recurrent erection

[schiftner]

Don't mean to be crude but I definitely need help. My 5 yr. old boxer (not spayed) had emergency services 2 months ago for an erection that would not retract. It seems to be happening again. I am worried if I am not available with sugar water when it happens that serious consquences will occur. Any information on the problem, links to research, or such experiences would be greatly appreciated. I realize that spaying could help but still hoping for breeding! If it is a treatable explainable medical problem I want to know everything about it. Thank you.

[Tina]

Please Spay your dog!!!!!!!!!!!!

[micki76]

Why do you want to breed?

[Cincy'sMom]

I had a long response typed out, and then I decided maybeit wasn't fair to assume the worst.

Instead, I will merely suggest that perhaps you should have your male dog neutered.

[GraciesMommy]

Sorry was going to say the same thing..I believe you want to NEUTER your male dog..

[Logan]

I think your vet is the only one who can help you with this unusual problem. What does he/she suggest? If neutering would take care of the problem, I would definitely consider it. As you can tell by the responses you have received, most of us are going to be big advocates of spaying and neutering at a young age to prevent more unwanted puppies.

[lv4dogs]

I agree with the above! Please neuter him.

[dragondawg]

most of us are going to be big advocates of spaying and neutering at a young age to prevent more unwanted puppies

Although that's a good enough reason in itself, there is also the fact that irresponsible breeding is creating a cancer crisis in our pets. Currently for Boxers the most common of cancers are Lymphoma and Leukemia.

I would ask the original poster:

Do you know the cancer history of the grand-parents of your dog? For example did their siblings and all offspring from the siblings of the grand-parents yield no cancers in their lines? Most likely the breeder you obtained your dog from may not know the answer. Until steps are taken to limit ad hoc breeding, cancer in our pets will continue to increase in frequency. Will an individual owner consider that if the dog is a female, allowing it to become pregnant or allowing 2 heats to occur has increased its chances of getting mammary cancer later in life to be 25% compared with a spayed female never allowed to go into heat?

Then of course there are the other genetic diseases that some breeders are attempting to deal with in Boxers such as Subvalvular aortic stenosis which is sometimes difficult to detect initially, and leads to heart failure. There is an active program among breeders of Goldens to attempt to eliminate hip dyspasia. Will the individual owner concern themselves with the genetics of the breed when thinking about breeding?

Having already lost one dog to cancer, I avoid answering any questions concerning breeding health issues.

[Pit Chick]

I agree with everyone else on here, even though I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear. If it means the dog's health and happiness, there is no reason to not have him neutered so he isn't suffering. He's not only suffering with this erection problem, but also from the frustrations of not being able to mate and with males that is a 24-7 problem. By keeping him intact for this long you are putting him at risk for testicular and prostate cancer and just forcing him to go through agonizing erections that won't go away. There is a lot to know about breeding besides putting two dogs together and getting a litter of puppies. Like dragondawg said, you need to research your dog's cancer history, his genetic history, his pedigree. He needs to be tested for any genetic problems he could pass on to his offspring. And that doesn't mean a check up by the vet. Do your dog and any future dogs a big favor and have him neutered. You'll only be contributing to the homeless dog overpopulation by breeding him. If you want another Boxer and you know people that want a Boxer (since that's probably one reason you want to breed) adopt one from a shelter or rescue instead of bringing more into this world that could end up homeless.

[Kristl]

The best way to solve this is through your vet. You may need to get a second or even third opinion on it, though!

[shais_mom]

NEUTER YOUR DOG!!
THERE ISN'T ENOUGH HOMES FOR THEM ALL!!

[bckrazy]

the correct term is "neutering". not "spaying". spaying is for girls, neutering is for boys.

If your dog is experiencing so much pain and going through emergency vets due to this, by all means NEUTER HIM!! Is having puppies truly more important to you than your dogs wellbeing? Seriously. this could easily be cancer-related, or an inherited problem, which would then be passed on to his offspring if you did breed him! He might also be unable to breed, or it may be painful to him. Just do what is in the best interest of your dog, and the complete overpopulation of dogs in this country, and neuter him.

I also cannot imagine you are very familiar, experience, or knowledgable about dog breeding if you mix up the term "spaying" with "neutering". they are two completely different procedures . Only people who have dedicated much of their lives to IMPROVING their breed of dog should breed, and only people who are educated on the issues/problems/costs/sacrifices/risks involved with breeding dogs should ever keep an intact male or female.