Neutering

[jaczor]

  Ok, I searched the boards already and whi;e there are some useful threads about this topic, I still have some questions that were not answered:

1)  Does the procedure leave any visible scars?  I know that sometimes they have to make a larger incision when one of the testicles hasn't dropped, but I'm talking about a normal scenario where both have dropped.

2)  Do you need to put one of those cone shaped things on your bullie's neck to keep him from licking the wound?  I had to use this device once on my schnauzer and he hated the thing, not to mention he was tearing the house appart because he would run into everything with it (poor little guy).

3) From what I've read, the right time according to most people seems to be 6 months of age BUT I found a couple of articles that mentioned that nutering a dog before he's done growing will make his long bones grow a bit larger(he'd be taller than normal) and also that in the case of bullies it will prevent them from developing the broad chest and big head that are so characteristic of the breed. What do you guys think/know about this?

4) If I get my dog neutered say at 2 years old, would he still gain all the health benefits from it?

   Well, those are my doubts, here's a link to one of the articles I mentioned:
http://www.puppygal.com/english_bulldog_medical_neutering.html

Thanks.

[Steph's 3 Bullies]

Well, I am definitely no expert, but I can offer up what I have experienced with Huggins...

1.  There do not appear to be any visible scars (both of his testicles had dropped).

2.  We did not need an e-coller for Huggins.  With his build (short & stocky) there was NO WAY that he could reach himself. 

3.  We had Huggins neutered at a very young age (will never do that again) at the suggestion of our vet...he said it was okay to do...we have now changed vets...long story.    Huggins is a pretty small EB - he weighs 38 lbs and is almost 3 years old.  He has the broad chest and big head (relatively speaking) but he is just so compact.  I always claim that I have the SMALLEST bulldog in the world.     I have been told he is so small because we had him fixed so early but I have also heard he would have been small regardless.  I don't know the real answer.  I have the sweetest little guy and would not want him any other way.  He is happy and healthy, which means I can sleep with a relatively clean conscious.  I will say that I have definitely learned that the next boy bully will wait awhile before neutering.

In terms of timing... I have heard that it is a good idea to wait until they are closer to 1 year of age, but I am not sure what the right age is.  I am sure some of the breeders on here will have a better guage for this one. 

4.  I do not have an adequate answer for this one, so I will just stop here.

Well, good luck with whatever you decide!  I can tell you that making the decision to neuter Huggins was terribly hard for me.  However, I know with all of my heart that I did the best thing for him, long term healthy wise.

Please remember this is only my opinion and I am not an expert...just a bully lover!   

[Lovabullwrinkles]

^^^^^^Good explanations, Steph.

[Niccirf]

Gus was neutered about a month ago, when he was 6.5 months old. Like Stephanie said, we have no visible scars from his procedure nor did he need an e-collar (though we did have to watch him closely, as he wanted to lick his leg were the IV was inserted). I have also heard that it's good to wait a little longer to get them fixed, though our vet said any time after 6 months. Gus in now 7.5 months and just under 40lbs and he is quickly growing into the broad chest characteristic of the breed so it doesn't appear that the neutering had any impact on that.

Good luck!

[Justine]

I think Wembers was about 7-8 months when we got him done.  I wish we'd got him done sooner cos by then "they" were huge!!!!     And forever after that he had what we called "his pancake" LOL  it was a kinda baggy bit of skin.  It reduced a lot, but never completely went away.

sorry if that's too graphic, but just letting you know...LOL 

[cadillactaste]

Well...We never had our dogs neutered. Thought it was ruining their "masculinity" then...When our collie mix Butchie was 8 yrs. old he had prostrate issues...We about lost him. It was rather a scary ordeal and I would NEVER wish that on any pet. (Then to learn had we only neutered him it wouldn't have happened) Then the waiting to see if it was cancer...A NIGHTMARE and the timing we had just put down our first bulldog Jake a month before.

So...We neutered our pets after that. Some say it's genetics...But we have had bulldogs with smaller heads. Tank his sire had a huge basketball size head. Though...His mom didn't...He's built like his momma...Nothing wrong with that...

But I too had heard of neutering stunted their growth of their heads and what have you. So after talking with our vet...Our vet said that medically that they felt that neutering by the age of no later than 2 yrs. old wouldn't harm them any. If I wanted to see if it indeed would help Sarge's head size.

His head is MAMOTH! His neck size is larger than our 3yr. old bulldog Tank. Now his momma didn't have a large mamoth head...We do plan on neutering him...No doubt about that...But...I look at the two other bulldogs we had that we neutered early and they have small heads. It don't mean that it's fact that if you neuter they will have small heads. For Tank is built like his momma...After all...BUT...Sarge has a mamoth head and was 1 yr. old in December...His head size pasted our older bulldog before he even was a year old...So...That is my experiance...Though...I am nervous of waiting to have his berries removed. Like...Just having the procedure done is scary when you love them as much as we all do...BUT...I never want to go through what we did with Butchie...And know...That we could have prevented it.

So...There is some food for thought~ Hope I didn't make you confused on your decission. We just wanted a large headed bulldog for a change...More like our first bulldog...That's all...

