Ok To Cut Away After 6 Months, 6 Of 8 Doctors Say

My wife gracefully and courageously gave birth to our two daughters.

Then she wanted revenge.

She endured 18 months of morning sickness, waddling, restroom dependency, plus 30-some hours of labor and all the stitches associated with delivery.

How could I argue when she suggested it was my turn to get snipped?

But that wasn’t enough. Now she’s after the dog.

Radar is a 17-week-old Brittany that’s already showing considerable hunting prowess. His record is clean, with no offenses warranting heinous acts.

Meredith wants to neuter him anyway.

“We’re not into show dogs or breeding,” she argued. “I want Radar to be a good family dog as well as a hunting dog.”

Determined to prove I was willing to maturely discuss this issue with an open mind, I said, “Touch that dog’s testicles and you die, woman!”

“A neutered dog is less likely to get away and get hit by a car and we won’t have to worry about him grabbing hold of baby-sitters and doing embarrassing things,” she said, referring to an isolated, but legendary, episode involving our recently deceased wonder dog, Sage, God rest his canine soul.

“You wouldn’t care if Radar turned into a fat, lazy lap dog that has no more ambition than to sit in the yard and look stupid,” I said.

“Intact dogs go crazy when they smell a female dog in heat,” she said.

“The best protection against runaway dogs is a leash, a good fence and obedience training,” I said, adding that running away wasn’t such a bad idea.

I’d take the dog with me.

Regaining some composure, I starting making calls to 10 veterinarians and professionals involved with hunting dogs. Turns out the subject of neutering male dogs inspires spirited debate among professionals, too.

Unanimous agreement prevailed on some issues:

“I’ve never found a connection between a dog’s nose and his testicles,” said Dr. Vern Brock of Manito Veterinary Clinic.

“Neutering has no effect on a dog’s ability to hunt,” said Bill Tarrant, Field & Stream’s gun dog editor.

Wide disagreement derailed certain theories:

“The latest research indicates that neutering a dog at a young age causes the long bones to grow longer, but there’s no effect on muscle development,” said Dr. Veronika Kiklevich of the Washington State University Veterinary School.

“I don’t like to neuter a dog until it’s at least 6 months old, because I think the dog needs the hormones for proper growth and development,” said Dr. Dick Royse of Wichita, Kan., Tarrant’s veterinary mentor for more than 30 years.

“Don’t wait too long,” Kiklevich said. “As soon as a male dog starts marking behavior or wandering, neutering may not correct the problem.”

“Neutering will get rid of or diminish nasty sexual habits that develop at any age,” Royse said. “My Lab was 3 years old when he started peeing on the furniture. Neutering stopped the problem.”

Consensus, at least, was possible on some topics:

“Dog’s don’t get fat because they’re neutered,” said Dr. Fritz Hunter of Hunter Veterinary Clinic. “Dogs get fat if they’re overfed and under-exercised.”

“Neutering only changes behavior that’s sexually specific, such as urine marking, aggressiveness with other male dogs, desire to roam and mounting,” said Dr. James Rowan of South Grand Veterinary Clinic.

“Behaviors we cherish - hunting ability, loyalty of family and defense of the home - are not sexual functions and therefore are not influenced.”

Six of the eight veterinarians recommend waiting until the dog is at least 6 months old to neuter, primarily to avoid anesthesia complications.

All of the professionals recommended neutering hunting dogs by the age of 7 or 8 years to reduce risk of geriatric ailments such as prostate cancer.

Sorry, Radar, but our case is crumbling like Mark Fuhrman’s credibility.

“Once a bird-dog owner breaks down and neuters a male dog,” Hunter said, “he never hesitates to do it to the next pup.”

, DataTimes MEMO: You can contact Rich Landers by voice mail at 459-5577, extension 5508.

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