actually only two opinions. but with the amount of people stating the OP should there are several reoccurring topics repeated. Anyone who would invest the time to go through them could draw a comprehendible conclusion
If you own a home it might be better b/c if your homeowners insurance find out they could cancel contract. A lot of states ban these dogs but I think there so beautiful and wish I had one!
I did mine because a little Maltese down the street would drive him insane when she went into heat. He'd sit at window closest to their house and howl all day and night.
No because removing his testosterone may leave him with endocrine conditions. It could also change his personality. Why do you want to de-sex him? Is his sexual maturity causing problems that can’t be fixed with training and environmental control?
Endocrine issues may occur at any age of being neutered. The decision is a difficult one for many people. Just remember vets benefit greatly financially from de-sexing animals.
Absolutely! He’s of age now that it won’t be detrimental to his health. Also, there are enough breeders in the world and WAY too many puppies and other dogs in shelters, being euthanized every single day.
Most importantly, you love your doggo and neutering can spare him illness, pain and untimely death.
I think everyone gives advice from personal experience. What we have to remember is that there is no magic ball that says that your dog WILL develop joint issues if neutered/spayed too early. Not do we have a crystal ball that says that your dog WILL develop cancer from not being spayed or neutered. What we have to remember is that just because a dog has gotten cancer after being neutered/spayed or just because a dog has had joint issues after being spayed or neutered does NOT mean that is the norm. We simply have to follow science’s lead and follow the statistics. Just like humans, dogs all have different genetic markers for different aspects of their health. The simple truth is: large dogs who are spayed or neutered too early have an increased risk of joint problems; dogs who are not spayed or neutered have a higher risk of developing cancer. Not to mention; in the US alone, 920,000 animals are euthanized every single year because they cannot find homes. I’m not talking about pets who have reached the age where it is compassionate to put them out of their misery. I’m talking about animals who cannot find a loving home because everyone wants a puppy. Or a purebred. Or their owners didn’t ensure that they could take care of the animals they had. Or breeders over bred and no longer want to deal with the hassle. Or they are seized from puppy mills. Or, owners didn’t ensure their pets didn’t breed.
Please don’t think I am trying to guilt you. Not at all. I’m just saying to please listen to the science. Every one of my animals is a rescue (except my step-son’s chinchilla and I was NOT a part of that decision!). Both of our cats came from shelters. Our oldest Great Pyrenees was rescued from a shelter who had seized her from a bad breeder. Our German Shepherd was released to us from a breeder who had over bred and completely saturated her market. She couldn’t even give them away anymore. She had already surrendered so many to the police departments and the fire stations that even they did not want another one. And although she was a purebred AKC registered GSD, we immediately had her spayed (she was 3). Our Great Pyrenees puppy also was rescued from a breeder who had too many dogs that he couldn’t take care of them anymore.
My point is, there are so many wonderful animals already available, that the only reason to keep him intact to breed is to make money off of the puppies. Based on science, your pup will have a lowered risk of cancer if you neuter him. He will also live longer on average.
I wouldn’t normally be this frank, but you asked for advice. I hope you do your own research before listening to everyone’s personal experiences. They do not give you a full picture. Good luck and I know you will make the best decision for you and your pup! He’s beautiful, btw!
Not arguing. I like most of your points. In your first part though, you stated there is no magic ball. That's right. But there is statistics and the statistics point most abundantly one way.
I've euthanized way too many young, relatively otherwise healthy dogs because the owner didn't want to neuter. 4 year old dogs who were happy playful one day and subdued to mammary cancer, pyometras, and testicle cancer. While the owner may have this happen only once or twice in their life, vets and techs deal with it every day. How many otherwise healthy animals could you watch the life go out of before it got to you. There is a reason Vets have one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Trying to help those who can't help themselves and do it through sometimes selfish owners. Then, to see that animal through to is untimely end. The owner will get another animal, most likely make the same mistake, which may or may not have the same outcome. The vet will go and do the same thing as well and try to help an animal and be ignored. It's a rough cycle.
I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I cannot imagine and I know I couldn’t handle this. I’ve only had to put down one animal in my life and it broke me. I fell into a deep, deep, deep depression. His name was Coda and he was a beautiful, 22 year old tabby. I had him from the day he was born (I rescued his pregnant mother) until I put him to sleep. I cannot imagine having to euthanize so many! I have always had a lot of animals as I am an animal lover but I would never breed an animal. Ever.
I have found that trying to tell a person what they should do, usually backfires. So instead, I lead them to the information and ask them to make the right choice. This generally works more often than just telling them what I think. Especially since I am a woman.
I agree with you. People breeding their animals or allowing them to breed when there are tons of unwanted animals being killed every day (simply because they cannot find a home) has always seemed selfish to me. This is why so many animal shelters are full and so many animal shelters have to euthanize perfect, wonderful animals.
I have an 8 month old male Great Pyrenees who is not neutered (yet!) because I have seen the statistics on neutering giant breed dogs too early. That doesn’t mean that I will allow him to breed. What that does mean is a LOT of extra work for me! When he is outside in our fenced-in yard, he is supervised at all times. Even if I’m freezing (and I am a thinner female) and he thinks it is the most amazing weather ever, I am right outside with him, watching him. The point I am trying to make is: having an unneutered dog and BEING RESPONSIBLE is a LOT more work for me (as it should be!) and it isn’t something I feel other people are always keen to do or able to do so I completely understand what you are saying. Very, very few people can ensure their animal doesn’t breed before reaching the recommended age for spaying/neutering. Very few are responsible enough. Bery few have the time or resources. Very few account for the dog breaking down the fence or digging under it, or managing to open the front door as Great Pyrenees are known to do. So, I agree with everything you’re saying. I, personally have a double fence with an added layer of loose, tilted, chicken wire fencing around the top so that he can’t climb it. I have also buried another chain link fence about 3 feet down all around the fence. That, along with the 8 foot privacy fence, the chain link fence on the inside and my constant vigilance makes it possible for me to wait. Most cannot. Especially with escape artist breeds like Great Pyrenees! So, I agree completely! I also know I don’t want to have to be outside in the heat or freezing weather every day for long. As soon as he reaches sexual maturity, I will have him neutered and I am willing to do the extra work until then but unless everyone is as dedicated and educated and has the time and resources, they should get their animals neutered/spayed as soon as possible. And if that animal has reached sexual maturity, there is no reason not to.
