Will behavior be negatively affected?
Some worry that neutering a male dog will affect his behavior in a negative way, including making him depressed, lose strength and decrease his activity level. There are also owners who have some concerns that a male dog will be disturbed and frustrated if his ability to mate is taken away.
You should know that clinical studies have shown that male dogs do not act out any mating behavior unless they are moved by their own hormones in reaction to a female dog that is in heat. When neutered, it does not trouble a dog that he cannot mate since the urge is gone.
When a male dog is neutered, his focus and his energy can be directed toward other things. A fixed Beagle will still be strong, a good watch dog, and have lots of endurance to exercise.
Will my Beagle gain weight if they are fixed?
It is a common perception that fixed dogs gain weight. But, this is not necessarily true. Of course, as a dog matures, they can gain weight. And, in some cases, if a Beagle used to pace a lot or otherwise burn calories acting out (or trying to act out) on their mating urges, if that sort of calorie expenditure stops, there may be a slight weight gain. But, overall dogs do not become 'fat' from being spayed or neutered.
Known Risks
Even with all of the benefits of spaying and neutering, there are some risks involved.
• Urinary incontinence for females. Studies have shown that about 20% of female dogs that have been spayed will develop incontinence at some point during their lifetimes. This may be soon after the procedure or for many years later (when it may have happened at any rate). It is suggested that refraining from very young spays (less than 3 months old) can reduce the odds of this.
• Slight delay in growth-plate closure. Growth plates are areas of tissue near the end of bones that allow the bones to properly grow throughout puberty. Once they 'close', the bones grow no further. A delay could mean that bones grow a bit longer than they would otherwise which in theory would mean possible increase of bone fractures (due to longer, narrower bones). The delay of growth plates with spayed and neutered dogs has been wildly exaggerated by some sources. Most studies show that with a 1 to 1.5 year delay, the difference is bone length is mere millimeters.
Possible Risks
These are risks that are thought to exist; however, there is not enough research to prove the claims.
• Cardiac tumors. Only one study found this to be a possible concern (Ware and Hopper - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, March/April 1999). Their study suggested a 4 times greater risk for female and a marginally greater risk for males.
• Increased rate of other cancers. This may sound counter to the proof that spaying and neutering reduces the odds of cancer. However, some studies have shown a possible increase in the risk of developing osteosarcoma (a bone cancer), bladder, prostate, and lymphoma. At this time, there is not enough research to back up these claims.
• Complications with anesthesia. Any surgery has some risks. When a puppy or dog has an IV and a heating pad this can greatly reduce complications.