Natalya Zahn Webboard User Reg: 12-22-2006
Posts: 1824
Loc: Cambridge, MA
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Quote: kristel smart
We had an older male with recurring enlargement of the prostate. At the advice of the repro vet, we had him neutered and for him it solved the problem.
It hasn't changed his personality at all.
I know many, many dogs in which this is the case (no noticeable temperament changes after neutering), so I honestly always hesitate before talking about my experience with Oscar, but I truly believe his "personality" changed a fair amount after his neuter. Much of it may be in relation to drives (which definitely diminished), and yes, aging can certainly be a factor - there are enough variables that it's tough to think definitively about causes - I just know I noticed a big change directly after the surgery, most notably in his interest in activity and his stamina. Maybe I'm excessively sensitive, or completely crazy ... It's a complicated issue, for sure.
Leih, great sidetrack! On one hand, it makes perfect sense - the drives need a point of "activation" in order to turn on - but humans have such a poor sense of smell, by comparison to most animals, we don't often consider how paramount it is for the everyday function of so many other organisms...
With the rescue coonhound neutered at 9 yrs. I think there was a behavior change due to the surgery. He had been living with a foster family in town, but had been routinely escaping their chain link fence. Perhaps their were dogs in heat in the neighborhood (or coons!), whatever it was he was in a potentially forever home with loving people but didn't seem to want to ever settle down --- that's why I had him for a short while.
I thought the surgery was a bad idea, but it ended up being ok for him. Perhaps he just got a better owner-- a less scent-enticing neighborhood, hard to know.
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Re: Neutering an older dog
... It's a complicated issue, for sure.
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