Getting a Boxer Neutered

Neutering your boxer not only prevents unwanted litters of puppies in nearby female dogs, but it can also provide your boxer with a longer and healthier life. Neutering reduces the risk of prostate cancer and tumors, and can eliminate territorial marking, obsessive humping and aggressive or destructive behaviors. Male boxers could potentially jump fences or run across busy streets to get to a female dog in heat; neutering will curb this behavior.

Neutering is not painful or traumatic, and it will have no lasting negative effect on your boxer's personality. One given myth for not neutering a boxer has been that his natural instinct is to guard his family, and that neutering would affect that instinct; however, neutering will not cause your boxer's natural guarding instinct to disappear. In addition, neutering will not make your boxer fat or lazy. The idea that a male boxer should sire one litter before being neutered is also a myth; it is not necessary for the health and well-being of your boxer.

Neutering is cheaper than spaying a dog, due to the lack of invasive surgery. Many clinics have discounts and specials to bring the costs down to as low as $30 to $50. Typically, the night before the procedure, you will be requested to withhold food from your boxer. While the procedure itself is very quick, often the veterinarian will keep your puppy or adult dog for the full day, until the anesthesia wears off. Later that afternoon, you can pick up your newly neutered boxer.

It is normal for your boxer to be a little groggy and very tired when he comes home. Some clinics will provide you with pain medication to be given after the surgery. They can have a small dinner, if they're hungry, although they might vomit as they adjust to coming off the anesthesia. Your boxer will be raring to go two days after the surgery, but it is wise to prevent him from being very active for at least 10 days; keep an eye out for redness, swelling and pain.