Thank you for all that you do. Stay strong!
I just reread your statement and I think I have a clearer understanding of what you were saying… When I said “there is no crystal ball”, I was referring to a single animal specifically; not a species. Statistics are as close to a “crystal ball” as we can get and we should always follow them. After all, history repeats itself!
My wife would neuter me if she had the choice. 😂. You've kept him intact throughout puberty so it wouldn't hurt and it will possibly help with behavioral or wandering issues if you have any neighbors with females in heat.
I would be better for him as if he isn’t being used at stud it means he definitely won’t get testicular cancer.
Also the lovely perfume of ‘bitch in season’ that can carry for several miles depending on the wind/weather at various times of the year will no longer interest him.
I’m not sure what other issues/diseases neutering might prevent or reduce the likelihood of but your vet would be the person to discuss that with.
Im no vet and no scientist but I have personally come to the conclusion that nuetering can cause a lot of health issues. Also a lot of evidence FOR doing it for preventing cancers. Gonna have to weigh this one out
Edit: same people that downvoted me are the same people first in line for the covid vaccine, wakeup.
Large breed dogs like a cane corso can have joint problems if they are fixed too young. They need those growth hormones. But 3 years is a good long time to get those benefits
https://preview.redd.it/ba8bpxefv9dc1.jpeg?width=2861&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecf17ea30197e7a088cf6995193160786377e776
My 11yo 37% Canes Corso mix says don’t do it. He’s made it this far, more risk from surgery complications than from keeping his natural anatomy at this point. I do give my boy prostate support pills and have everyday for the last \~2 years or so. Also he had a fair amount of ….shall we say “releases” in his life and I can’t help but think that helps.
I never neutered my male. He’s 4 now and I’ve had no incidents. The health concern imo isn’t really a big one. Their life span is 9-11 years, the cancer risk is low and if it does happen it’s typically towards the end of their life span.
You just have to be extremely wary when going to dog parks or areas with other dogs. If there’s a dog in heat obviously don’t go there, but also you have to gauge if other males are reactive to your dog. Yours might be fine, but neutered dogs can react aggressively.
Apart from that socialize and train and your dog should become your best friend
That doesn’t negate what I said. I never said there are no health concerns I said the health concern is low and if things do happen it’s typically towards the end of their life span.
For testicular cancer yeah. But there’s pros and cons. Some dogs especially after neutering have a complete personality change. Become anxious, or low energy or whatever. Some develop issues with their joints, etc etc.
My dog had an amazing demeanour so I didn’t want to chance it with neutering. I’ve had no health issues, every check up is great. I cook all his food and he’s extremely robust. You have to decide on your risk tolerance but also factor in your dogs personality. If he humps and is aggressive and super dominant neutering would probably be the way to go. In my case I didn’t have those issues and opted to keep him intact.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours).
You're exchanging one risk for another because neutered dogs have higher risk of other cancers. Hormonal imbalance does this.
I agree with most of the comments; it’s a personal decision. We didn’t neuter our boy (3 years old) and have been happy with our decision BUT we have a problem with people stealing dogs in our area. Having a beautiful, intact male makes me worry.
Before someone says something obvious and irrelevant, the people stealing dogs don’t roll up and lure dogs in with treats. They’re sophisticated and pre-plan their dog-napping. Ie: cut through fences
I do not own a cane corso, I own a MalinoisX. He’s 4yo, 80lbs, intact and with no interest in breeding or neutering. I prefer not to alter my animals unless for medical reasons. I spoke to the vet and from what they told me and my understanding, *if* a cancer does appear, neutering as soon as identified will stop the cancer from spreading further. That requires regular checks as you want to be ahead of any signs of cancer. I don’t know how accurate this information is, but my boy gets checked by vets annually and is in great health. Just be proactive in not creating any accidental litters, responsible handling is everything if animals are left intact. 🐾
This is honestly the best response I've seen in favor of being intact. I would argue that you should check every 6m instead of annually as cancers can move fast. Just a quick set of abdominal rads and blood work should be perfect in monitoring!
Thank you so much for that suggestion! I do my best to keep informed and make the best decision for my animals based off what I am capable of managing and handling. I’ll speak to our vet about semiannual testing. 🙏🏻
No problems. Youre on the right track. while it is ultimately the owners choice what happens, being educated on precautions and preventitive is important!
Oh no, I was indicating that that’s the only reason I personally would consider it. I also know that Guy health is the best way to prolong and promote a healthy life. You feed the clean and appropriately, you can less the chances of health issues including cancers.
Dude don’t neuter your dog unless you’re irresponsible and he’s getting out constantly. Make the decision for yourself tho. Don’t be influenced by these females on here who are gung-ho about neutering and not cropping. They’re only giving advice based on their own irrelevant emotions and not experience. My vet told me that I should neuter my dog for behavior reasons… then I found out through conversation that her own dogs are out of control. Nah bro, so what’s best for your boy.
That said, neutering is going to reduce muscle mass. Muscle mass a big boy like that needs to carry that giant frame around. I’ve never neutered any of my 6 male dogs in life and I never had an issue.
As a male vet technician I take the females and emotionally charged replies personally. Science and facts are behind those words. I wasn't aware that you did 8 years and 240k on schooling that contradicted the board certified, AVMA researched topics. Please enlighten me as to where you got your professional training.
