When to Get a Yorkie Neutered?

Yorkshire terriers, or Yorkies for short, were the third most popular dog breed in 2010, according to the American Kennel Club. Yorkies are named from the city in England where they were once bred to catch rats in clothing mills, during the 19th century. Due to their affectionate, investigative and energetic natures, they have become popular companion pets over the years. The AKC recommends Yorkie owners have their dog spayed or neutered early, if they do not plan to have the dog in competitions.

  1. The Neutering Procedure

    • Neutering is a surgical procedure where the testicles are removed from the dog's scrotum through a small incision. Stitches are usually removed after 10 days, unless automatically dissolving ones are used. Yorkies may experience swelling and light bruising at the incision site for the first three days. Generally, there is little other discomfort and most dogs do not require pain medication. Normal activity such as playing, running and exercise return within the first few days, although it is recommended that activity is monitored for the first two weeks. This is to ensure the incision heals correctly.

    Reasons to Neuter

    • Neutering dogs helps to prevent adding to the pet overpopulation problem. As many as 4 million pets are euthanized each year in animal shelters. However, neutering is not simply to prevent mating and breeding, but also offers important health benefits. Neutering a male Yorkie early eliminates the possibility of testicular or anal tumors, significantly reduces the chance of infections of the genital area, prevents certain types of hernias, and reduces incidents of prostate disease. Prostate disease, or prostatis, is a serious health issue affecting approximately 60 percent of un-neutered Yorkie males ages 5 years old and older.

    Behavioral Changes

    • Un-neutered male dogs are prone to roaming, urine marking, howling, barking and sometimes aggressive behavior. Once these undesirable behaviors become established, they are harder to overcome. Early neutering, prior to the onset of these types of behaviors, greatly reduces the chance of these developing later. Neutering only affects behaviors directly related to hormones. For example, personality, playfulness, friendliness and socialization do not change as a result of the procedure. One common myth suggest that dogs become fat and lazy once they have been neutered. However, this is inaccurate and is avoidable with proper diet and exercise.

    Best Age to Neuter

    • Neutering Yorkie males is generally recommended at an early age whenever possible, to achieve the best behavioral and health outcomes. Most puppies can have the procedure done between the ages of 8 weeks and 6 months old. However, both testicles must have descended for the procedure to be accomplished. Adult Yorkies are never "too old" to benefit from good prostate health as a result of neutering, but should first be evaluated by a veterinarian to ensure they are healthy enough for surgery.