Should an older male dog be neutered?

My dog is 7 ½. He was 2 when I got him. He has a long story, for another day.

I had my reason for not wanting to neuter him ever. I still prefer that it was not recommended yet, my research tells me it is.

According to this research (noted below) more than 60% of unneutered dogs over 5 show evidence of enlargement in the prostate. This is not a good thing; this could be signs of infections or prostate disease, or of testicular tumors.

There are other benefits, experts say, such as becoming less territorial, calmer perhaps was suggested. Yet my dog is fine as he is in this regard.

Another benefit that experts say is that a neutered dog is less likely to run away, as they say he runs away to find a mate. Of course I don’t want my dog to run away. (Also a story for another day.) Yet, can this be a good reason to neuter him? I think not.

I thought there was risk of neutering, and particularly early in a dog’s life, and some experts say there are risks. A study on golden retrievers showed some sign of possible hip dysplasia in neutered dogs. I have also read that working, hunting ,running or agility dogs may also be more at risk of such as well as knee and joint problems if they are neutered, in particularly early in their life.

  I am not a vet, I just love my dog, the way he is and the way he was born to be. It stands to reason; if he is altered in any way there is a risk.

The experts that recommend neutering a male dog go by the basic theory to some degree; if they don’t have it they can’t get cancer in it. I know it may be a crazy, yet, aren’t the statistics then skewed, if male dogs are neutered, as only those with testicles of course can be tested in any sampling. How can you test, when they are neutered, of course you cannot. There is no way of knowing whether those dogs were at risk. As in Canada, more people are in favour of neutering that are not, I am told, the sample is thinned out all the time. Ok, there is some illogical thinking here too..

An alarming statistic though I have read is that over 60% of unneutered dogs over the age of 5 show signs of enlarged prostate (as I mentioned above).

  I admit that for some time I had hoped that my dog, who is an incredible handsome boy, could father a litter, yet this is not to be taken lightly. His looks are only one factor. He is a goof. He is lovable, yet he is likely not the best sire. Now that he is 7 ½ it is certainly not on my mind at all. O I know there are enough dogs without my dog contributing to the overpopulation.

  An older dog is more at risk under any surgical operation, and he may not be able to handle the anesthetic as a younger dog can. My dog, in particular is one who is at risk using any anesthetic, as he is all muscle and bone, no fat on him. He needs to have his teeth cleaned, and unfortunately he has to undergo an anesthetic for that.

Yet, the dog’s blood can be tested to determine some risk factors, and I doubt any good vet would recommend the surgery if the dog showed any signs in the blood of problems.

One study I read however has suggested that there are as many risk factors of neutering a male dog as there are not.

Each situation has to be considered.

Do I want to put my dog at risk of, increased hypothyroidisms, loss of cognitive powers, diabetes? Of course I do not. Yet the studies, and there have been many, cannot come up with the answer for me.

It is in the end a personal decision. If I am now putting my dog at risk of prostate disease, and I can do something about it without harming him, then even though I don’t want to I must agree this would be the right thing to do.

O dear. What will I do?

http://sanctuaryforseniordogs.org/id34.htm

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2013/feb/to-neuter-or-not-to-neuter-29865

http://www.chicagonow.com/training-the-wolf/2013/08/do-not-spay-or-neuter-your-dog-one-size-does-not-fit-all/

http://www.cesarsway.com/askthevet/basicadvice/best-age-to-neuter-or-spay

http://www.2ndchance.info/cruciatelongtermneuter.htm

https://www.google.ca/#q=benefits+and+risk+of+neutering+an+older+dog