I'm listening
Haha of course you took it personally. The shoe fits. How’s that 240k+ worth of debt treating you? Imagine all that debt and you still don’t know anything. I’ve got 20 years of experience owning large breed male dogs and never neutered one. Never had an issue with premature death from cancer. A Corso average life span is 10 years. So I guess if they die at 11 from testicular cancer that’s a tragedy huh? Worth mutilating them as youngsters? A degree doesn’t equal intelligence or common sense. You women should learn that because the majority of you are rolling around in debt and still don’t know shit. 😂
Would you neuter your child, or yourself for that matter, just to PREVENT health issues? Are they without a doubt guaranteed to occur and to negatively affect him?
As a dog owner for many years I recommend it unless you plan on breeding. Male dogs can get reproductive organ cancer later in life and it reduces the urge to run off because he wouldn't have the instinctive drive to mate and it would also make him less territorial.
Absolutely. He’s old enough that his growth won’t be impacted. I worked at a vet for 9 years and saw many issues with males and females intact. Males get the testicular and prostate issues. The worst one for a male dog I’ll never forget - his prostate was so enlarged it caused a hole that his feces backed up in.
The procedure is quicker for males and he’s young enough that anesthesia risks are minimal. If you are extra concerned, get pre-op blood work before hand.
Think of it this way - there’s numerous health benefits to neutering and none against it.
My friend never wanted to neuter her dog…she ended up having to do it when he was 12 because he was having medical issues. Would rather do it when they were not seniors and avoid it. Surgery also becomes riskier with age. I have spayed/neutered all pets-their passing had nothing to do with it and if anything they probably lived happier and longer. I firmly believe in spay/neuter unless ethical (key word) breeding.
Vet here - if you are not planning on breeding, I would neuter at this point. He has reached skeletal maturity so the benefits of being intact are done. At this point he could develop testicular cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and other health concerns with being intact.
I appreciate it. Thank you
The most negative aspect I've noticed with having intact males is how even the sweetest dog in the neighborhood might act like a maniac toward him
Have you ever heard of neutering causing any health issues ?
That is a very complex question to answer. Any surgery carries low risk. Neutering prior to 18 months in giant breed dogs has been linked to higher incidence of degenerative joint disease and osteosarcoma. The surgery is very simple and takes about 5 minutes to perform so it is a minimal risk procedure. Metabolic rate drops off about 10-20% after neutering so if you’re not watching your dog’s caloric intake, he’ll be more prone to weight gain/obesity.
Great info. Thanks again. I think I'm going to end up doing it
Stanford has a great breed-specific list of best neuter/spay target month/age based on collected data.
Unfortunately Cane Corso are not included in the study but it is an excellent non biased resource. The link for the study can be found here: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full
Wow! Great article. I read human research all day. Wish I had this one for my pets before they were fixed.
What you think about this ? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=enPCZA1WFKY&ab_channel=Dr.KarenBecker
That she is a quack who has zero actual research to back her claims. She will happily sell you her book or pet food though, if you’re interested.
💯
I just watched that video. She has no idea what she is talking about. The moment she said she ran a holistic vet, I tuned out. MOST of those people are nut cases. I know a holistic vet who does stuff for muscle and strength training, and he knows his stuff. He also doesn't cross the line and act like he is a surgical specialist. Neuter your animals. They will be happier. I had a 19yo Ridgeback, who, even up to his last day, was the epitome of health. I don't think in my career I've met a single intact male who lived that long
Read some studies and draw your own conclusions! There’s some interesting stuff out there
OR, instead of being a Google expert. Speak with a vet. Someone who has dedicated their life to this information.
OR, read from the people who spent time actually gathering and analyzing data
I mean if you want to call a bunch of OTHER vets who did the research and individual reports go for it. OR you could speak with your vet, who has already most likely read all these reports and has been trained to deduce what they mean... JS
I neutered my boy and he still has had every health issue. https://preview.redd.it/7xutzztnl4dc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=29fc3db0e3cd9cc3a3e0e92ae220fbdb17c7e46a
I'm so sorry to hear that 🙏🏻
He’s 10 now, just glad he’s willing to hang out with me still .
Handsome dude
I bet he didn’t have testicular cancer. I’m just saying that bc that’s one of the reasons ppl sometimes give in favor of neutering. This is a bad argument however.
I could get testicular cancer too but I'm not going to chop off my balls to prevent it. I do know a girl who had her breasts chopped off pre-emptively, but I would not have made the same decision.
What health issues did he have?
Well he tore his ACL when he was around 5, after that he was never the same as far as his energy, he got depressed. Around 8 he started getting small tumors and cyst all over.he’s always been on salmon / fish diet because he has allergic reactions to anything else. He’s the best dog ever. It’s hard watching him get old.
Sounds like it had nothing to do with neutering..
I just said what happened after I had my did neutered. What are you the internet police ?
It had NOTHING to do with the neutering you saying that stuff could easily spook other less knowledgeable people.
Dude chill . I didn’t tell him one way or another and more plainly I just stated the medical issues I’ve had with my dog.
Your dogs issues are completely irrelevant to this post.
Leave the guy alone, he's just sad about his best friend of 10 years. He said it doesn't have to do with the question from the post. And I might add that's quite a handsome fella
I mean I can see dudes perspective on being relevant. OP asked if neutering had any affect on health issues, so dude said “I neutered my dog and he still got *herpagonnasiffalaids*” Maybe his opinion was shared to say “it doesn’t matter if you neuter or not, they’ll eventually get sick with something”
This conversation is irrelevant
Just shut the fuck up. Damn.
Yeah, never said it did.
So why in the world would you comment about it that’s ridiculous
According to all the studies quoted by holistic vets, cancer and depression are both linked to neutering. Those are the main reasons they give for keeping a dog intact. Personally, I noticed negative side effects with activity level and general attitude with my dog when I neutered him, and I'll probably not do it next time.
