Congratulations on your new puppy. When you picked out your puppy they may have already been spayed or neutered. However, for many of us we must make the decision IF we will spay or neuter. And if we will, WHEN should we spay or neuter. There isn’t a consensus on this in the dog world but everyone with an opinion will tell you that they are right.
Should you spay or neuter?
The quick answer is YES. Prior to adoption most shelter or rescue dogs are altered, thus eliminating the option. Pure bred dogs generally come with a contract on spay or neuter requirements. If your breeder doesn’t have restrictions I would do research into the health of their dogs. Good breeders want to breed for the betterment of the breed, thus the restrictions on the dogs they place in pet homes.
When is the right time to alter your puppy?
There is a lot of discussion in the dog community about what is right. In many places there are requirements when you can and cannot, not necessarily in the US but elsewhere in the world. There are also options to remove the ability for reproduction without fully neutering or spaying your puppy. Currently these aren’t widely available so their cost may be prohibitive for some.
Most veterinarians subscribe to the philosophy that puppies should be altered before their sexual maturity. There are a couple valid reasons for this. The first because it helps eliminate unwanted behavior that results from the estrogen and testosterone developing. The second because certain cancers can be completely or nearly eliminated, such as breast cancer in females.
Recent research on the subject leans more towards altering dogs after one year of age.
Why wait until after 1 year of age?
Like in humans, puppies’ growth plates continue to close over time. For most puppies this is around a year to 18 months. Altering your puppy prior to the growth plates closing may have repercussions as they age.
Dogs predisposed to joint issues, such as your larger or more active breeds, may be more susceptible to hip dysplasia, cranial cruciate ligament tear, or elbow dysplasia. If you have an active dog these can seriously diminish their quality of life. And for working dogs, such as police or rescue, it can sideline them forever.
My parents had a black lab that had three cranial cruciate ligament tears repaired and was horribly arthritic in her later years. She was spayed at 6 months of age. Knowing what we know now it is likely that may have contributed to her issues.
There is a study funded by AKC Canine Health Foundation that reviewed 12 dog breeds to identify any differences when spaying and neutering may be related to a joint disorder and/or cancer. This study has been expanded to cover a total of 31 breeds, both large and small.
Of the breeds examined so far, the risk of joint issues is higher when altering the puppy occurs prior to one year of age. Spaying or neutering your puppy prior to one year of age increases the risk and occurrence of cancer in the Golden Retriever and Boxer breed.
Risks of Waiting Until After Age 1 to Spay or Neuter
Miss Millie was spayed prior to one year and I haven’t seen any adverse effects at this point. In the last four years most of the research has been conducted. With Mr Magoo I will be waiting until he is 18 months old, unless there is a specific need to do so earlier.
Unplanned pregnancy is the biggest risk to waiting for female puppies. It is important to keep your bitch away from ALL places when they are in heat. It is your responsibility to prevent pregnancy and this is unfortunately lies squarely on the bitch’s owners.
For male dogs the biggest risk is aggression. Either your puppy being aggressive or dogs being aggressive towards your puppy. If your dog is aggressive I suggest working with a behavioral therapist to get past the issues. However, if you cannot find a solution then neutering your dog might solve the problem.
I advise everyone, regardless of if their dog is in tact or not, to avoid dog parks or other areas where you don’t know the dogs and their owners. I know this is hard for people who live in smaller homes. It is important to be the advocate for your puppy and putting them in a risky situation could cause long lasting problems.
I know a Portuguese Water Dog who at only eight months old, elicited aggressive behavior from other dogs. They would come over fences, out of cars, down the block to get to him. They neutered him and that all stopped. This is a situation where his testosterone was so high that he actually elicited aggression from other dogs. The odds of this are fairly low so it isn’t something I would actively worry about with your puppy.
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