6 months

[jazzy]

jasper is six months today and we keep getting people telling us he should be castrated at six months, any views on this welcomed. is this too soon?
Also, what should the feediing schedule for a six month old be? he is currently on beta puppy, 3x a day but someone has told us the protein level should be less after six months to prevent hyperactivity, and jasper is very hyper?never know what to do for the best

[phillyknickers]

I'll be watching this thread too as Harry is 18 weeks now and I was wondering the same thing too.......Hope that somebody will be along who can give you some advice soon 

[Millomite]

Why do you want to castrate him?

[Rhona W]

At around 6 months old, puppies usually change to 2 meals a day. But they don't have less food, they just have the same amount divided into two instead of three.
Can't comment on the protein levels though I'm afraid as I'm not sure hen you switch to adult food. I would have thought at around a year old as your puppy is still growing at 6 months. 

There are lots of different opinions on castration. Some people say from 6 months onwards. Others recommend waiting until the dog is about a year old and fully mature before having it done. Or you could not have him castrated at all.  There is a thread in the questions section that lists theadvantages and disadvantages of castrating your dog. Perhaps that might help you to decide.
Although with saying that, I still haven't decided and my boys are nearly a year old. So for no they are both entire. 

[Jane S]

HERE's the FAQ page about Neutering as mentioned above by Rhona. Also if you do a search, you'll find plenty of threads on the same subject which may help you make up your mind.

[LurcherGirl]

Re food: personally, I would put a puppy on adult food at around 4 to 5 months old. Protein contents in puppy food is generally sky high and can contribute to hyperactivity.

Vera

[lolajays]

Just to say I love your avatar phillyknickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JaspersMum]

Louie is 6 months today and went for his 6 month check up on Saturday.  The vets checked and everything is where it should be but recommended about another month before castrating, ie around 7 months.

The vets started asking about whether we intended to castrate when he went the first time at 8 weeks and nearly every appointment since - as it happens we have no intention to breed as Lou is not breed standard and as we have two boys (Jaspers already done) we will go ahead with the op to hopefully prevent any problems with dominance between them.

Have to say do feel a little pressurised by the vets though.

Re food, I've noticed Lous less bothered about lunch feeds & often leaving it so going to bring tea a little earlier and move away from 3 feeds from now.  Thinking about a more towards BARF option too.

[ali]

we have just had barkley neutered at 12 months old and it still feels too early but unfortunately the decision was rather made for us by other circumstances.  i had intended to wait until he was fully mature and at least 18 months old.

all i can say is that i feel, for barkley, 6 months would have been way too early. he has grown so much in character and build in the past 6 months, and his behaviour has never been a problem. i would leave it for as long as you can. luckily, our vet was very much of the 'if it aint broke, don't fix it' motto which helped a lot- particularly as it made us take his advice very seriously when he finally recommended that it really was best for barkley to do it now.

two weeks on, barkley is back to his old self, just minus a certain part of anatomy  , and i am realising and accepting that i will simply grow to love the dog that he becomes as a result, as i will never know how he would have been otherwise. it's a bit sad but ultimately i think it was the right decision for him.

edited to add to jaspersmum that it really is awful that your vets are pressurising you to have louie castrated. i think i'd be looking for another surgery if at all possible, and definitely don't agree unless you feel it is right for him.

[phillyknickers]

Just to say I love your avatar phillyknickers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Lolajays,  I just love their noses  !

[JaspersMum]

edited to add to jaspersmum that it really is awful that your vets are pressurising you to have louie castrated. i think i'd be looking for another surgery if at all possible, and definitely don't agree unless you feel it is right for him.

I have to say in their defence, I think that it's just one of the questions on their "checklist" initially, it just seems that everytime you go they ask you again.  To some extent I could understand if it were a bitch where there could be an increased chance of indiscriminate or accidental breeding.  (Not that it would still be right to force the question).

It doesn't trouble me particularly as we'd decided to have Louie castrated anyway as we chose to have two boys and want to avoid any rows, and, since Louie is quite feisty, that re-affirmed that decision.

Where there have been other issues such as Jaspers lump and whether to remove or not, felt that was our decision based on their information so generally not pressured by them just for financial gain.  Also some of the senior partners have been very helpful previously and as a practise, whilst not cheapest about, I am satisfied that they know their stuff.  Often, as has been said of other practises, it's the fresh out of college vets that can be a little over eager.

I hope as time goes on, I will get to know which is the best vet to ask for where it comes to dogs as I did when it was horses with problems before!

[Tasha]

I don't neuter my dogs unless there is a health risk or if they have health problems that I don't want passed on but I do wait until they are 3 years if I do through personal choice.  This is the age that one they have matured and two they have settled and are how I would expect them to be as a fully fledged adult.

Vets have a duty to try and reduce the number of puppies being born and lots recommend 6 months neutering.