Male Dog NeuteringThe subject of male dog neutering can actually be a rather touchy topic, but it doesn't need to be. Technically it can refer to both females and males. But for some reason the term is more commonly associated with males. Maybe that's because most men can't stand the word castration. They shudder at the mere idea of a scalpel going "down there." For the sake of our discussion here, we'll limit the term neuter to a reference to males. The female equivalent is called spaying. What Does the Neutering Procedure Involve? Regardless of which term you use, male dog neutering or surgical castration basically removes both of the testicles, leaving the scrotum intact and unharmed. Most people are surprised that the incision isn't right on top of the scrotum. (OK, so you probably never thought about it, right?) In fact, when Fido is neutered, a small incision is made just in front of the scrotum and the testicles are removed from there. This small incision heals much more quickly and painlessly. Fido's empty scrotal sac will hang empty but shrink down in size over time. After a few weeks, you'll barely even notice it. Once Fido gets neutered, his man-habits will slowly diminish over time. In other words, he'll be less aggressive, hump less, and potentially mark his urine less frequently. Unfortunately, his metabolism may slow down a bit in the process, so keep an eye on him and cut back on the amount you're feeding him if he starts to gain weight.
He can still impregnate one within a few days of his neuter, as those persistent sperm hang around in the tubing for a few more days. After neutering a male dog, it takes a week or so for his hormones to settle down. During this recovery time, your reliably housetrained pooch might make a few mistakes in the house. Don't freak out. This is perfectly normal and does not mean you have to start housebreaking him all over again. Just limit his access in the house (perhaps he can spend more time in his crate) and take more long walks with him than usual. Everything will be back to normal in a couple of weeks. Benefits of Male Dog Neutering:
What's the Best Age to Neuter a Dog? Male dog neutering can take place as early as six weeks, but generally only animal shelters and rescue organizations do it that young.They want to know that when they release their pups to new homes, they won't contribute to pet overpopulation. Some breeders may also choose to have puppy neutering performed on their pet-quality pups before selling them at about eight weeks of age. In general, neutering a dog becomes safer after he's had all his puppy vaccines (about four months of age) and weighs a bit more. Taking all factors into account, most veterinarians prefer to have male dog neutering take place at around five to six months of age. Neutering older dogs (one to eight years old) involves the same surgical procedure as for younger ones.
If you wait until your dog is geriatric (eight years of age or older, for Goldens), he runs a greater risk of problems from the anesthesia. Actually, that's true of any surgery for older dogs. For some people (men especially), the question of when to neuter their dog is an emotionally charged issue. If they just keep putting it off, there's another factor to consider. Research reveals that neutering a male dog before sexual maturity (6-12 months) is often more effective in reducing or eliminating aggressive behavior than if you wait until he's older. Opinions vary on this subject, but the evidence favors neutering male dogs before they begin demonstrating their "maleness." If you aren't planning to show your Golden Retriever, or perpetuate a perfectly healthy, champion bloodline, do yourself a favor and take Sam in for a snip-snip and be done with it. He won't be mad at you, I promise. Search here for more information on Golden Retrievers |
Another key thing to remember is that just because Fido's testicles were removed doesn't mean you can throw him back to all his lady friends immediately.
The only difference is that younger dogs heal faster. 