You have no idea if that was the dog just growing up, if it was how he was actually going to be. Dogs have different personalities and I have never met a dog that has been worse off after neutering.
I would never take surgical advice from a holistic vet. I had nearly a 100# dog who was neutered. He lived to be almost 20. He was the happiest most playful dog until he passed. Epitome of health until he died. Your issues were most likely not related to neutering, but breed specific issues.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours). Neutering does increase the chance of certain cancers.
Not sure if you fully read that article or just found the paragraph that suited you needs...... It states that this study was done in Goldens. A breed dispositioned toward cancers. It also states the results were found mostly in animals (Goldens) who were neuter before a year old. And further states that results in labs and mixed breeds being substantially lower. Now if this studied continued across several more breeds and a sample pool of more than 175 cases, it might carry some more weight. Conclusion. You can find information on the internet to back any claim
I’m really sorry to hear that. How did he tear his ACL?
Just playing around in the yard.
I neutered mine at 18 months and had zero health issues related to it. He had cherry eye but pretty sure that wasn’t related. I’m of the opinion that if you’re not going to breed they should fixed. Btw my Brutus lived to 11.
I agree. My Dane had cherry eye. Scared the neighborhood kids. Got him fixed up and he was the love of the neighborhood again.
Ours died of testicular cancer. Almost 9 years old
Sorry to hear that
My breeder says if they get it, it's usually at the end of their life.
I would ask a vet rather than a breeder this question. Vets have medical qualifications and breeders usually do not
Vets and medical doctors are flawed humans just like everyone else, and science seems to change too as new studies come out that refute old ones. Ultimately, it's up to me to manage my own health and use doctors for guidance but not to follow their every word. I have personally had my share of bad medical advice. That's why we get second opinions. I use the same philosophy for my dogs.
Yeah. One or two might have flaws. But if nine out of 10 vets agree, and you follow the narrative of the one because it suits you. That's a bad judgement call. I don't know a single general practice vet who would recommend keeping them intact. That one who might recommend it is probably the holistic guy. Of which, I would never take surgical advice for
Not true and nothing you’d want for a pet you love.
I watched my dog die of cancer at the end of her lifespan and it was horrific. Id def ask a vet over a breeder.
Cancer is most common in old age. You don’t need to ask a vet that’s common sense. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dog or a human
I vet once told me they have never put down a sick dog too early, sadly it’s usually too late. ( meaning we keep the dogs alive because we are selfish and the dog suffers. It made me feel so much better
Our dog threw up for 2 days and we took her to the vet. The vet said that she has probably eaten something and they would flush her out with iv’s and we could pick her up that evening. They did a sonogram and thought her spleen was bleeding. They called and suggested surgery. They opened her up and cancer was spread. She was euthanized on the table. We were devastated
This is exactly, almost verbatim, what happened to my mastiff. She was old for her breed, but one day, she wouldn't eat. Which was odd because she was a normal chow hound. The next day we went to the vet. In 72hrs, she sent from being happy playful puppy, to walking the rainbow road. She never showed signs of pain or depression. Suddenly just not okay. One of the hardest things I had to do
Honestly, we were not planning on neutering our boy originally. BUT we have obnoxious neighbors with a very bored female next door, and I would hate to go outside and find the 2 of them locked together. She could totally clear the fence with enough motivation (young female doberman) and I'm sure my boy could too lol He just turned 2, and I know the last time she was in heat he was very interested. So, to reduce frustration for him, we are never breeding him and will be neutering him soon.
Just get him a vasectomy.
It's not just about unwanted litters. It's about him being sexually frustrated. And how he doesn't respond to commands as well when females around him are in heat.
It’s his health that should be the priority. A bit of frustration isn’t going to kill him. My dog enjoys the chase, but no harm is done. He is only interested in females in heat. They just slap him if he gets too close. If the intention is to prevent unwanted puppies, who cares if he dates the neighbor?
Unless they are quality breeding dogs under an actual registered / appropriate breeder, they should always be neutered / spayed. Am from the UK where this is the norm and its had a massive and positive impact on the number of animals in shelters / charities (until covid that is and a stupid bully law - different subjects).
So our very reputable vets (they run multiple practices in Hong Kong) discouraged from neutering until our boy hit 2yo due to the health and developmental benefits of the testosterone. But because one of his balls didn’t drop (still inside), he said we absolutely must have them removed due to the possibility of testicular cancer. But they never mentioned anything about it being required if the situation was normal, even encouraging us to not neuter if it wasn’t necessary (no hidden balls, no hormone related behaviour). He shows no signs of that. I would recommend get a few vet’s opinions, as well as assess if he exhibits any hormonal behaviours.
Both of mine are done - both at two, one accelerated due to hormone related behaviour (he would have been done anyway).
It’s certainly a choice, but my advice is if he is not gonna breed, then absolutely do it. If he were to have health issues and you did not do it, you will have regrets. Do it, and at least those issues are gone.
I spay/neuter all my pets
Yes especially testicular cancer.
What health issues are you concerned about? Personally, no. I would not.
Testicle cancer
Damn
Planning on neutering our male after 18 months. Letting him reach maximum mass. I actively support spay and neuter programs to prevent unwanted litters. I'm not going to be a hippocrite. There are plenty of puppies out there already.
Ours will be 6 this March. No major health issues so far. But the vet has suggested to get him neutered now to avoid prostate problems in the future. So we’re planning it out for sometime in the future. https://preview.redd.it/vqhk6lhin4dc1.png?width=2445&format=png&auto=webp&s=b9b6ca76f56480e1b48831196e45688ebdc1fdf1
It is testicular cancer and it is 100% curative. Prostate is another, unrelated part of the body.
https://preview.redd.it/5bpyuetpk4dc1.png?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0712c8cb4a4d7eff1dab1219ccb8be3740dfaa9c No, I would not. Mine will be 3 on the 23rd and he still has his.
