The best age to neuter a male dog has changed over the years. We used to think 6 months of age was just right. Turns out this may not have been the best idea, especially for large breed dogs. Historically, 6 months seemed reasonable as pups are done with their puppy shots by then, and they are at a nice, manageable size for surgery. It all seemed to make sense, but now we know a lot more.
Most veterinarians now recommend waiting to neuter male dogs after they reach full skeletal maturity, especially large breed males. Allowing these dogs to grow under the influence of their sex hormones means they grow more naturally, resulting in healthier joint angles and structure. They also grow stronger and less injury-prone tendons and ligaments. We have scientific proof that neutering a dog too early potentially makes him more prone to orthopedic problems like hip dysplasia and torn cruciate ligaments in the knee.
Waiting for skeletal maturity sets up new age recommendations for neutering:
- Small breed dogs: after 12 months of age
- Medium to large breed dogs: after 18 months of age
- Giant breed dogs: after 24 months of age
Some veterinary specialists contend that we shouldn’t neuter male dogs at all. Those of us who still support neutering male dogs are quick to point out the benefits of neutering, including pet population control and the prevention of testicular cancer, prostatic disease, tumors growing on or around the anus (perianal adenomas), and perineal hernias (breakdown of tissue surrounding the rectum). All these diseases are preventable by neutering your dog before he reaches middle age. That said, aggressive, intact male dogs should always be neutered, as testosterone has been linked to aggression. Removing the source of testosterone helps manage this dangerous behavior issue.
Finally. This has been known for years, and yet most veterinarians recommend neutering/spaying as soon possible. I understand the animal shelters have little choice due to unresponsible people – sad that the animals pay the price as usual for our incompetence.
I’ve had a trainer and vet recommend neutering my 20-month-old Border Collie/Chow because of how *other* dogs react to him. They say other dogs will be calmer/less reactive with him once he’s fixed (unfixed dogs are rare around). I’ve heard from a few people that their male dogs were attacked frequently before they were neutered but were left alone after.
This doesn’t seem like a great reason to neuter, does it?
More vets are offering vasectomies and OSS (ovary sparing spay) as options for pet owners.
Choosing the procedure satisfies their concerns for hormonal growth and potential health complications associated with early spay and neuter.
Shelters could offer similar choices for adoptions as well.
These options would prevent pregnancy while giving owners the right to choose which procedure is best for their pets.
What do you say about shelters and rescues that adopt out puppies as young as 8 weeks old already neautered? I’m a staunch supporter of spay/neuter but also feel that this is waaay too young an age for this procedure. There must be an alternative to insure that these pups (and kittens) don’t become breeders, but surgery at such a young age shouldn’t be mandatory. Personally I don’t know what the answer is but I’m just expressing my feelings about subjecting these babies to a procedure that may affect their future health.
I agree with you 100%! My now deceased shelter pup was spayed at 3 months of age in 2012. In addition to behavioral issues, she developed a small hernia near the spay surgical site and in middle age started having hip joint issues. My dear girl left me last year, two days after her 10th birthday, from sudden cardiac arrest (which I believe was caused by chronic stress related to our dealing with my husband’s dementia). In any case, I think the answer to your question may be a shelter adoption contract which states that the animal must be spayed/neutered no later than at age two either by the shelter’s vet or a vet of the adopter’s choice with documented proof of said procedure.
Shelters and rescues can do an OSS (Ovary sparing spay) on 8 week old females. Removing the uterus prevents pregnancy and pyometra while preserving the hormones and allowing the puppies to develop properly. Owners can always go in an remove the ovaries later if they do not like the hormonal cycling. This to me is a no-brainer! OSS needs to become the standard.
How coincidental that I just had a long conversation a week before Christmas about the best time to neuter my now almost 10-month-old male Golden Retriever! I also have a female Golden who is six months (and one day) younger. We decided that the best way to decide when to neuter the male is to wait another 3-4 months and then do radiographs to see if his growth plates have closed yet. If so, then we’ll do the surgery at that point. If not, we’ll revisit the question of when. Meanwhile, if the female comes into season while we’re waiting, the male will spend a week or two at his breeder/my friend’s home while the female is ovulating. Once the female has had her season, we’ll talk again about the male’s surgery.
By the way, what you say about the age at which to neuter a male of medium/large breed or giant breed conflicts slightly (by six months) with what my vet has told me. So, I’d like to know which study you’re going by. I totally trust my vet as I’ve known him for several years and have seen him go through some personal growth in that time. I know he would not tell me something that isn’t true just to make money off me.