neutering bulldogs; at what age?

Question
We have a 5 month old English bulldog puppy, Bandit.  We have scheduled his neutering procedure for next month about a week before he turns 6 months.  He has had all of his required shots and the like.  He is healthy and growing well.  He weighed at his last visit 35 lbs.  Our question is regarding spaying and neutering.  Our breeder said that it's risky but yet we want to have him neutered.  Can you give me any risk factors that are involved with the surgery so that we can share that with our vet?  We want to make sure that Bandit does best with this procedure and has not problems.  We love him so much and he is such a big part of our family now.  We love the breed and his happy go lucky disposition.  The only draw back right now is his puppy nipping tenancies.

Answer

One of my clients Brenda, I am sure your vet knows the dangers of Anesthesia:
here is some Health Info about bullies:
-also, make sure you have the Liver function blood tests done - before you put him under...


HEALTH:

Bullies have a short snout and could have small windpipes which can cause breathing and heart problems. In addition this can cause Bullies to snore very loudly. Bullies can have poor eyesight.
Bullies have active digestive systems and share gas with others who may not enjoy it as much as they think we should. Bullies can have sensitive skin.
They also may have loose joints in their shoulders, hips and knees. Breeders have worked very hard to breed out these problems in the breed.

Bullies do not like extreme weather conditions.
They can easily suffer from heat stroke.
Closed rooms or cars can be dangerous for Bullies and could lead to death.
They also cannot tolerate extreme cold and should be protected when outdoors with sweaters and booties if possible.
I advise only short outing during extreme weather. English Bulldogs have numerous known genetic defects and are subject to various illnesses that affect many breeds.

Common English Bulldog health problems you may encounter include:

elongated soft palate, small trachea, allergies, dermatitis,  eye lid anomalies, hip dysplasia and heart problems. Some of them have a tendency toward self-mutilation (especially if they have itchy skin), so owners should watch carefully for signs of skin irritation and scratching. If you purchase an older dog, many of these conditions will already have been identified.  Twenty-four hour care by a qualified veterinarian must be available.

*****Since not all veterinarians are knowledgeable about the health problems Bulldogs may have, you should consult experienced Bulldog owners to find a capable veterinarian.****
Any veterinarian who will be doing surgery on your Bulldog should have previous experience with putting Bulldogs under anesthesia.

BEST wishes!!!

Marie Peppers  LPN MA

( The BEST Bullie Vitamins)
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