To neuter or not to neuter?

[Heidi & Milton]

Hello All!

I have been holding out on neutering Milton because I find it to be extremely unnatural; however, since Milt just turned seven-months-old, we were give the daycare ultimatum, so it is neuter him now, or he cannot return.  Milton absolutely loves daycare (three days per week), but I feel like as his mom I am hurting him by allowing this surgery to happen.  Neutering Milton honestly reminds me of a human lobotomy, and I can't bear the thought.  Quite honestly, since I made the neuter appointment this morning, I have been very teary-eyed about the whole event.  If we lived out in the country, I would never think to do this, but as a city dog, it is very easy to be banned from many things, simply because you have not been snipped.  Have any of you ever dealt with similar feelings of guilt and regret?

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Here is a photo of Ringo with his "step sister" Tori. Tori is one of her 3 rescued Australian Sheppards, unfortunately Tori was recently diagnosed with stomach cancer, of course she is heart broken.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Such a sweet picture.  They look like good, good friends.  I am so sorry to hear about Tori's stomach cancer...it just sucks.... I hope you don't mind my expression.  My sister and BIL are completely devastated themselves about losing Buster Brown as they have no children of their own.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

No, don't mind at all. She is a beautiful and sweet girl, her mom rescued her when she was just 1 and now she is 9....you can imagine the bond.

In this picture they are both waiting for the frisbee to come down - ha ha

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

Lisa, I was at the dog park today and felt a nudge on the back of my leg.  Would you believe it was a beautiful Australian Sheppard I'd never met before nudging me with his frisbee trying to get me to throw it!  He was the sweetest most beautiful dog and I was just amazed that he would go up to a stranger to play:^)

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Oh yes, I can believe it, Tori and Trixie her sister, are all about the Frisbee.
Tori has one blue eye and one eye that is half blue and half brown...just beautiful.

Thanks for sharing that Colleen, though she is not my dog I am very fond of her even  I have not seen her in 4 years, since they moved to Kansas. She has had a wonderful life....listen to me go on and on about her. ha ha. Her Mom told me she is at the point where she does not want to eat so they put Whipped Cream from a can on her kibble and she ate it all gone - ha ha

[Bonnie and Kona]

Well-stated, Lisa. This, as are many discussions, can be emotional. We each are susceptible to assuming someone is critical when they are disagreeing with our point of view. I hope that in expressing opinions we will always try to take the high road of agreeing to disagree. And I completely agree with your description of Karen and want to add that she is one of the most knowledgeable and helpful (The Food Group and anyone dealing with allergic dogs or immune-compromised dogs) people on DK.

Heidi, I relish every blog you write with the adorable photos of Milton; it is a joy to see the love you have for him. All of these comments are based on the perspectives of dog lovers... yours and the others. You just touched a topic that sparked lots of emotion and reaction. I don't think people meant to have you take their comments as a personal attack. In fact, there is a whole separate discussion going on about early spay and neuter. See? People are just full of opinions and this is a great place to express them. We love you and Milt.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I'm glad Buster Brown survived and your BIL saw the light. I have a neighbor who has a gorgeous intact Chocolate Lab who occasionally becomes missing. The neighbor lives in the country with an unknown number ofadoes not believe in neutering.

[Janice Hammond]

Neutering is responsible and also prevents many problems such as tortion of the testicles and malignancies.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Heidi, Milton will be just fine, no worries about him missing anything. If he were to stay intact, it would be a torture for him to feel the need to mate and not be able to do that. Monty got neutured at 5 months and there were no problems (other than the disolvable sutures did not disolve, but that would not be Monty if something would go without bumps). Auggie already came neutered. They were from the same breeder, but I guess she had a bad experience with other people not adhering to the spay/neuter contract so she does early spay/neuter for all the puppies. I don't blame her. I actually liked the fact that Auggie came already neutered. I did not have to pay for the procedure, but most importantly, I did not have to leave him at the vet overnight and spend the night thinking and worrying about the puppy, just like I did with Monty.

I come from a country where many people woul find spaying and neuturing "unnatural". Many of these people would also end up with a litter of puppies one day, mostly unwanted. There is no reason to randomly bring more puppies to this world only for them to end up at a shelter (if that).

[Heidi & Milton]

Karen, thank you for all the valuable information you have provided me with.  You were right on a number of points:

1.  The subject of my post did lead one to believe that we were questioning whether or not to neuter the Milt.  Perhaps I should have labeled it, "Mixed Feelings."

2.  The lobotomy comparison was strong, and although it was not meant to be a criticism, I can see how it can be taken as one.

Although, I did feel chastised by your posts, I do not think you meant it that way.  I apologize if I offended you in any way.  Things can be easily misconstrued in written word rather than spoken.  I do respect the choice of spaying or neutering a pet, but I still do struggle with the thought of it, although our dog will be neutered come Monday.  No hard feelings, and I appreciate all of the advice.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thank you, Heidi. This was a very gracious response and I appreciate it more than I can say. I didn't mean to come off as chastising you, and I'm so glad you know that. Absolutely no hard feelings at all.

Hugs to you and to Milton, he will be just fine.

[Heidi & Milton]

Thank you, Karen!  This discussion kept me pretty heated all day long...!  Ahhh, Doodle Kisses, how I love you!