To neuter or not to neuter?

[watertiger21]

I have two male rats. I hear that neutering them is the way to go, but I've always been worried about how safe the procedure is. Call me paranoid, but it just seems so invasive for a small little animal! Still, is it better to neuter males? Or will they be okay keeping their manliness? :wink:

 

[Cinderwolf]

I have two male rats. I hear that neutering them is the way to go, but I've always been worried about how safe the procedure is. Call me paranoid, but it just seems so invasive for a small little animal! Still, is it better to neuter males? Or will they be okay keeping their manliness? :wink:

They mayu be fine, but thye may also get hormonal and start fighting. personally I woudl say jsut hold off on it until needed, jsut have money saved if they do start getting hormonal

 

[jorats]

For me, I like all my males neutered. If I can afford I get it done. In fact, I currently have 7 neutered males and 3 spayed females.
I do have a very good experienced vet which is important when making such a decision.

 

[watertiger21]

For me, I like all my males neutered...

Jorats, if I may ask, why do you prefer neutering? Is it because of the hormones? Because you have females?

I'm considering it for my ratties because I'm concerned about future hormonal issues and
possible fighting. And no problem with having a reliable vet; there's an office only two blocks from me that specializes in small mammals

 

[hopefloats]

I think most of us do neuters because for some males it is the only way to make them truly happy rats. I have neutered the humping rats, mean rats, screamer rats and the fear frozen rats all with great results.


I think John shows it best. John before his neuter.
[BBvideo 450,375:327mgocn]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1REdvV_L8pE[/BBvideo:327mgocn]

After his neuter, he change fast almost instantly. He was able to live with the same rat who he beat up.
[BBvideo 450,375:327mgocn]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqwaRPl21Yw[/BBvideo:327mgocn]

I spay all girls because it has a huge impact on their health. Boys it is mainly for stress relief. I have a bunch of intact boys who never needed a neuter so you can always wait and see how it goes before decided if you need to or not. Just start doing research and start saving now.

 

[Unepuce]

I like my males neutered too. Especially since I realized with my last 2 additions that I am allergic to intact rats - their marking gives me the most incredible itch! Since their neuter, I have had no issue.

 

[SQ]

I also neuter (and spay) all of my rats.
But as Jorats mentioned, I have a great vet whom I trust.

There are many benefits to neutering males besides the obvious pregnancy and aggression issues.
Neutering makes them so they are not hormon driven, they may be happier, it reduces their need to urine mark territory, and reduces the amount of allergin in their urine. Neutered rats also do not get "buck grease", a hormone based skin secreation.
I prefer to neuter rats and not wait for problems to develop. As animals age, sometimes they develop issues (such as respir issues) which can make surgery not an option.

 

[Fink]

Just curious, but what is everybody paying for neuters? I had to have Krahmer neutered, and it was around $135

 

[hopefloats]

it varies so much in price. I pay usually 60 to 109. I pay around 60 now. I have seen some get them super cheap but i think yours is about the price it runs mostly. Most pay a lot more for them.

 

[amity]

it varies so much in price. I pay usually 60 to 109. I pay around 60 now. I have seen some get them super cheap but i think yours is about the price it runs mostly. Most pay a lot more for them.

Wow, that's really good. I've been quoted around $300 at a couple vets in the area. As such I've decided to wait until neutering becomes necessary because neutering multiple rats at that price just isn't practical for me.

watertiger, if neutering is affordable for you it is definitely a good option. It does prevent potential hormone issues and would also allow you to keep mixed sex groups if you wanted to.

 

[mia9_28]

Oh wow! $300? That is ridiculous! It only takes like 15 minutes to do the whole thing!


I pay about $120 here. I wish it was cheaper, but it's still affordable.

 

[Cinderwolf]

I love my males neutered too big piles of goo

 

[Dazzle87]

After dealing with bites from hormonal aggression, I will never have an intact male. My foster Eddy turned into a sweet love and his adoptive mom loves him, but an aggressive animal is no fun. Waiting for the hormones to die down was a long long two months.... It is an elective surgery, however, so it is not wrong to refuse to neuter if you don't have females and they aren't acting hormonal.

If it is any comfort to you, being a foster and having had my own rats I've had dozens of rats have spays and neuters and never lost a single one.