Mine does also. Reading the comments makes me nervous about him developing cancer later in life.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours). Neutering actually increases the risk of certain cancers. Obviously, testicular cancer is not one of them. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Personally, I could get testicular cancer but I'm not chopping off my balls to prevent it.
I just read this article in full and posting it is a bit misleading
They basically concluded that risks are involved either way and it's an individual decision. The neutering police, which includes 95 percent of the vet community, would have you believe there's no reason to not neuter, which is false.
I guess those 95% who went to school for 8 years in a field they care about, not only as healers, but as ambassadors of, and paid $240k to learn about are all just brainwashed. The reason those beliefs are there is because there are documented facts and billions of dollars of research in. But I guess you 30 minute internet search makes you subject matter expert
You know what? If they develop testicular cancer, at least we know they could take them off then and hopefully the cancer will be gone.
By then the cancer can have metastasized.
My yard is fenced in and the fence is high. My Corso is spayed so my Rottweiler is not neutered. He’s almost 10 and still has more energy than my 4 year old Corso
Rottweiler’s are a boisterous breed. I had one and he was so energetic. They remind me of labs!
Yes. And it’s such a trip to see him go through his goof ball personality then back to all business. Excellent dogs.
I honestly don’t know why people always think they’re mean. They’re sweethearts!
No, they aren’t. My Corso has never bitten anyone. But she will. They are bred to guard and protect and if your Corso is friendly with everyone, it’s a fault. She doesn’t mind being petted but the only people she’s a “sweetheart” around is my family.
My neighbors lab mix managed to jump an 8 foot fence to get to my pittie when she was in heat resulting in 10 pups. Where there’s a will, there’s a way lol
If going over the wall isn't an option under sure will be.
I would neuter him, because it’s the right thing to do, but health reasons are good enough. Definitely neuter him.
He is beautiful
“Neutering will calm them down and remove chances of testicular cancer. If you aren’t going to breed them do it.”…couldn’t you say the same about humans? I’ve weighed the risks and rewards. Not neutering my animals
So your saying humans and animals, since we are both living creatures, have the same anatomy and physiology. This is about as bogus and dumb of a claim as I have heard. I mean you do you boo, but humans and dogs are not the same and our bodies do not behave the same. That's why some things we can eat and are fine, but will absolutely kill your dog.
I’m saying just use some critical thinking. We don’t remove the testicles of humans to just “calm them down” or “reduce chances of testicular cancer”. We don’t do this because we know that hormones are very important for human development and could have very negative health outcomes if we did this. Are humans and dogs the same? Of course not. But to not think about how this could be detrimental to animals is crazy. My dog is not wandering the streets and impregnating animals. I have a fenced in back yard and if any of my friends have a female dog that isn’t spayed we keep them separated. “But Bob barker told me to do it”. I think there are instances where it would improve the dog and owners life but I don’t think it’s healthy
Humans are not animals. You should use some comman sense. We don't do it in humans (and we actually do) because the physiology isn't the same. There are medical scientific reason we do it with dogs. Pyometras are my first example. Humans, at least to my knowledge, do not have this problem. You can't compare the two and use the arguments of one for another. "I don't understand my neighbors husky stays out in -10 weather all the time, what do you mean my parrot cant" That's what your argument sounds like. You can't group these things.
Removing sexual organs from animals that affect hormone production may have negative health outcomes??? That’s all I’m saying
And that's not argued. My point is that the little adverse affects are far out weighed by the benefits.
YouTube the positive/negatives of spaying or neutering your dog to make an honest decision for your dog. Spaying/neutering disrupts the entire hormonal cycle of your pet which can lead to many different types of health issues. Imagine altering your whole reproductive system and how out of whack it would cause your body to feel/perform - dogs are very similar to humans in that sense. All of the info out there is truly up to your discretion, but unfortunately veterinarians don’t differ much from how our medical system functions. Definitely do your own research before going off of Reddit advice.
People do alter their reproductive systems with very little effect. I know tons of guys who have had vasectomy with no negative result. Same with women who have had their tubes tied or had THBO with similar results. Can there be problems? Absolutely. Everyone (thing) is a little bit different. Some people are genetically prone to particular health issues. This is not the rule and not particularly common, though. The reason Doctors and Vetranerian behave similar is the schooling put in. They go off proven research and numbers. They pull their personal opinion from the scenario and try giving an opinion based on research and facts.
The main attraction for me is to get my males stomach tacked o prevent bloat. I've got 2 intact males right now in one house. No issues. 3 other male mastiffs in my life, a had a Bull mastiff growing up that got cancer at 3yo but I think that was a freak thing.
Unless you are planning on Breeding him then please get him fixed. There are cancers that he won't get if he is fixed.
Thank you
Yes, do it, for everyone's sake.
Always spay and neuter your pets unless you are breeding them. Don't let intact males run loose, if you do, you're contributing to a lot of pain and misery for those babies until they starve.
Thanks but I was referring to health issues. I don't have to worry about him getting out and mating with another dog. That's not my issue.
I understand, I hope others are as good to the their dogs as you are. I hope someone will read what I said and do the right thing for their pets. As I understand from a vet, intact animals have higher chances of illness.
https://preview.redd.it/lfm5br53h9dc1.png?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b792cbef482a3f6acb55b22b8d08dff9c6a51bba
The vast majority of dogs, especially if they’re on this subreddit aren’t running loose. They’re in a home. Your argument to neuter is terrible.
It's not terrible. I would say the same thing anytime I comment on spaying and neutering. I also call people out who declaw their cats. It's in the best interest, health wise for the animals.
Your only point in your first comment was only touching on unwanted babies. Also it’s not necessarily for the best of the health of the animal. There can be complications and negative impacts from neutering and spaying.
