I’d like to get some advice from fellow owners of neutered dogs.
Have you noticed any changes in your dog?
Could you share your thoughts? Thanks in advance,
Laurent.
Here’s what I’ve found on various websites: after neutering, the coat changes because the hormonal system is altered:
This means no more proper moulting or coat renewal. So the fur just keeps growing and growing, getting thicker and thicker... and becomes completely unmanageable...
--> De-matting becomes very difficult and painful for the dog; the coat gets really knotted right down to the skin, and the skin itself becomes more sensitive.
--> Colour changes: light coats turn almost white, black ones turn grey, and multi-coloured coats look "washed out"...
--> Change in coat quality: instead of being smooth and silky, it becomes thick and woolly – worse than puppy fluff. It tangles quickly, right at the roots.
--> Hair growth: the coat grows in thickness rather than length. Plus, it grows twice as fast...
In wire-haired breeds, the texture changes too, and hand-stripping isn't always possible anymore.
Some vets are starting to realise this is an issue and are warning their clients about it.
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Hi, yes, the coats of some breeds do change after being spayed, but usually only if it's done later in life. I had my girl spayed at 8 years old because of a tumour and her coat has completely changed; it’s become woolly and the hair is much longer! After doing some digging, it turns out spaying is indeed the main cause. She’s also shedding a lot more. I have a Chihuahua and the difference is massive – it really shocked me when I looked at photos of her before the op. Her coat is TOTALLY different now! Anyway, I hope this helps answer a few questions, even if this post is already a few years old.
Evening all,
I’ve just seen this thread and it’s really relevant to me. I’ve had my little Cavalier King Charles ***** spayed and her coat has been awful ever since. It used to be smooth and silky, but now it’s short and woolly... It’s always in a right mess, with tufts sticking out all over the place. She looks like she’s fat even though her weight is actually spot on.
I hadn’t even considered there might be a link to her being spayed.
Does anyone have any advice on how to get her coat looking lovely again?
Many thanks!
Hi everyone, I have two female Beaucerons, mother and daughter. They’ve both been spayed and their coats have definitely changed since, especially the mum’s coat which has thickened up a lot. That said, she still loses just as much hair when she's moulting—if not even more than before! It’s probably partly down to her getting older too, but I remember a chat I had with a breeder who explained that they didn't spay their show dogs anymore because the coat becomes thicker and harder to manage than it used to be. It’s just my own experience and I don’t have any scientific proof, but I can certainly see that my dog's coat isn't the same as it was before she was spayed at 6 years old! 🐶🐕
Hi there, I have three neutered dogs and none of them have any issues with their coats. Two females and a male, and all three of them have gorgeous, shiny coats. It’s definitely not caused by the neutering.
Often neutering goes hand in hand with a change in diet... I reckon that’s more likely where the problem lies! My Saint Bernard was castrated at about two and a half; several months on with no change in diet (raw feeding) and his coat is still exactly the same...
Hi,
I think if any of that were true, vets would have realised a long time ago...
The texture might change, sure, but more shedding and coat regrowth? Do you really buy that?
Neutering only removes sex hormones, not any of the others...
You’re better off asking a groomer for their opinion if you have doubts about hand-stripping; they’ll probably be able to give you a better answer...
I had a Scottie spayed at three and a half following a major complication during whelping: her coat quality hasn't changed at all.
I currently have two males who were neutered at six months old, but I don't have any points of comparison for before and after as they were only puppies.
