Dogs' size is mostly determined by their genetics, not their hormones. Neutering does dramatically reduce the amount of testosterone in a male pup's system, which may give him a bit less muscle mass in the long run, but won't affect his height or the size of his frame. Actually, studies have shown that dogs spayed or neutered early (at 16 weeks or younger) tend to be slighter larger than those altered later in life. So no, you won't change your dog's growth by neutering him as a puppy. Plus there are a lot of advantages to neutering your pup.

Spaying Older Pets

Question Is there a problem with spaying a dog that's several years old?

Answer While spaying or neutering pets before they reach adulthood is best for them, you can certainly have them spayed as adults. They'll still experience the benefits of being altered, including lower chances of reproductive tract diseases, less behavioral problems and no unwanted puppies and kittens.

As with any surgery, your dog should have some basic blood work performed beforehand to rule out any conditions that could make anesthesia dangerous. With these tests, the risks associated with routine surgeries like spays and neuters are small, even in older pets.

Is ovary removal necessary?

Question

Please explain why ovary removal is necessary. I want my pet's personality to stay the same after sterilization.

Won't her personality change?

Answer Removal of both ovaries is done for several reasons in dogs and cats. Most owners want cessation of heat periods that attract male dogs and cats, which does not happen if ovaries are left in.

The other major benefit is that if a dog or cat has removal of both ovaries and uterus before the first heat cycle, then we can reduce the incidence of mammary cancer to close to zero. The additional benefit is that we almost never see ovarian cancer with the exception of rare cases in dogs kept for breeding purposes.

At what age should I have my pet spayed or neutered?

Answer

There are many factors to consider in selecting the correct time to spay or neuter your pet. Most veterinarians will suggest doing it shortly after the completion of puppy vaccines, which is around five months of age. In the case of male pets it may be an especially good idea to neuter them at this time before they develop bad habits, such as aggression.

To reduce the overpopulation problem in companion animals, the American Animal Hospital Association supports neutering of cats and dogs as early as eight to 16 weeks of age in animal care and control facilities.

Removing Cat Urine From Carpets

Question How can I remove the smell of cat urine from my carpet?

Answer

Cat urine should be cleaned from a carpet with a special enzyme cleaner that you might have to purchase at a janitorial supply shop if you can't find it elsewhere. Ask your veterinarian. Many keep it on hand for clients to use at home. Because urine usually soaks through to the padding, you might have to consider rolling back the carpet and cutting out and replacing a patch of the padding to do a really good job.

Whenever cats are having unusual toilet habits, it's also important to check for physical problems that may be causing it. Infections, diabetes, and other diseases can change the behavior of a normally litter box trained cat. Check with your veterinarian on these issues so that you don't just clean the carpet and overlook a possible physical problem.