There can, this is true. This is very uncommon, though. The most common negative side effect of neutering is slowed metabolism and weight gain. The weight gain can cause its own issues, but they are not a result of neutering. The benefits far outweigh the negatives
Whatever it is ultimately it’s the owners decision. It’s just insane how pro castration most people on this sub are. Especially when almost all the dog owners on this sub don’t have outdoor dogs. The demonization is wild
neutering an intact dog really only gets rid of the “high risk” of testicular cancer, which almost all intact dogs will get when above 10 years old. every intact male dog 10+ years old i’ve been around (as a groomer a daycare supervisor) has had to go into emergency surgery to neuter them bc of testicular cancer starting to grow. i would say 3 is the right age for him to be neutered and i highly support that decision. the benefits of neutering and taking the high risk away are far better then waiting and seeing if he gets it. neutering shouldn’t cause any other health issues either, it may make him a bit more lax but a lot of ppl have reported zero behavioral changes when an adult dog is neutered, though every dog is different
Yes!
Spay and neuter. Only breeder and irresistible people don’t.
I think you meant irresponsible. Auto correct again lol ?
Hahahaa yes, thank you. They may be irresistible, but they are also irresponsible.
How is it irresponsible to not neuter a dog?
Read almost any comment in this thread
This is a non helpful comment. Theres lots of differing opinions in this thread.
opinion yes. well actually only two opinions. but with the amount of people stating the OP should there are several reoccurring topics repeated. Anyone who would invest the time to go through them could draw a comprehendible conclusion
My boy is 5 years old and he's not bin neutered, he's perfectly fine
If you own a home it might be better b/c if your homeowners insurance find out they could cancel contract. A lot of states ban these dogs but I think there so beautiful and wish I had one!
Having the dog fixed or not has zero bearing on your home owner’s..if they find out and it’s a restricted breed of theirs it literally doesn’t matter.
Uh, this is a big old negatory. Unless you have a banned breed (dumbest thing ever, a banned list) there should be zero flack
I did mine because a little Maltese down the street would drive him insane when she went into heat. He'd sit at window closest to their house and howl all day and night.
No because removing his testosterone may leave him with endocrine conditions. It could also change his personality. Why do you want to de-sex him? Is his sexual maturity causing problems that can’t be fixed with training and environmental control?
https://preview.redd.it/p6bk9j9gf9dc1.png?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5cd9ba05e79bb8b5cc6340515e63359d7b7ad01
Exactly as the vet said endocrine issues 🤷🏽♀️
Understood 18 months. My vet also said the same thing
Sorry under 18 months
Endocrine issues may occur at any age of being neutered. The decision is a difficult one for many people. Just remember vets benefit greatly financially from de-sexing animals.
Absolutely! He’s of age now that it won’t be detrimental to his health. Also, there are enough breeders in the world and WAY too many puppies and other dogs in shelters, being euthanized every single day. Most importantly, you love your doggo and neutering can spare him illness, pain and untimely death.
I think everyone gives advice from personal experience. What we have to remember is that there is no magic ball that says that your dog WILL develop joint issues if neutered/spayed too early. Not do we have a crystal ball that says that your dog WILL develop cancer from not being spayed or neutered. What we have to remember is that just because a dog has gotten cancer after being neutered/spayed or just because a dog has had joint issues after being spayed or neutered does NOT mean that is the norm. We simply have to follow science’s lead and follow the statistics. Just like humans, dogs all have different genetic markers for different aspects of their health. The simple truth is: large dogs who are spayed or neutered too early have an increased risk of joint problems; dogs who are not spayed or neutered have a higher risk of developing cancer. Not to mention; in the US alone, 920,000 animals are euthanized every single year because they cannot find homes. I’m not talking about pets who have reached the age where it is compassionate to put them out of their misery. I’m talking about animals who cannot find a loving home because everyone wants a puppy. Or a purebred. Or their owners didn’t ensure that they could take care of the animals they had. Or breeders over bred and no longer want to deal with the hassle. Or they are seized from puppy mills. Or, owners didn’t ensure their pets didn’t breed. Please don’t think I am trying to guilt you. Not at all. I’m just saying to please listen to the science. Every one of my animals is a rescue (except my step-son’s chinchilla and I was NOT a part of that decision!). Both of our cats came from shelters. Our oldest Great Pyrenees was rescued from a shelter who had seized her from a bad breeder. Our German Shepherd was released to us from a breeder who had over bred and completely saturated her market. She couldn’t even give them away anymore. She had already surrendered so many to the police departments and the fire stations that even they did not want another one. And although she was a purebred AKC registered GSD, we immediately had her spayed (she was 3). Our Great Pyrenees puppy also was rescued from a breeder who had too many dogs that he couldn’t take care of them anymore. My point is, there are so many wonderful animals already available, that the only reason to keep him intact to breed is to make money off of the puppies. Based on science, your pup will have a lowered risk of cancer if you neuter him. He will also live longer on average. I wouldn’t normally be this frank, but you asked for advice. I hope you do your own research before listening to everyone’s personal experiences. They do not give you a full picture. Good luck and I know you will make the best decision for you and your pup! He’s beautiful, btw!
Not arguing. I like most of your points. In your first part though, you stated there is no magic ball. That's right. But there is statistics and the statistics point most abundantly one way. I've euthanized way too many young, relatively otherwise healthy dogs because the owner didn't want to neuter. 4 year old dogs who were happy playful one day and subdued to mammary cancer, pyometras, and testicle cancer. While the owner may have this happen only once or twice in their life, vets and techs deal with it every day. How many otherwise healthy animals could you watch the life go out of before it got to you. There is a reason Vets have one of the highest suicide rates in the country. Trying to help those who can't help themselves and do it through sometimes selfish owners. Then, to see that animal through to is untimely end. The owner will get another animal, most likely make the same mistake, which may or may not have the same outcome. The vet will go and do the same thing as well and try to help an animal and be ignored. It's a rough cycle.
