Dog ate chocolate?

 ask a vet

When to neuter my dog.

Species: Dog
Breed: Golden
Age: 6-12 months
Hi,

I have an 8 month old 63 lb male intact golden retriver. When should I neuter him? How will it affect his personality (other than stopping him from humping)? Will he still be as hyper? Will he gain weight?
Will neutering him at this age limit his eventual size?

Thanks,

Jay


Online vet, Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

I usually recommend neutering a dog at about 5-6 months of age.

Usually the only effects on a dog's personality are good ones. For some hyper dogs it will calm them down a little. It usually stops humping behavior (but not always).

Some dogs will gain weight after neutering. We usually recommend feeding fewer calories after a dog is neutered.

It is debatable whether neutering will affect a dog's final size. If a dog is allowed to have testosterone in his system for a while then he will have a more muscular build. But personally, I don't believe that neutering will affect the size of his frame.

Dr. Marie.

Related question: My dog eats too fast


---This question was asked in our Ask A Vet For Free section.---


Do you have a pet website? Interested in learning more about SEO for Wix?

Check out our dog age calculator and cat age calculator.

Want to receive pet coupons, vet advice and info on new pet products in your inbox?

* indicates required

We'll only send you great stuff, never spam. Unsubscribe any time.

Disclaimer: Although Dr. Marie is a qualified veterinarian, the information found on this site is not meant to replace the advice of your own veterinarian. AskAVetQuestion.com and Dr. Marie do not accept any responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, death, or disease which may arise from reliance on information contained on this site. Do not use information found on this site for diagnosing or treating your pet. Anything you read here is for information only.

Search for similar questions:

ask a vet

Popular questions...

Fecal incontinence. My 11-year-old Pug was diagnosed with a luxating patella at 8 years of age. He was... (8455 views)

Did raw food cause death? Hi, Dr. Marie, My sweet Shiva, who has been with me since an 8-wk old pup in 2002,... (7487 views)

Black spots on belly and chest. Hello, About a month ago we noticed these black spots on Xander's belly. There were... (219906 views)

Is my dog overweight? Can you please tell me what weight Lady should be? She is now 24kg, is this a good... (7255 views)

Dog drinking less water. Over the past week, my dog has been drinking less water than usual. She usually... (15028 views)

Bruising after blood collection. I took my dog to get some shots earlier today and to get some tests done. They drew... (26126 views)

Rat with red tears and increased thirst. I have a pet rat, almost 1. Shes been healthy her whole life, just had this weird... (9665 views)

Painful defecation. Hello again Dr. Marie I had contacted you just awhile ago about my cat Linus and... (5152 views)

Brown spots on puppy's belly. Hi Doctor. I've noticed an area along my puppies belly down to her private area... (44728 views)

Cat straining and in pain. Last night, my cat began meowing as if she was about to vomit but was acting as if... (26413 views)

See all questions...

Dr. MarieDr. Marie is a veterinarian who practices in a busy animal hospital in Ottawa, Ontario. She created Ask A Vet Question as a resource for good, accurate veterinary advice online. Dr. Marie treats dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rats. She has been a vet since 1999.

Is an online vet visit just as good as a trip to your veterinarian? No! But, many times, asking an online veterinarian a question can help save you money. While Dr. Marie can't officially diagnose your pet or prescribe medications, she can often advise you on whether a vet visit is necessary. You can also ask Dr. Marie for a second opinion on your pet's condition.