When to get our lab pup neutered?

[Imdoingitnow]

Our boy is almost 11 months old now and we’re wondering when to get him”done”. We aren’t planning on mating him. Our previous labs had the op at around 6 months, i believe that the advice from vets on when to neuter has changed now.

We notice recently that he’s getting a bit “excited“ around some bitches and he sniffs their bums more than he used to. He also seems to get older dogs being aggressive onwards him as if they're warning him off We’re a bit worried that he seem to only have one descended testicle too.

What’s your advice, lab experts?

You'll be OK any time of your choosing from now on

Hers an article with evidence about when to neuter, by breed, and in light of incidence of certain disorders

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.00388/full

And a table of recommended ages by breed and sex

www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/548304/fvets-07-00388-HTML-r1/image_m/fvets-07-00388-t001.jpg

If he only has one testicle I’d speak to his vet now. General advice is to neuter those quickly as the undescended testicle can become cancerous. Usually they should have dropped by about 6 months.

I'd see what the vet says about the undescended testicle, but personally I'd rather wait until a dog was mentally mature. I own a late maturing breed and I don't want a permanent puppy or a nervous adult (and having neutered a large-breed male at 6 months once, I'd never do it again).

The paper linked by @wetotter is a good one, but it looks at physical issues, not mental and social maturity.

Thank you everyone. We'll give the vet a ring this week

How about asking about chemical castration to begin with, I’d wait re castration via op until he’s nearly 2. Our retriever has just had chemical castration awaiting the results tbh before we put him under the knife. We waited on advice from our behaviourist and vet and we’re advised to do chemical first but to wait for maturity.

Our old retriever had an undescended teste also, he was a guide dog pup and they are castrated at a year or so. His op was much bigger as they gad to go and find the missing teste and remove it so he had a big scar on his tummy and was in a lot of pain, I had to take him back for more pain medication. Was such a shame for him. If I were you, I’d wait, he’s young yet and there are other options if he’s getting too excited - my dog hadn’t knowingly been in contact with an intact female in season so not sure how he would be.

Chemical castration has the same effect as castration eg lowers testosterone so done early will also affect the dogs health and behaviour etc.

You will need to removed the undescended testicle but there is no immediate rush and it is raw for this to turn cancerous at your dogs young age - although of course it is worth showing your vet.

I would personally wait until 18 months before I castrated a lab. You can also just have the undescended testicle removed and leave the other one unless there is a strong reason to castrate.

I have a Labrador puppy (latest in a long line!). And I won't be considering castration until he is at least 18 months old and preferably 2 years. I want him physically and mentally mature before it happens. Otherwise they can stick in a permanent adolescence and develop skeletal issues later.

Another vote for 18 months to 2 years- but speak with your vet about the undescended testicle.

When your vet says so. Different ages for different dogs and different dogs mature at different rates. You can do a lot of damage by neutering too early, equally if problematic behaviours occur after full maturity, they can be more difficult to shift.

Your vet will be your best guide to get it right for your particular pup.

Your vet will no doubt say now as he only has one testicle. My DM’s dog only has 1 (8 months) but is a Large breed, she sought second opinions from other vets, dog trainers and long term breeders of her breed and all have recommended waiting until 12-18 months for the testicle to develop and then castration at 2 years.

If you are insured it can be claimed for as it is a medical condition. LABRADOR OWNERS UK on FB sometimes has some good advice, might be worth trying there.

Leave it as long as you can - at least 18 months. The vet can remove the undescended testicle now, probably under insurance. Leave the other to give him the benefit of the hormones.
The teenage months can be difficult with a male , but manageable, IME.

I think you will get different opinions. My dogs have all been neutered with no issues about 8 months old.