[Barclay]

We neutered Bosco at 6.5 months, after he starting leaving little "love deposits" on Buffy, our girl.  He has grown to be a beautiful and well formed bullie at 58 lbs. Our vet urged us to do it a little earlier, but timing did not work.  He has no scar, and no baggies.  He is perfect.

[cadillactaste]

We neutered Bosco at 6.5 months, after he starting leaving little "love deposits" on Buffy, our girl.  He has grown to be a beautiful and well formed bullie at 58 lbs. Our vet urged us to do it a little earlier, but timing did not work.  He has no scar, and no baggies.  He is perfect.

Yeah...that's the only down side...Flapping pancakes...Not a pretty sight...As you say...He did grow to be quite a fine bulldog...It does I think have to do with genetics as well...But my husband differs from my theory of genetics. And was the one to push the waiting until he was 2 yrs. old...

We were asked by a few breeders to stud Sarge out...He's a year old and has had no heath issues as of to date. BUT...I didn't buy him for a stud...But for a pet. And...I don't know a thing about bettering the breed. So it's best to leave it up to the experts. I do forward the breeder whom has Sarge's sire incase their interested in using Sarge's poppa~ ...And I haven't been asked for awhile for him to be used...So that's a good thing. My husband also was for the "studing" out Sarge...Until I really harped about it. He's also against it now. ...And Sarge is not liking my looking toward the calendar as to when we'll be getting him berriless... The other vet in the practice felt that a 1 1/2 is when bulldogs finally stop growing. And said to possibly consider doing by then...So...I am watching the calendar and my husband and I disagree...He wants to listen to our regular vet...And wait for two years...I say...He's got a MELON sized head already~

Thank goodness we haven't had any little "love deposits" as you described...That would be SHOCKING~

[Gummis Dad]

Gummi got neutered slightly early at 5 months because neither of his testicles descended. 
The Vet felt it would be better to go in while she knew roughly where to find them in the abdomen before something bad happened.

From the research I did on early neutering it does not stunt their growth.  A few places say the opposite is true and there is an increase in size because the closing of the end caps on their bones are delayed.

[lucybenson]

Benson was neutered just after he turned 2 years.  He got neutered and his soft pallate shortened at the same time, that's why we waited so long to do the neuter.  There are no visible scars, both testicles had dropped, and he did not have to wear an e-collar.  He did really well with both surgeries and was back to his normal self within 2 days.  At first his sack was big and floppy...but now 1 1/2 years later it has shrunk really small.  I think he still gained the heath benefits.  He was never a marker in the house or a humper, so I can't report if neutering made a change with that.  But we don't have that nasty yellow stuff on our floor any more!  He is the first male dog that I have ever had and I would neuter a male again.  I think the risk of prostate problems is to great.

[cadillactaste]

Gummi got neutered slightly early at 5 months because neither of his testicles descended. 
The Vet felt it would be better to go in while she knew roughly where to find them in the abdomen before something bad happened.

From the research I did on early neutering it does not stunt their growth.  A few places say the opposite is true and there is an increase in size because the closing of the end caps on their bones are delayed.

We had a show breeder tell us to wait...Actually two breeders one was a show breeder the other just a breeder whom didn't show but had dogs that were champions...I think it's a toss up...But Genetics is the great founder of what a dog finally ends up looking like.  But...My husband wanted to wait this time...Since the vet was also for waiting to see what happened. (She has English Bulldog breeders whom go to her. She said one said to wait the other said it didn't matter. So she said it was  a toss up)

I think he still gained the heath benefits.

Yes from what my vet said...Having them neutered by the age of 2yrs. they still benefit from the health issues of prostrate issues. Isn't that a relief! Prostrate issues are a really scary matter. We lived through it with Butchie. And it was a nightmare! Goose shivers just thinking of the horror of it...Comming home to find blood and bowel all over the basement...I thought for certain he was dying. And he almost did. It was touch and go for many days...Before they could operate they had to stablize him. It was really a scary thing...

[Maxmydog]

I'm getting LeRoy neutered tomorrow.  He will 6.5 months old.  He's definately ready... leaving his "marks" all over.   

[hollybeth98]

We got Clyde neutered when he was 6 months old and at the time of his surgery, he weighed 35 lbs.  Now, Clyde is almost 10 months old and he weighs 47 lbs!!!!

There are no visible scars from the surgery and like the other bullies, Clyde did not need an E-Collar since he was not able to reach back there.  The only thing we really had to do with him was restrict his activity for about a week making sure he didn't really jump or have too much vigorous activity.

All in all, Clyde's surgery went well and he has the typical bulldog head, chest and body.   

[brumzoo]

If you do not want a "pancake" or "saggy baggy", you can ask your vet to do a scrotal ablation.

http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/CastrationinDogsCats/

Scrotal ablation (removal) may be discussed by the attending surgeon at the time of consultation. Reasons for scrotal ablation would include the presence of a large, pendulous scrotum at the time of castration or for the treatment of the primary disease (trauma, neoplasia).

[Justine]

Reasons for scrotal ablation would include the presence of a large, pendulous scrotum

ROFL! I'm so sorry but that made me laugh so much!!!!    That was Wembley alright! 

Ok, back to serious mode.....thanks Trish!
LOL