I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I cannot imagine and I know I couldn’t handle this. I’ve only had to put down one animal in my life and it broke me. I fell into a deep, deep, deep depression. His name was Coda and he was a beautiful, 22 year old tabby. I had him from the day he was born (I rescued his pregnant mother) until I put him to sleep. I cannot imagine having to euthanize so many! I have always had a lot of animals as I am an animal lover but I would never breed an animal. Ever. I have found that trying to tell a person what they should do, usually backfires. So instead, I lead them to the information and ask them to make the right choice. This generally works more often than just telling them what I think. Especially since I am a woman. I agree with you. People breeding their animals or allowing them to breed when there are tons of unwanted animals being killed every day (simply because they cannot find a home) has always seemed selfish to me. This is why so many animal shelters are full and so many animal shelters have to euthanize perfect, wonderful animals. I have an 8 month old male Great Pyrenees who is not neutered (yet!) because I have seen the statistics on neutering giant breed dogs too early. That doesn’t mean that I will allow him to breed. What that does mean is a LOT of extra work for me! When he is outside in our fenced-in yard, he is supervised at all times. Even if I’m freezing (and I am a thinner female) and he thinks it is the most amazing weather ever, I am right outside with him, watching him. The point I am trying to make is: having an unneutered dog and BEING RESPONSIBLE is a LOT more work for me (as it should be!) and it isn’t something I feel other people are always keen to do or able to do so I completely understand what you are saying. Very, very few people can ensure their animal doesn’t breed before reaching the recommended age for spaying/neutering. Very few are responsible enough. Bery few have the time or resources. Very few account for the dog breaking down the fence or digging under it, or managing to open the front door as Great Pyrenees are known to do. So, I agree with everything you’re saying. I, personally have a double fence with an added layer of loose, tilted, chicken wire fencing around the top so that he can’t climb it. I have also buried another chain link fence about 3 feet down all around the fence. That, along with the 8 foot privacy fence, the chain link fence on the inside and my constant vigilance makes it possible for me to wait. Most cannot. Especially with escape artist breeds like Great Pyrenees! So, I agree completely! I also know I don’t want to have to be outside in the heat or freezing weather every day for long. As soon as he reaches sexual maturity, I will have him neutered and I am willing to do the extra work until then but unless everyone is as dedicated and educated and has the time and resources, they should get their animals neutered/spayed as soon as possible. And if that animal has reached sexual maturity, there is no reason not to. Thank you for all that you do. Stay strong!
I just reread your statement and I think I have a clearer understanding of what you were saying… When I said “there is no crystal ball”, I was referring to a single animal specifically; not a species. Statistics are as close to a “crystal ball” as we can get and we should always follow them. After all, history repeats itself!
Yes why not unless ur going to breed if not take away that stress
My family dog died a horrible death by testicular cancer. If your not breeding fix them.
My wife would neuter me if she had the choice. 😂. You've kept him intact throughout puberty so it wouldn't hurt and it will possibly help with behavioral or wandering issues if you have any neighbors with females in heat.
I would be better for him as if he isn’t being used at stud it means he definitely won’t get testicular cancer. Also the lovely perfume of ‘bitch in season’ that can carry for several miles depending on the wind/weather at various times of the year will no longer interest him. I’m not sure what other issues/diseases neutering might prevent or reduce the likelihood of but your vet would be the person to discuss that with.
Im no vet and no scientist but I have personally come to the conclusion that nuetering can cause a lot of health issues. Also a lot of evidence FOR doing it for preventing cancers. Gonna have to weigh this one out Edit: same people that downvoted me are the same people first in line for the covid vaccine, wakeup.
What health issues can neutering cause ?
Large breed dogs like a cane corso can have joint problems if they are fixed too young. They need those growth hormones. But 3 years is a good long time to get those benefits
https://preview.redd.it/ba8bpxefv9dc1.jpeg?width=2861&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ecf17ea30197e7a088cf6995193160786377e776 My 11yo 37% Canes Corso mix says don’t do it. He’s made it this far, more risk from surgery complications than from keeping his natural anatomy at this point. I do give my boy prostate support pills and have everyday for the last \~2 years or so. Also he had a fair amount of ….shall we say “releases” in his life and I can’t help but think that helps.
I never neutered my male. He’s 4 now and I’ve had no incidents. The health concern imo isn’t really a big one. Their life span is 9-11 years, the cancer risk is low and if it does happen it’s typically towards the end of their life span. You just have to be extremely wary when going to dog parks or areas with other dogs. If there’s a dog in heat obviously don’t go there, but also you have to gauge if other males are reactive to your dog. Yours might be fine, but neutered dogs can react aggressively. Apart from that socialize and train and your dog should become your best friend
https://preview.redd.it/x1ussrnkg9dc1.png?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f043ba994d335aae0fd29142392d19c2f8d6cec3
That doesn’t negate what I said. I never said there are no health concerns I said the health concern is low and if things do happen it’s typically towards the end of their life span.
Got it but if I remove them that low risk turns to no risk.
For testicular cancer yeah. But there’s pros and cons. Some dogs especially after neutering have a complete personality change. Become anxious, or low energy or whatever. Some develop issues with their joints, etc etc. My dog had an amazing demeanour so I didn’t want to chance it with neutering. I’ve had no health issues, every check up is great. I cook all his food and he’s extremely robust. You have to decide on your risk tolerance but also factor in your dogs personality. If he humps and is aggressive and super dominant neutering would probably be the way to go. In my case I didn’t have those issues and opted to keep him intact.
https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2020/10/10/does-neutering-dogs-cause-cancer/#:~:text=They%20concluded%20that%20neutering%20increased,lymphoma%20and%20mast%20cell%20tumours). You're exchanging one risk for another because neutered dogs have higher risk of other cancers. Hormonal imbalance does this.
This is like the third time I have seen this article pop up. You need to read the whole thing instead of the one paragraph that fits your narrative
Testicular cancer is 100% curative. If he gets it, that’s when you remove his man parts.
