I am currently deciding whether to have Yogi neutered or not. I had made my mind up to leave him entire for the time being, but he has started trying to assert himself quite forcefully over my other entire male (who is a real wuss) and also with my hubby's entire male working collies. This has ended in a few scuffles, but with no damage done, and it is quickly over. However, while making up my mind one way or another, I would like to know whether neutering him could potentially change his coat. Does anyone know for certain? Flame had a lovely silky, easy-to-care-for coat, until she was spayed and then it went very thick and dry and matts very easily. Yogi has a lovely, luxurious, silky coat and I really don't want to end up with his coat being like Flame's - so, while not being the final deciding factor, it is a consideration. Any experiences gratefully received.
Lacey kept her silky coat post spay .... I think it seems a bit hit and miss whether the coat is messed or not - wonder if age comes into it - you could try the implant?
I know its a different breed, but Tip's coat has never looked better (well to be fair his coat wasn't good when he first came). But its now soft, thick (in a nice way) and very shiny. Kip's coat wasn't as good, but he was old even when we first got him, so its not really fair to compare.
Tilly is 8 now and was neutered 4 months ago. i have seen a dramatic change in her coat. it used to be long and silky now it's not as long and has a kink (wave) in it but still really soft and the colour has changed a lot. but thats prob due to her age
I had my last GSD neutered at 4 years (he was a standard coat though - don't know how much difference that makes?). He had a beautiful plush coat before, and then ended up with a harsh dry coat that was much more difficult to brush :? I was gutted But the pros of neutering outweighed the cons for me.
Thanks everyone for your replies. It sounds a bit hit and miss from your experiences so far. I also emailed his breeder who said that from their breeding, the males coats have remained the same, whereas the bitches coats have got better when done, mainly due to not moulting so much with seasons. Oh decisions, decisions! Hali - has neutering changed Tip's personality at all? I think I asked this just after he'd been done, but wondered whether it had shown itself by now? I love Yogi's temperament - as you know he is soft, fairly laid back and quite biddable. He has always been a bit of a bully though and I think it is showing itself up more so at the moment, as both hubby's working bitches are coming into season I think I will leave the final decision until after the bitches are out of season and see if he continues to try and assert himself over the other entire males. I do understand though that this could be learned behaviour and neutering may make not a jot of difference!
My friend had her collie neutered a few months ago and the vet told her to brush his coat regularly to avoid any changes. I don't know how true this is but his coat is lovely and silky. Tala was speyed only a month ago so too early to tell. The vet said not to expect any changes in a gsd and her coat seems the same so far but obviously it hasn't had a chance to grow out yet. Tess was speyed very young and her coat was always lovely but much finer than Tala's (and much easier to manage in this wet weather!)
Hey Kirst, Keala's coat didn't change when I got her speyed (she was 4). There is an injection you can get from the vet which acts like he has been neutered, although I have no experience of it so don't know how effective it is
Tilly was spayed at the beginning of November & her coat started coming out by the handful within 2 weeks & the new short coat felt a bit "woolley" at first.But now it's silky on her back. I cut her trousers off (so she now has a bare bum!) & she's still losing her long scruff.
I think your right to wait, at least untill after the bitches finish there season, I would have thought at the age he is, it may not help much with behaviours, I hope things settle for you and you dont have to go down that road with him,.
The males coat is more likely to alter in my experience. Why dont you try the Suprelorin implant? It lasts about 6 months, can be continued or stopped. Its not like Tardak, its an exact chemical castration with no known side effects, except for those that may affect some dogs like with neutering. If the coat changes it will return to normal, if you like the behaviour change, either continue with the implants or go for the permanent option. I dont know of anyone that uses Suprelorin who's dogs coat alters.
Its difficult to say for sure Moobli - his character has changed but I'd think its more likely that he's just getting more confident than it being related to his op. It hasn't actually changed his grumbling towards males though (well entire males, he's fine with neutered males) and in fact really didn't like Kaos when we met up with Shona a few weeks ago. That does sound like a sensible idea.
Going on my last bitch, Cassie, although her coat went really awful for one season after her spey, I have to say, she then grew the most glorious, soft, long, silky fur she had ever had, and a very knowledgeable dog person told me that she would do that, I just had to wait! My current breeder recently told me that after the spey, her dogs coat changed dramatically in length, i.e. grew much longer, so again, I live in hope here!!!! If Zena's butchered coat and bare belly, comes back at all I'll be well happy!!! With dear Flame, I really think it's an age thing Kirsty, coz if you remember my black/gold Tara (the piccy of her in front of that Merc!) her coat was again, long soft and silky, until she reached middle age and she had never been speyed, and yet it changed to the much thicker, curlier coat, so I honestly think it's age that does that, rather than the spey? Same with Cassie in her older years, but of course, she was speyed very young about 2 I think? In all honestly, what's more important to you? To have a happy atmosphere at home or a dog with a luxurious coat? Iknow what I'd rather have! Georgie's lost all street cred now and he really doesn't mind!!!! Good luck with whatever you decide, but there's my twopennorth!
duke is a longhair and it didn't seem to change his coat at all, he was neutured at about 2 years old.
Oops forgot about this thread. Thanks for bringing it back to my attention Kirsty I have definitely decided to wait until the bitches finish their season and see what he is like then. I think age could be a factor with Flame's coat H - good point. Dawn - I will have a chat with the vet about Suprelorin and see what he thinks. Cheers everyone :-D
I finally decided last week that there were more reasons for than against, and so Yogi was neutered last Thursday. He came through the op no problem and is now almost fully recovered. Hopefully his coat will remain unchanged, but time will tell.
Glad to hear everything was fine with the op As you say time will tell about his coat, but in the scale of things it is one of the less important things considerations.
