Neutering Your Golden Retriever - Health Benefits

You are advise to neuter your male Golden Retriever unless you are considering mating him in the future. The surgery to neuter your animal, however, is a serious one and can carry major risks, as well as benefits. You need to weigh out this decision to make sure it is the right decision for your animal.

Neutering is when you remove the testicles from the male dog. This is done for a number of reasons and has a number of consequences.

When you remove the male dog’s testicles, he will not be able to make sperm. This will make a successful mating series impossible. In addition, the male will also have less testosterone and other hormones that dictate the way a male dog reacts in certain situations. The dog will not get aroused any longer and they will not feel the need to copulate with the female.

When a female Golden Retriever, or any female dog, is in heat, they produce a pheromone. This is a biological scent that males can sense from a very far distance and lets them know that the female is ready to mate. If the male dog knows that there is a ovulating female in its vicinity, it will pace the area and even forego its food and water for an extended period of time until it is with the female.

When you neuter the male dog, you alter their hormone levels, which eliminates all of this behavior. The males will still show interest if the female is in heat, but they will act far more subdued than the typically would. They might lick their ears, but they will not try to mount them.

When you neuter your male dog, it also eliminates the possibility of cancer and other testicular problems. The age that the male is neutered can also have a big impact on the animal.

If the male dog is neutered when they are very young, they may never acquire some of the typical behavior that a fully developed male will exhibit. They will be less assertive and less aggressive. On the other hand, if you neuter a dog when they are older, their hormone levels can take much longer to decrease.

Male dogs that are not yet neutered will often mark their territory. They will urinate on lampposts, trees and even other dogs’ areas. They will be more aggressive to strangers and to other dogs, especially other competing males. They will engage in fake mating behavior, mounting pillows, stuffed animals and similar objects. If the dog is neutered when they are fully developed, they can suffer from some depression and these activities may not stop.

If an unneutered male dog sees a female in heat, you might have some problems on your hands. Typically, the male dog will become very agitated and start whining. They might also try to assert dominance, which in a big dog can be a problem. They will also strive for alpha dog status, which can make your training more difficult to assert.

You should be careful when doing any surgery on your pet, including neutering as there will be discomfort afterwards and a health change. The decision is also irreversible, so weigh your options carefully before taking him in.

         

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