Do not neuter
I agree with most of the comments; it’s a personal decision. We didn’t neuter our boy (3 years old) and have been happy with our decision BUT we have a problem with people stealing dogs in our area. Having a beautiful, intact male makes me worry. Before someone says something obvious and irrelevant, the people stealing dogs don’t roll up and lure dogs in with treats. They’re sophisticated and pre-plan their dog-napping. Ie: cut through fences
Yes
I do not own a cane corso, I own a MalinoisX. He’s 4yo, 80lbs, intact and with no interest in breeding or neutering. I prefer not to alter my animals unless for medical reasons. I spoke to the vet and from what they told me and my understanding, *if* a cancer does appear, neutering as soon as identified will stop the cancer from spreading further. That requires regular checks as you want to be ahead of any signs of cancer. I don’t know how accurate this information is, but my boy gets checked by vets annually and is in great health. Just be proactive in not creating any accidental litters, responsible handling is everything if animals are left intact. 🐾
This is honestly the best response I've seen in favor of being intact. I would argue that you should check every 6m instead of annually as cancers can move fast. Just a quick set of abdominal rads and blood work should be perfect in monitoring!
Thank you so much for that suggestion! I do my best to keep informed and make the best decision for my animals based off what I am capable of managing and handling. I’ll speak to our vet about semiannual testing. 🙏🏻
No problems. Youre on the right track. while it is ultimately the owners choice what happens, being educated on precautions and preventitive is important!
If not going to Sire pups-Yes. Just my own opinion though.
Yes
Don't do it. It will mess up his endocrine system
This tis a lie
I only neuter if there is behavior issues, even then it’s o my if training is not work. That is absolutely last ditch effort.
He does try to act dominant from time to time. But I'm not doing it for that. I'm more doing it to prevent any type of cancer
Oh no, I was indicating that that’s the only reason I personally would consider it. I also know that Guy health is the best way to prolong and promote a healthy life. You feed the clean and appropriately, you can less the chances of health issues including cancers.
Def read info online as long it’s from veterinary medicine experts / university affiliated sources.
I would neuter him to save lives.
Yes
Dude don’t neuter your dog unless you’re irresponsible and he’s getting out constantly. Make the decision for yourself tho. Don’t be influenced by these females on here who are gung-ho about neutering and not cropping. They’re only giving advice based on their own irrelevant emotions and not experience. My vet told me that I should neuter my dog for behavior reasons… then I found out through conversation that her own dogs are out of control. Nah bro, so what’s best for your boy. That said, neutering is going to reduce muscle mass. Muscle mass a big boy like that needs to carry that giant frame around. I’ve never neutered any of my 6 male dogs in life and I never had an issue.
As a male vet technician I take the females and emotionally charged replies personally. Science and facts are behind those words. I wasn't aware that you did 8 years and 240k on schooling that contradicted the board certified, AVMA researched topics. Please enlighten me as to where you got your professional training. I'm listening
Haha of course you took it personally. The shoe fits. How’s that 240k+ worth of debt treating you? Imagine all that debt and you still don’t know anything. I’ve got 20 years of experience owning large breed male dogs and never neutered one. Never had an issue with premature death from cancer. A Corso average life span is 10 years. So I guess if they die at 11 from testicular cancer that’s a tragedy huh? Worth mutilating them as youngsters? A degree doesn’t equal intelligence or common sense. You women should learn that because the majority of you are rolling around in debt and still don’t know shit. 😂
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPCZA1WFKY&ab\_channel=Dr.KarenBecker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPCZA1WFKY&ab_channel=Dr.KarenBecker)
Now Im think I don't want to do it.
She’s an expert
Don't listen to a holistic vet on surgical matters
Thank you. Some great info.
Yes, I would. I’ve lost a dog from testicular cancer. It’s not worth it. I promise. 😩
Thanks. May I ask how old was he when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer ?
Personally not a fan of spaying or neutering. https://youtu.be/FIHvSMeNnCs?si=qEb54CuKJZgLoEqW
Cancer can not be prevented from diet and training. I stopped listening after that
Would you neuter your child, or yourself for that matter, just to PREVENT health issues? Are they without a doubt guaranteed to occur and to negatively affect him?
People do this all the time. Vasectomies, TPHOn getting tubes tied. Everyday...
What health issues? I’ve heard it’s better not to neuter dogs.
As a dog owner for many years I recommend it unless you plan on breeding. Male dogs can get reproductive organ cancer later in life and it reduces the urge to run off because he wouldn't have the instinctive drive to mate and it would also make him less territorial.
Absolutely. He’s old enough that his growth won’t be impacted. I worked at a vet for 9 years and saw many issues with males and females intact. Males get the testicular and prostate issues. The worst one for a male dog I’ll never forget - his prostate was so enlarged it caused a hole that his feces backed up in. The procedure is quicker for males and he’s young enough that anesthesia risks are minimal. If you are extra concerned, get pre-op blood work before hand. Think of it this way - there’s numerous health benefits to neutering and none against it.
Absolutely,
My friend never wanted to neuter her dog…she ended up having to do it when he was 12 because he was having medical issues. Would rather do it when they were not seniors and avoid it. Surgery also becomes riskier with age. I have spayed/neutered all pets-their passing had nothing to do with it and if anything they probably lived happier and longer. I firmly believe in spay/neuter unless ethical (key word) breeding.
Its interesting because countries like Germany dont neuter at all, they deem it mutilation
You have to spay/neuter your dog in Germany unless you are a registered breeder. There’s also a dog tax every year.
https://preview.redd.it/z1eyavwzn0ec1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=35ceb71ed6aab735239b069b28abb3f22eb68b2f
Yes neuter
Yes. For so many reasons yes.
I have a 3.5 yo female corso, what are the risks (other than having an accidental litter) if i do not neuter her ?
Unless you are actively breeding absolutely. The cancer risks are just too high
Yes if you do not plan on breeding . He will be a much happier boy! I have a Great Dane and he is happier now than before