[Enzo's Mom]

Enzo is now a little over a year old. He has just now started hiking his leg. He doesn't do it outside where he should... he does it inside on the wall in the same spot everytime.

I was concerned about neutering him because he is so small (weighs 2.5 lbs). Is it too late to do this? Will it make any difference at all? I am just afraid something would happen during the surgery.

Also, isn't there something you can mix at home to spray on the pee spots to help take the smell out. I have heard of a mixture with vinegar, but I can't remember what you mix it with.

Thanks Eveyone!

Elizabeth

 

[Seren]

I dont know about Chi`s but my other dogs who are neutered still lift their leg to pee. Or do you mean are they cleaner in the home once there neutered? My dogs are clean in the house since being neutered.

 

[Enzo's Mom]

I dont know about Chi`s but my other dogs who are neutered still lift their leg to pee. Or do you mean are they cleaner in the home once there neutered? My dogs are clean in the house since being neutered.

I just want him to stop marking my wall. I know its a territorial thing for him. Will nuetering help this? I don't mind that he hikes his leg.

Also, does anyone has suggestions for questions to my vet if I decide to nueter him. I've heard that you should only use one type of anethesia. etc.?

 

[Seren]

I cant answer ur question on neutering Chi`s as i dont have my pup yet. But going on experience i know that if you dont completely remove all trace/scent of pee,then the dog will continue to pee in the same place. You can buy specialist cleaning products from pet shops to clean with. Hope this is of some help.

 

[Stewart's Mom]

It was my understanding, and I could be wrong, that if you got them neutered at a very young age they would not hike their leg. I had my Jack Russell neutered at 6 months and he is almost 2 years old and he has never hiked his leg. He was still hard to potty train, but at least he wasn't marking territory.

I had Stewart neutered at 4.5 months and he has never attempted to hike his leg either.

 

[Seren]

My chinese crested and Llhasa apso both neutered at 6 months and lift there legs, but clean in the house.

 

[foxywench]

he is small, but its definatly not too late to get him neutered. you could always talk to your vet and see how comofrtable he is neutering a tiny tike such as yours, if he isnt comfortable he might be able to suggest a vet that is.
liekly hood is, even neutering him now, hell still lift his leg to pee, which you said you dont mind. however getting him neutered WILL stop the territorial in house marking.
hope this helps.

 

[NoahFL]

Zeus was neutered at 6 months and doesn't hike his leg. I think once you get him neutered, the tendency to mark *may* go away, but because that instinct has already kicked in, he may continue to do it. I'm just basing this off a past dog that I had. He got neutered later and still marked after being neutered. As far as the vinegar. I've used 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water in the past with my other dog. If that doesn't work, you might want to try Nature's Miracle.

As far as neutering him since he's only 2.5#, the surgery itself is much easier then spaying a female and I think it's primarily females that vets are concerned with when they weigh very little. I'm sure Nate can offer better advice on this.

Good luck!

 

[Seren]

Yes i think its once they start to lift their leg they can carry on doing so once there neutered but hard to tell. As for neutering i would take him to a vet that knows about small breeds. Thats what i intend to do

 

[Seren]

Nate could you please give advice on the risks of neutering a female chi and is it true they have to have a season first before they can be neutered? I intend to get my little girl neutered but would like to know the possible risks beforehand! :?

 

[Vala]

:wink: My sister's poodle used to do this..he's not neutered and never will be...it was getting quite annoying and stinky so they decided to make him stop..she started controlling him more, clean with a steam cleaner and all...watched him like a hawk...and punished him when he did it..nothing bad tho..eventually with a bit of time he learned...there is another way I remember reading that if you put a coke bottle in the middle of the pee pad he will treat that like a hydrant or something...try to block off that area of the wall he pees on..he'll get the idea, it just takes time. :wave: Good luck!

 

[Seren]

Time and patience Do you think girls are generally cleaner?

 

[chimom]

I know all dogs react differently, but the marking issue is the main reason why I got a female again. Several years ago, I had a male Pom. He was neutered at 6 mos, and never had a problem with marking. Until - I had surgery and was off work and home with him for six weeks. Then when I went back to work, he began marking in the house. His favorite spot was on the bottom of the refrigerator and he did it so much and so often, the bottom part of the fridge door and all around the bottom rusted. It took a while to realize what he was doing, as almost all the pee would go under the fridge. My vet said he was probably upset because I was no longer home with him all day. He continued to mark walls until he died. I could never completely break him of the habit again.

 

[Seren]

I really wanted a little girl this time as my others have been male. Its good to know she wont mark but im worried about getting her spayed and i havent even got her yet ! :lol:

 

[sjc]

I would definitely have him neutered. He will probably still lift his leg though. You can also use the Belly bands on the little males. It keeps them from marking in the house. Also, I would highly recommend getiing some "natures Miracle". It is excellent at removing odors.

 

[Seren]

Thx for that tip...ill put that on my shopping list

 

[Enzo's Mom]

Thanks everyone. This is the first male dog I have had, so alot of his behavior is new to me. I think that I will get him nuetered but I will probably drive my vet nuts with questions

Elizabeth

 

[ilovesadie]

Enzo's Mom, echoing what people have said: he probably won't stop lifting his leg, but his marking behavior will markedly (no pun intended) reduce. The instinct to mark is related to testosterone and psychological behavior, and well, when you have no balls, your testosterone level drops to zilch. Although there may be an occasional accident or something that triggers him to do it, you'll see good results in reducing the marking. In regards to eliminating the scent so they won't continually pee, the product I've used is Nature's Miracle. Other people use a different one but I can't remember. Before the neuter, things you can do to encourage your chi to not pee on the walls:

1. Catch him in the act: works every time
2. Place a "post" in the middle of a wee-wee pad, and let him have a go at it, at least it's not your walls.
3. If your weepads are near the walls (like in a corner) and these walls are the ones your chi pees on, relocate the pad, or pull it a foot from the wall.

Seren: spaying before the first heat ensures that they have the least risk of developing reproductive cancer in the future. This has to do with the release of the hormones like estrogen that cause changes and have effects on metabolism, and development of reproductive cells that are the site of cancerous growth.

Before 1st heat: 99.99% reduction of risk
After 1st heat: 80%
After 2nd heat: 60%
After 3rd heat and beyond: negligable

I'm not sure how the stigma of spaying after first heat ever came around, I presume it either had to do with maturity of external physiology like making sure the vulva was not retracted (only happens in a small fraction of dogs). If your dog is ready to be spayed before the first heat: DO IT before they go into heat.

Hope that helps! I've mentioned it before, so if you need a more detailed explanation, I think you can find it in a past post of mine.

-Nate

 

[luv4mygirls]

that stuff called nature's miracle worked for me once my dog's peed i'd use that to clean it and they never returned to that area again......