Wish to know signs your dog needs to be neutered? You’ve come to the right place! A happy dog is a healthy dog, and it’s your responsibility to keep them away from all kinds of trouble. Whether it’s someone mistreating them or checking their health and well-being from time to time – it’s your duty!
If you have a male dog, their biggest issue is sexual urges. As soon as they start getting mature, the testosterone level rises significantly. This is when they feel the urge to start humping and get into a sexual act with a female dog.
While some pet parents try to fulfil this desire by letting their dog mate with a female dog, others feel that it’s best to neuter their male dog. Your mind is thinking – Should I neuter my male dog?
Hold that thought! It may sound brutal as of now because of the existing myths about neutering dogs but people are now finding out the perks of neutering their dog. So, while you are here, allow us to share the signs that your dog needs to be neutered.
We will also share some important info with you in this in-depth article.
Dive right in, dog lovers!
What’s Neutering?
Neutering is also called castration. It’s a term used when a surgical procedure takes place to remove both the testicles of the dog. This procedure takes place to make the dog infertile. They will not have the ability to reproduce. To put it in simple words, when the testicles are removed, the dog’s sexual urges will go down and humping won’t lead to reproduction. In fact, the humping may stop at some point.
Are you trying to find reasons not to neuter your dog? That’s also an option, but there are some repercussions of the same that you and your dog might have to face.
Some pet parents find this procedure helpful because of several reasons. They also have a few questions in their mind. For example, a pet parent would usually ask about the signs their dogs need to be neutered. They also want to know the advantages of the same.
As you move forward, we will tell you about the benefits and the signs.
Why Should You Neuter Your Dog, anyway?
Your male dog is normal if he humps everything he sees or gets extra excited around a female dog, especially when she is in her heat period.
It’s a biological need for your dog, but it can be taken care of by neutering your dog.
Increased level of testosterone makes your dog a little aggressive because they try to fulfil their urges, but some pet parents do not find it pleasant.
This is when they take the route of neutering because that’s how they calm the dog down.
Neutering a male dog has several benefits. For example, your dog will be a lot calmer when they don’t have sexual urges. Leash-pulling and fighting with other dogs may go down a bit.
But it’s not only about letting go of the sexual urges. Here are some more benefits of neutering a male dog:
- It reduces the overall risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia which is enlarged prostate.
- It reduces the risk of getting a hormone-related disease such as benign tumour.
- This may eliminate the overall risk of the dog getting testicular cancer. It’s fairly common in dogs (especially unneutered ones).
- Removes any sexual urges
- Roaming and escaping behaviour goes down.
- Might reduce separation anxiety.
Here’s a repeat question we get from our readers and many pet parents – Will neutering change my dog? It is followed by another question – Does neutering a dog help with dominance?
If your dog is highly active and likes to prance around, there will be little to no change in their behaviour. Dog’s temperament may remain the same if they have been like that since they were a puppy.
The same goes for female dogs. In such cases, even if you get the dog neutered, you might witness some calmness in their behavior, but they would still be the same in many ways.
Revealing the 6 Visible Signs Your Dog Needs to Be Neutered
Let’s shed on the signs your dog needs to be neutered!
1. He Has a Strong Urge to Mate
That’s right! Your dog is feeling a sudden urge to mate with any female dog. He has been wandering around and attacking female dogs. You might have seen him getting restless around other female dogs, especially the ones in heat.
This could lead to a litter of unwanted puppies. It may seem easy to give out the puppies, but there are many abandonment cases these days.
Note: Please remember that humping could be a sign of showcasing dominance, or your dog might be bored. Speak to the veterinarian about this behaviour.
2. He’s Getting Aggressive
Your dog is getting super aggressive simply because he is not getting any action in life. You need to let them go and mate with a female dog or get them neutered. The first option is irresponsible, considering it’s difficult to take care of a litter of puppies.
Aggressive behaviour means they could start biting, growling, and snapping. They get really bitchy when they can’t indulge in sexual activities.
3. He’s Showcasing Dominance
An intact male dog will showcase dominance at all times. If he is mounting animals and every object in the house, it shows they need to be neutered. Neutering could stop them from indulging in such behaviour.
4. Feeling Restless Every time
If the dog is getting restless to go out and is pulling your leash to go meet a female dog, it means that they are wanting to satisfy their sexual urges.
It could also mean that they just want to go out of the house for a walk or freshen up, but neutering could help them calm down a bit.
5. Signs Indicating Health Concerns
Besides behavioural problems, there are other issues like their health declining slowly.
It’s tough to spot health-related signs because when a dog is not able to release their sexual energy, the symptoms of a health concern start showing at a later stage. It gets too late by the time you realise your dog has some health issue. It could be testicular cancer, prostatic disease, scrotum rashes, and so on. Get a regular check-up done (even the private parts of your male dog) so that you know everything is fine with them.
6. Urine Marking
Do you smell something funny? It could be your dog’s pee! Male dogs tend to mark their territory when they have an urge to mate with a female dog.
You might think it’s a funny sign, but it means the following – I’ve peed here, so it’s mine now. If a female dog has peed at a spot, your male dog might pee at the same spot. It means, ‘she’s mine!’
The territorial behaviour is common in intact male dogs. So, the only way to reduce or eliminate such a behaviour is through neutering.
Dog owners get upset when this happens. Urine smells bad and the longer you let it stay, it smells worse. That’s precisely why dog owners want to get rid of this urine marking problem.
If you see any of these signs, it means your dog requires neutering. But do check with the doctor if there are any other concerns due to which they have become aggressive or stubborn.
Some male dogs have this nature of being stubborn and aggressive since childhood. Will neutering help them calm down? That’s a good topic to debate on, but there have been positive experiences after neutering.
