Getting the snip - any advice?

[Theresa & Duncan]

Good evening fello Doodle families. I write because my fur baby is getting neutered on Friday. It's been years since I've gone through this, so I guess I am looking for words of comfort that say this is the right thing to do, and pearls of wisdom on what to expect :).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's absolutely the right thing to do. All pets should be spayed and neutered without exception.

Neuter surgery is much easier on a dog than spaying. Expect him to be a little sore, a little disoriented, and a little sleepy the first day or two. After that, you may not notice much change in him at all. You'll have to restrict his activity for a few days, and you may need an Egyptian collar (known here on DK as the Cone of Shame, lol)  to keep him from getting at his stitches, although many people have used T-shirts, boxer shorts, and other garments instead of the cone, and some dogs don't need anything.

Jackdoodle was neutered by the shelter at 14 months of age. I adopted him 4 days later and you would never have known he had anything done.

Good luck, and don't worry, your baby will be fine.

[Christine & Camus]

Ditto on everything that Karen said.  And, When I adopted Camus he had just been spayed - no problems, he did not even need a cone.  No worries.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Neutering is right not only for avoiding breeding unwanted puppies but from behavioral points of view, particularly for males. It also eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and reduces prostate problems.

[Camilla and Darwin]

It's definitely the right thing! Darwin did really well during his surgery. He was a tad groggy for a day, then recovered very quickly. Don't worry about it it will be fine!

[Sue and Buddy]

It's the right thing. Neutering was part of our contract with the breeder.  Buddy was neutered in early July and did great. He had a laser used on him. I have never had a dog that had laser surgery before. There was no swelling, no redness, and no drainage. He did wear the Elizabethan collar the first day and night. I had fitted it on him before the surgery.  On the second day I put a t-shirt on him. His hind legs went through the arm holes. The tail through the neck. It was a big shirt so I cut ties along the edge to make ties and used them to cinch it in and around the collar so he couldn't get it off. That worked and he never bothered his incision site. I think keeping them from licking, chewing the incision is the best thing you can do. It can get infected if they mess with it. And they can be so sneaky at getting to it. I was luck that I could stay home with him. Also, the vet OK'ed using the occasional Benadryl to keep him a bit sleepy and calm.

[Joni & Parker]

I hope your little guy survives his surgery.  My GR got snipped and when we brought him home he didn't act like anything was wrong.  

I'm a new doodle owner and have lots of questions.  What age should a doodle be neutered?  I plan on getting Parker neutered but not sure what age.  I was going to speak to my vet for her advice.

[Lynda Kamrath]

It is absolutely the right thing to do.  If you need any verification of that just look at all the dogs (or kittens) at any shelter.  They all need homes and anything you can do to eliviate the problem of pet overpopulation helps.  Besides, neutering or spaying your pets is just a good neighbor policy also.  They do not know they can't reproduce and when a bitch goes into heat in any neighborhood, all the animals react.  Your pup will be fine.  Equate it with having a baby.  The first time you are pregnant, you have all kinds of questions.  You just have to remember that people have been doing this for years.  It is no big thing.  Neutering is easier than spaying, no invasive surgery.

[Theresa & Duncan]

Thanls for the support everyone. Everything went well, though he looked so miserable the first night! We put shorts on him so he wouldn't bother the stitches.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh my, what a pitiful, adorable face! Jackdoodle, president of the Naked Doodle Club, says maybe Duncan looked miserable because he was embarrassed about having to wear shorts, lol!

[Theresa & Duncan]

And Jackdoodle would be 100% right, lol!