 

[watertiger21]

Thanks so much everyone! I'm thinking I'd like to get my guys neutered then. As soon as I can afford it, that is. Just found out today that it's going to take $500 to fix my car. :shock: But that's why we save money for these kinds of things beforehand! lol

 

[Fink]

Just found out today that it's going to take $500 to fix my car.

I didn't know you could get a car neutered :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:



Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

[jorats]

For me, I like all my males neutered...

Jorats, if I may ask, why do you prefer neutering? Is it because of the hormones? Because you have females?

The main reason is because we are removing all hormonal stress. It's like turning your male into a happy cuddly puppy.
Even if I didn't have females and have mixed colonies, I'd still want my males neutered.

I was watching a documentary once about a pony. This pony had a severe heart defect and the vet said that the only chance this pony had was with a neuter, to remove any stress, to calm them down and to give them a peaceful happy life. A neuter is a good thing.

 

[watertiger21]

Just found out today that it's going to take $500 to fix my car.

I didn't know you could get a car neutered :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:



Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

:joy: Well done, LOL! That was quite a good one

 

[momofmany]

For me, I like all my males neutered...

Jorats, if I may ask, why do you prefer neutering? Is it because of the hormones? Because you have females?

The main reason is because we are removing all hormonal stress. It's like turning your male into a happy cuddly puppy.
Even if I didn't have females and have mixed colonies, I'd still want my males neutered.

I was watching a documentary once about a pony. This pony had a severe heart defect and the vet said that the only chance this pony had was with a neuter, to remove any stress, to calm them down and to give them a peaceful happy life. A neuter is a good thing.

:nod: :nod: I agree wholeheartedly!! :nod: :nod: Right now I have 7 males, all of which have been de-beaned and WOW what a difference not have a couple of beans makes!! :nod: :nod:

 

[JinX]

i only neuter when absolutely nescessary. I dont believe in preventive neutering. I have 8 boys and theyre all perfectly happy, no need to cut those balls off so why do it And i like their attitudes! dont want them to change so they get "easier".

Ive had neuters though, when they get aggressive and hormonal and cant get along with their buddies (or start biting people) then yes to neutering. But neuter so they can live together with girls? no not for me...

Resques here use it for stressed out scared rats too and sometimes it does make a difference. Not always though. My boy Macho was neutered and still terrified of people (or other rats, he was afraid of his own shadow) but he learned other rats are ok and by time he didnt find me that scary anymore either (but it took a lot of time and patience, not just a neutering)

And it doesnt mean nothing happens when neutered, i once had a little babyrat (6 weeks old) who was attacked by a neuter and he killed him, not by accident, it was murder, he wouldnt let go...something just snapped, he never was agressive before...

btw spaying is getting more common here too, nowadays the do a spay if they have surgery for something else, theyre in surgery anyway so do it all at once. I even know someone who spays all her girls, just in case. I dont have girls so i dont have to worry about that

 

[victoria]

I also neuter and spay all my rats. I spay my females for the health benefits (it's stupid to wait until they have a tumour - by then, they may not be healthy enough for surgery) and I neuter my males because I'm very allergic.

A few years ago, when I discovered my allergy, I opted to have my male implanted with Deslorelin because I had two other rats that needed surgery to remove tumours and if anything went wrong it would have been a lot to have that many post op rats to care for at once. He was never aggressive so the sterilization was purely for my benefit.

I've had several rats implanted in the past and his was the only implant to wear off early. They're supposed to last for 1-3 years, his started to wear off after 8 months and he was completely fertile after a year. This wasn't an issue because all of my females were spayed but I did notice a personality change - he's still super nice and sweet and great with all rats but he's much more anxious, nervous and on edge. I wish he were healthy enough to neuter now but he has pulmonary abscesses and it's not worth the risk. I feel bad because I do believe he'd be happier and better of today had I chosen to castrate him in the first place.

Testosterone and it's effects on personality are beneficial to animals in the wild but in a domestic environment, they don't need to always be on edge and on the defensive. It's very beneficial for most species, even if the individual is not ever going to be in contact with females or aggressive. With rats, you have to consider their health and the availability of a good vet (not easy to find for some people) but if you can afford it and you have a good vet, I think it's in the best interest of the rat to do so.

Edited to correct typos.