He has been feeling poorly for the past few weeks to the point of some mornings not being able to get up from a sitting position without wincing. Took him to the vet for x rays yesterday and while in Court the wife came and got me with the news. His prostate was about the size of an apple and had worked it's way into his abdominal cavity. I asked what the prognosis was and was told I had a choice-prostate medicine for the rest of his life or take his do-dads and the prostate would shrink up and all would be well.
A whole lot of people (most?) who have intact male dogs don't ever think of them having prostate problems. They're dogs, right? It simply doesn't cross your mind.
Fact is, as dogs age, they're subject to the same potential prostate problems as men are.
At the age of seven, my previous male Rottweiler, Chief, began having these types of problems. And the problems were becoming systemic...migrating over into his liver and kidneys. I had him neutered. His problems cleared up in a couple of months, and he lived a good life for almost five more years.
Unlike humans, male dogs don't mope around worrying about their diminishing virility or loss of manhood (doghood?). And girl dogs won't tell them, "It can happen to anyone" if they can't perform.
Fact is, unless you're going to breed your dog, it'll be better for them in the long run to be neutered, and the earlier, the better. My time frame is when they turn a year old. Ditto for female dogs and spaying.
When you have Angus neutered, just be careful for a couple of weeks that he doesn't chew/lick the incision and open it up. Chief did that while I was at work one day, so he had to be sedated again and stitched back up. Not fun.
All jokes aside, Angus won't know the difference, and you'll have more time to enjoy his company.
Some advice for forum members who have intact dogs: If your dog has an annual wellness exam, tell your vet to include a prostate exam. It isn't going to cost you extra. Your dog probably won't like it any more than you do, but it can be a good proactive way to head off a potential problem, and it only takes a minute.
Main thing is that when we went to the Vet yesterday, he wasn't flinching when she was feeling for the prostate which tells us that it is shrinking. He is getting a bit tired of being violated by Thermometers and gloved fingers which I can understand......but he is doing well.
