What age for neutering?

[monkeywithacowface]

Dpup is 6 months. We have to get him neutered as part of the adoption contract but not sure on the best time as there seems to be mixed views. My friend has just had her pup done at 6 months but this seems so young to me? They're still pups really, he's still teething and hasn't even started cocking his leg to pee yet!

Is it better to wait until they are fully grown adults and all the hormones are settled? Behaviourally he's fine, very placid and calm with some typical puppy giddyness here and there.

[ggirl]

You'll get loads of people saying wait ,and loads saying do early. I took advice from vet and had my dog spayed at 6 months.
She is 4 and no ill effects.
Personally in my experience it doesn't make much of a difference ( last dog was spayed much later and she still became incontinent in later years) but I'm sure there will be someone along shortly to correct me.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Doesn’t make much difference whether you neuter or not really. Aside from preventing any unwanted litters obviously, there is a lot of advice both for and against. Medical reasons and behavioural reasons on both sides. Can make nervous dogs worse, not a miracle cure for humping, can increase the risk of certain tumours. There’s lots of articles online if you have a look and if you look back through this Doghouse section there’s a few threads about it. I’m sure someone more educated on these things than me will be along in a minute to explain. The one thing I do know is that if he’s a large breed, eg ladbrador sized and over, you can’t neuter until he’s at least two as his growth hormones won’t have stopped yet and you could do his growth long term damage.

[littlecabbage]

I am a vet. There is no evidence to suggest that early neutering of males (before 6 months) is medically detrimental, except in some large, fast-growing breeds such as Rottweilers, Great Danes, Mastiffs. Many charities neuter dogs and cats a lot younger (from 3 months of age) to ensure that they are already neutered before rehoming. There is no increased anaesthetic risk as long as attention is paid to duration of starvation prior to GA, keeping them warm under GA, etc.

Personally, I would neuter at no later than 6 months, as my parents waited till their dog was a year old, and he still cocks his leg indoors sometimes to "mark his territory".

With bitches, they should be neutered at 6 months or younger, as their risk of developing mammary cancer later in life increases with every season they have. No seasons = lowest risk. Some breeds such as Old English Sheep Dogs and Golden Retrievers have a slightly higher risk of developing hormone-related urinary incontinence later in life, and should wait till 6 months before spaying. But to be honest, malignant mammary cancer, vs mild incontinence, usually fully treatable with medication....? I know which I'd prefer.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

I thought neutering had no bearing on whether a dog cocks his leg or not? Happy to be corrected. Is that medical evidence or anecdotal?

My autocorrect changed neutering to neutrons. Does my phone know something I don’t?

[usainbolt]

There have been a lot of studies that do show an impact of early neutering on dogs, how it affects their growth plates, height and abnormal growth rate of bones. Also interestingly the increase of cruciate injury in dogs that have had early neuter.

There are many papers and studies one to look at is Chris Zink DVM, PhD, DACVP

[Oops4]

I think the size of breed matters as they grow at different rates. Smaller dogs can be done earlier, but larger breeds should perhaps wait a little longer.

[BiteyShark]

I found only one decent study (one that followed dogs that had and hadn't and assessed the changes/risks in growth development etc) which showed that there can be an issue on growth if done too early. All the rest of the studies on growth just have opinions. There are also some studies on behaviour but from what I found and my vet confirmed this it isn't recommended if they show fear aggression to dogs or people and to work on that behaviour before doing it.

The study on growth used a fairly large breed so I had to weight up how that reflected on my breed which is smaller. I also chatted to my vet and both of us were happy to neuter when he had finished most of his growth. As it happened he was done around 10.5 months of age and I didn't notice any behavioural changes but maybe he is a little less confident but I suspect that is for other reasons.

You will get mixed views so I would suggest you look at the research papers as well as talking to your vet.

Oh by the way mine has never cocked his leg to pee or mark. I think he is just lazy and doesn't want to compete on who can pee the highest

[LilCamper]

Recent research suggests that it is best to wait until a dog is physically and mentally mature. This would vary according to breed size. Large breed would be between 2-3 years.

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Research

[Chippyway]

Scary how many people think it doesn’t matter how old the dog is when getting them done

[ruthsmumkath]

Larger dogs need to wait longer than smaller breeds that mature earlier. 6 month would IMO be too early for a medium/ large breed dog

[monkeywithacowface]

Thanks for all the replies, a mix of opinions!

[nooka]

My dog was neutered at eight weeks as the policy of the rescue (equivalent of the RSPCA where I live) was not to release any pet for homing without neutering them first. His mum was a spaniel (probably cross) but no idea as to dad, when we got him they couldn't give us any size prediction. He's turned out to be medium sized, no idea if he'd have been bigger if neutered later. The only issue he's had was getting a cyst in his spine, but we were told that was incredibly rare by the veterinary neurosurgeon that removed it.

I note the article referenced suggested the higher rate of issues might be at least partly due to the neutered dogs being overweight which I know is sometimes an issue.

[nellieellie]

Loads of research showing early neuter in male dogs increases risk of tumours and joint issues. www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/new-study-neuter-risk-hip-dysplasia-dogs/
www.avma.org/news/javmanews/pages/131101a.aspx
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4096726/
Difference between breeds with larger breeds being at more risk. Google and check actual research, not just opinion. But there is lots out there. Unless you have a reason to remove your dogs testicles, I wouldn’t.