Personality Changes after Neuters

[Scythe]

This is just something I've noticed with my own rats; I've only had two boys neutered; Pip and Percy. Pip was neutered at about a year old, Percy at 6months old(last friday).

It's always been my understanding that if the neuter is going to affect the rat hormonally/positively(as the common reason they GET snipped to begin with :cheeky: ), it's not gonna be instant, the hormones have got to kind of flush out of the system.

But with Percy and Pip, I notice that once the sedatives/anesthetics wear off, they are almost completely different rats. Pip became a popcorner, racing around my bed, getting into trouble, chewing things up, hyper and happy as could ever be(but still not interested in other rats). Percy went from timid, shy, afraid of hands and waiting for his brother Peggy to make the first move, to this hyper little blurr who jumps from my nightstand to my bed and runs up and down all 4 levels of the CN and suddenly wants my attention, etc. It's even stranger for Percy, who I would expect to grieve, as he lost his brother, Peggy, during the neuter, who he's never been without his entire life.

Has anyone else noticed this, or are my rats just insane? Are boys actually HAPPY when we take away their balls? LOL :laugh4:

 

[hopefloats]

Well with tart the changed happened super fast. He was a screamer and he would freak out and bite other rats. He was intro'd really soon and that odd behavior was gone. Sebastian my little brat, he was a jerk for almost a month after... The other boys it took a bit for them to popcorn but they were older.

 

[victoria]

I've only ever had two neutered males (Oscar was intact for a few months while I had him but he was still very young) and I have never noticed a huge personality/energy level difference when compared to my girls. I never really experienced the lazy boy/lap rat, I always thought I ended up with strange boys. I also figured they were the way they were because they live(d) in large colonies of girls and have no choice but to keep up.

 

[lilspaz68]

Sometimes the shock of being dropped off at the vets. "abandoned" and then you coming back to get them and take them HOME, can bring them right out of their shell.

Some rats do not grieve even when we expect them too...

 

[jorats]

We've had lots and lots of neuters done here and I've found the real aggressive rats change super fast while those who were just bullies with rats, take a little longer.
But generally, it's like watching rats take a coat of stress right off of them. They do seem happier, free.

 

[SQ]

Usually I have not seen a difference, likely because I get all my boys done as soon as possible so they are either young or else still new to living with me. My boys are happy, energetic, run around, explore etc. Like girls, they become less active as they age.
The rats I have seen a difference in have gone from aggressive to nonaggressive and extremely stressed to normal/content.

Christmas, the aggressive boy I adopted in December, has been gradually becoming less aggressive since his neuter.
He seems happier, runs to the side of the cage to greet me, is interested in other rats and although he still bites me, he has stopped drawing blood and it is gradually improving. Before his neuter, he chewed off one of his toes. Since his neuter his foot has healed and he hasn't lost anymore body parts.

 

[Scythe]

We've had lots and lots of neuters done here and I've found the real aggressive rats change super fast while those who were just bullies with rats, take a little longer.
But generally, it's like watching rats take a coat of stress right off of them. They do seem happier, free.

THat's sort of what I don't get, that both of my rats were not really aggressive(Pip was a bit of a bully, but only I imagine becuase he'd always lived alone. Percy was only neutered cause Peggy was, Peggy was the one starting to show aggression once in a blue moon).

But maybe it's like Shelagh said; since they were not particularly VERY naughty boys, that maybe the experience just scared them out of their shell into appreciating what they've got.

I was just curious if anyone else has had a rat immediately change once the sedatives have worn off.

 

[DadRat]

We've had 2 neuters so far.

Quilt for hormonal aggression (he left scars on his cagemate, MomRat, and myself) and he was calmer almost instantly. It took a while for him to get the hormone anxiety out of his system, but the change started quickly. He became a soft, cuddly, fat, happy, ball of squish in short order. He was one of our most laid back rats from a week or two after his neuter until the end of his days.

We neutered his cagemate Gregory a while later to try and help with his anxiety levels. It made him a softer rat, but he was just a neurotic high-strung little fuzzball. He always looked like he had found some coffee beans instead of lab block for breakfast (jumpy little guy) but it had the bonus of not having to deal with any plugs as he aged and could not groom himself due to HED and tumors.