The Consequences of Not Neutering Your Male Dog
Neutering and spaying have become a common phenomenon these days. If you are still thinking about neutering your dog, you must know that keeping them intact gives rise to testosterone levels.
Many of you might be wondering – does neutering a dog calm them down?
This one is a tricky question considering not one size fits all. There will be dogs who will get calmer, but others are naturally jumpy and hyper.
An intact dog will certainly be more excited – blame it on the increased testosterone level.
Aggression will take over and pets will start fighting with other male dogs. While some pet parents are tolerant of aggressiveness, there are others who must face consequences of serious bites. In some cases, pet parents might choose the route of euthanasia which is putting your dog down. Others abandon their male dog, especially when he gets aggressive and starts biting other male dogs.
Another problem is that your male dog will find ways to escape from your home. They might run away and not be back till they find a way to hump.
The biggest problem with intact male dogs is that they get highly territorial as well. They will start spraying on every object they see.
Besides this, intact dogs will also try to find ways to mate. Their sexual energy rises at a level that they smell a female, especially when she is in heat. Male dogs may get frustrated, restless, and super stressed when they have sexual urges. What if they escape or run away from your home? There is always a chance of getting dog-napped or an accident such as a car hitting a lost dog.
You also find cases where dogs get stolen and are used for mating/breeding purposes. If you find any of the signs mentioned above, it’s time to neuter your dog. Not neutering your dog could lead to dire consequences.
Nobody would want that considering dogs are man’s best friend!
You must think about your dog’s wellbeing. Sexual urges can disturb a male dog, so you ought to think about neutering them. Neutering dog after 1 year is the best option. Do not wait for too long, but don’t get them neutered while they are a puppy.
Is it Brutal to Neuter Your Dog?
Not really! There are hundreds and thousands of dogs getting neutered every day. It’s a common thought that neutering dogs is a brutal act because you are taking away their sexual urges. But neutering your dog will help them calm down. Most importantly, the chance of getting testicular cancer reduces too.
Are you aware that street dogs around the world are being neutered? It’s necessary because they will mate and there will be too many abandoned street puppies on the road. There will be no control on the dog population if male dogs are not neutered.
As for pet parents, their only concern is humping behaviour and aggressiveness. You will see a big change in their behaviour once they get neutered. Once the dog reaches the surgical zone, the doctor shaves the area where the surgery would take place.
During the process, the dog doctor will remove the testicles of the dog. This may seem like a painful procedure, but it is performed after tranquillisation of your dog. Also, there will be a healing period too.
Don’t worry about the whole process because doctors ensure your dog goes back in a healthy state without any bleeding. They close the incisions and ensure that proper medication is given. Pets are monitored closely after the procedure and doctors stay in touch with you throughout.
Pain is managed through anaesthesia and other medications. Briefly, it’s a safe procedure if it’s performed by a skilled animal doctor. Also, neutering has numerous benefits if it is done at the correct age.
Speaking of correct age – you might want to know about the best age to neuter them! As you keep going forward, we will answer the remaining queries.
Are There Any Benefits of Waiting to Neuter Your Dog?
Although a few doctors suggest that the best age to neuter a male dog is 5 to 6 months of age, there are some risks involved with getting it done at an early age.
As per studies, neutering at an early age can cause cardiac tumours, prostate cancer, bone cancer, ACL ruptures, hypothyroidism, urinary incontinence, hip dysplasia, abnormal bone development and growth, noise phobia, aggression, and even fearfulness.
Your puppy’s body is not ready for the procedure, so wait it out as there is no hurry. In the meantime, keep a close eye on your dog so that they don’t run away or fight with other male dogs.
The benefits of waiting to neuter your dog are plenty, but you need to get it done when they are mature and hit puberty. Think about their overall well-being and wait till you get it done. A knowledgeable veterinarian will ask you to wait till the dog hits puberty. Disrupting a natural process should not be in haste.
Depriving your dog of the sex hormones at an early age can cause issues in their maturing process. Wait it out and find a good veterinarian for your male dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do You Know When a Dog Needs to be Neutered?
It’s time to neuter your male dog when they start showcasing dominance, aggressive behaviour, or start humping and urine marking. These are signs that the dog needs to be neutered.
2. At What Age Should a Male Dog Be Neutered?
Some veterinarians suggest male dogs be neutered at the age of 5-6 months. However, early neutering can cause health problems. It is best to wait till they hit puberty.
3. Are Male Dogs Calmer After Being Neutered?
About 49 out of 80 dogs showcased calmer behaviour after getting neutered, so there is a high chance your dog’s behaviour will change and they will become a lot calmer and well-behaved.
4. How Do Dogs Act When They Are Not Neutered?
When a male dog is not neutered, they showcase aggressive behaviour. The sexual urges may cause them to urine mark every space and try and hump every female dog that passes by. They become irritable and might try to escape from your home. This is due to the urge to mate with a female dog.
5. What Happens If You Don’t Neuter Your Dog?
The testosterone levels will keep rising in the dog in case you don’t neuter them. This will lead to aggressive behaviour, and they might try to run away from your house to get some male-female action. They might start fighting with other male dogs and the aggressive nature will take over.
Concluding Thoughts
It all boils down to one final question – Should I neuter my male dog? Neutering a dog is a wise option! However, you must be careful about the right timing. A small puppy getting castrated may cause hindrance in their maturing period.
Speak to a skilled veterinarian because they know when the right time is to get your dog neutered. As per our experience and knowledge, we know that a dog should hit puberty and then get neutered.
You must look out for the signs your dog needs to be neutered and then make a final decision.
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