Yes, it's called the Suprelorin implant. Kate @Beanwood has used it with Benson and my Shadow has had a dose, too.
Yes. All shelters in Portugal oblige adopters to neuter dogs or cats one is getting from the shelter, if the shelter has not yet had time to do so themselves. I understand and agree with shelters proceeding as such. One pays the adoption fee too. Many dogs stay in shelters all their lives. Some that are adopted are returned, or abandoned. I never get dogs without papers either. Breeding without registering litters is illegal, but it does still happen. Dogs should be registered and legal. Even for their safety and wellbeing, owners and breeders take responsibility for their animals, hence the paperwork.
I'm new the forum but I wanted to share my experience. We adopted our lab when he was 1y2m old and he was intact. He was bred by a veterinary internal medicine specialist. Despite leaving him intact, he had already developed bilateral elbow dysplasia. He needed arthroscopic surgery at the specialist to repair his fragmented coronoid processes. Most of the studies that show that it is good to wait are of small sample sizes. I believe that many dogs will get orthopedic issues if they are destined to get them (probably genetics) despite when they are castrated. There are more health issues with leaving females intact (mammary cancer, pyometra, etc). I have seen intact males with enlarged prostates, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Unfortunately the prostate doesn't usually become enlarged until later in life when the dogs may not recover from surgery as well as a younger pup.
It is a decision one must take, to spay or not to spay/neuter based on our beliefs and the confusing (as almost always) information we do get out there and then our own personal experience with our dogs. I have found a simple easy to read article whcih gives us both sides to neutering - the good and the bad, I'd like to share with you: http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/health/articles/neutering-male-dog.html
Thanks for sharing that. Without buying the book (which I do not plan to do) it is not possible to see what age neutering is recommended. What age is now considered ideal? With previous Lab it was any time after they start cocking their leg.
Once they've finished growing and their hormones have settled, which normally happens about 18 months to two years.
My intact boy did develop an enlarged prostate with concommitant issues at 8 years old. My Vet was not sure how he would respond to her Holistic/Integrative medicine as all previous dogs she had treated with this problem had been neutered. My boy is still intact, the prostate shrank right back up and has stayed that way for two years now.
My old boy (intact) had an enlarged prostate later in life - he was treated with the suprelorin implant and the problem went away and never came back. Look, this is a very individual decision, that each person should make taking their own situation and their dog into consideration. I just think it's wrong when there is a blanket policy of "all dogs should be neutered / spayed". What's right for one dog and situation may not be right for another!
I so agree @Karen , it is up to each and everyone . Gone are the days ( I hope ) of being dictated to by Vets who may not have all the up to date data at hand , or chose to ignore it ? As long as our decisions are informed ones , that's what matters x
I am so curious what integrative treatment was used! My pug sees a doctor who is well educated in Eastern medicine and practices integrative medicine. She is treating him for pug myelopathy with cold laser and acupuncture and his response has been amazing. That's great! I looked up the product and it doesn't look like we can get it here in the US (edited to add we can get it for use in ferrets for treatment of adrenal disease, but not cats or dogs). When a dog becomes unable to urinate properly due to an enlarged prostate castration is really the only solution I've seen used. I wish we had access to other options like Suprelorin.
